Knead training???

[dolcetta46]

Thanks Helen for the advice!!  Yes he let me handle his paws when he is calm enough, not in that playful crazy mode.  I often hold his paws when he takes a nap in my arms.  And of course when he kneads, he is usually calm and peaceful, so I will give it a try!! (but then again, his mood can swing 180° in a split second... ) Thanks!!

[Tiggy's Mum]

I taught the boys to retract their claws by gentle squeezing the paw so that the claws automatically retract and at the same time repeating 'gentle'.  If the claws do come out all I have to say is gentle and they put them away.  Does Oliver mind you touching his feet?  If not start by handling his feet while he is laying down and relaxed, then move onto squeezing the pads so the pads so the claws come out and finally clip the claws.... see, easy peasy 

[dolcetta46]

Is there a certain technique to get them to stay still/calm down while you do your business?  It's a risky area to deal with while the boy is wiggling about, and I am afraid of hurting him not to mention hurting myself

[alisonandarchie]

Parki my permanent visitor likes to sit on my lap and knead away. I am often covered in red marks as her claws are sharp.

[Tan]

Ochi used to kneed at me neck with his claws out awwwwch!! Little monster  but i would give anything for him back to do that again. 

I would def rather clip claws regualry than use a cap. I would worry these soft paws would make the actual claw grow badly or weeken them. It must be simular to the false nails we can have and i know they make your own soft and they can get ripped off your finger. 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

You still need to trim the claws before you put the softpaws on 

[Mark]

Thanks Ruth, the cap I had heard of is something like this, http://www.softpaws.com/about.html 
It does seem too convenient rather for humans and not for the kitties, despite all that they say...  I shall start trying with the tapping and see how it goes!!

Ok its not barbaric like declawing but still unnatural  - a cat couldn't defend itself, groom or scratch itself properly or run up a fece (or curtains  )
with them on 

[dolcetta46]

kylie has never learned that my leg is not made of the same stuff as a sofa 

Yip Ollie has that learning issue too especially when he gets hungry and demands his din din ... fortunately now the weather is cooler I have long trousers on, that helps a wee bit!!

[dolcetta46]

Thanks Ruth, the cap I had heard of is something like this, http://www.softpaws.com/about.html 
It does seem too convenient rather for humans and not for the kitties, despite all that they say...  I shall start trying with the tapping and see how it goes!!

[Mark]

kylie has never learned that my leg is not made of the same stuff as a sofa 

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

Nail clipping... hmmm, I also heard of some nail caps too, but I am not sure how I could go about accomplishing that, as sweet as he is he can get quite frisky when he feels he is being messed about!!

No caps... if they're the ones I'm thinking of, it looks unbearably cruel.  Clip the claws (says she who has to wait for Lexy to be asleep before she can clip one!). Or gently tap his paw to retract claws when he does. He will keep doing it. Or you just need to get used to it

[dolcetta46]

Nail clipping... hmmm, I also heard of some nail caps too, but I am not sure how I could go about accomplishing that, as sweet as he is he can get quite frisky when he feels he is being messed about!!

[sheryl]

Our babies have their claws clipped every 2 weeks - my back looked like i had been trough a shredder from the Benglies running up it, that really hurts.

[hOrZa]

Or long sleeve shirts

[puddypaws]

Our last cat Sid seemed totally oblvious as to whether his claws were in or out.  He was the sweetest little soul you could imagine but I was forever getting caught.  He used to look so surprised when I yelled.  I'm afraid he never really learnt not to do it but a gentle tap on the paw sometimes helped.  Just buy some Savlon

[dolcetta46]

Okay, it is cute and he means well so I don't want to discourage or punish him... BUT IT HURTS!!!   Hobbes had the manners to keep his claws in while he kneaded on me, but Oliver does it with claws all out, on my bare skin!!  Has anyone dealt with this problem?  Is there any way I can gently train him to do the kneading with claws in?