Aye - one of the things with living on your own, you have to be able to figure out how to do things like that by yourself, I do resent paying £8 for a couple minutes job!! I actually wouldn't worry too much about his arthritis, it shouldnt be affected by you clipping his claws - and it is important in oldies, I found out the hard way when two of Snowy's claws grew into her pad, this was pre-internet days when I didn't know about claw clipping - I am over keen on it now!!
Fingers crossed for getting it down FReddie!!
I have the same issues with my two girls, neither are good at being touched if they are not in the mood, never mind anything else!! Took me nearly an hour to get Molly to come close enough to be de-flead last night, she obv knew something was up!! The rescue's vets uses the long lasting antibiotic jab a lot for us, it seems to work quite well - dont know how pricey though, as it is the rescue's account.