It doesn’t have the same ring as ‘sofa raft’, but I achieved a bed raft with the pets this afternoon. It wasn’t quite natural — Henny has to be lifted up to the bed, and Nova needs some help to scrabble up, too. But I was reading this afternoon and had some pet company, which is nice. I think it’s funny that the pets are arranged in this photograph according to their personalities / affection preferences — Nova on my lap, Beany right beside, Henny off in the distance, with Birdy even a little further away.
Later, I managed to clip Nova’s claws for the first time. I can sometimes get one cut, but she struggles like I’m actually trying to remove her claws rather that just trim them a bit. I was more determined today, though. I tried to explain that I was just going to clip a few nails, and then she could have a treat, but I sometimes get the impression that her grasp of English is tenuous, at best. Even with really elaborate gesturing to the clipper, followed by the treats, I couldn’t get her to understand. I persuaded Beany to come over, so I could clip her front claws as a demonstration (she holds perfectly still), but I don’t think Nova was paying attention properly. I finally had to use the fact that I’m several times bigger than a Chihuahua and make her hold still long enough to clip a few claws at a time. And now she’s less stabby, so we all won, in the end (she won some treats).
love the bed raft!
a cautionary tale re: nail clipping and how important it is … Christmas day Stella came inside straight to me holding her left paw up. I could tell immediately something was not quite right. on further examination her nail was askew … VERY askew. long story short her nail had to be removed and we’re going on 10days with said paw wrapped up waiting for the quick to heal enough to let her go unbandaged. worst case scenario her toe will require amputation. all because I hadn’t adequately trimmed her nails. so good on you for getting Nova used to the clippers. I stopped when the battle became so unwieldy/long/arduous that I felt it just wasn’t worth it. won’t be making THAT mistake again!
Ouch! Beany the cat managed to pull out one of her back claws this summer. I have no idea how — we just noticed she was licking her foot a lot. Thankfully, the claw grew back (there was really *nothing* visible there at first) and didn’t get infected. I just brought Henny in for a nail trim at the vet’s today, and I bought the style of clipper that they use, so I can trim her nails at home from now on (she has long quicks and tougher nails than Nova).