When I go to clip my cat’s claws, I do it when they are sitting up not lying down. They are not on my lap, they do not have their bellies exposed, they are simply relaxed and in a sitting position.
It seems to be a bit easier than when they are on my lap. First of all, some of my strays and ferals are not lap kitties. So I have evolved this process over time. I clip while they eat.
Lying on the floor near them while they eat, I take the claw scissors and gently using it as a probe, I expose their claws. One by one, I begin to trim off just the tip being careful to not expose their quick (the pink part of the claw where the blood supply is located). Because they are eating, they don’t mind their feet being messed with and the trimming goes quick and easy. I make sure to leave some meaty treats in their food bowls on claw trimming days, which keeps them occupied and chewing on something besides me. I don’t make a big deal about clipping their claws, and have just found this system to work best for me.
I’ve never done this before but I sure do agree with just doing it and not making a big deal out of it. They feed off of your reaction, and if you act like it’s nothing (especially when they’re eating, excellent point!), it makes sense that it would go well for you (and the cat
).
It’s also much better when you’ve been clipping their claws since they were kittens, but it sounds like you might be taking in feral adults. (?)
Yes, I do take in the older feral cats that people believe should be destroyed. They too, allow me after a time to clip their nails while they are eating. The food is a buffer, if they get ticked up, they attack the food- not me.