Baseline Phase

Step BL, Same as Step 9-10, 5 Clips.
Components:
1) Trial begins when cat when cat is seated in the working area and looks at caregiver
2) Caregiver’s left hand pets the cat’s right shoulder, moving down to their right front elbow and down to the lower leg
3) Caregiver’s left hand slides down onto the lower leg with the thumb in front of the leg and 4 fingers behind the leg
4) Caregiver gently lifts front leg
5) Caregiver uses thumb and one of their fingers to manipulate front paw to access claws
6) Caregiver has nail clipper in right hand
7) Caregiver extends right arm, bringing their right hand with the clippers to the cat’s right front paw
8) Clippers are moved to nail so that one of the cat’s nails is inserted into the clippers
9) Right hand manipulates clippers to the closed position, 1 claw is clipped
10) Caregiver adjusts left hand to expose a second claw
11) Clippers are moved to the second claw so that one of the cat’s nails is inserted into the clippers
12) Right hand manipulates clippers to the closed position, a second claw is clipped
13) Caregiver adjusts left hand to expose a third claw
14) Clippers are moved to the third claw so that one of the cat’s nails is inserted into the clippers
15) Right hand manipulates clippers to the closed position, a third claw is clipped
16) Caregiver adjusts left hand to expose a fourth claw
17) Clippers are moved to the fourth claw so that one of the cat’s nails is inserted into the clippers
18) Right hand manipulates clippers to the closed position, a fourth claw is clipped
19) Caregiver adjusts left hand to expose a fifth claw
20) Clippers are moved to the fifth claw so that one of the cat’s nails is inserted into the clippers
21) Right hand manipulates clippers to closed position, a fifth claw is clipped 22) If cat doesn’t break seated position and nail trims are successful, after the final nail trim caregiver says marker word
23) After saying marker word caregiver removes hands
24) If marker word is said, caregiver delivers reinforcement
25) If cat retracts their paw, from caregiver’s hand, caregiver leaves their hands in place for 5 seconds. If within that 5 seconds the cat puts their paw back into the caregiver’s hand, the trial may continue. If within that 5 seconds the cat does not replace their paw, the trial ends
26) If the cat breaks their seated position, the trial ends
27) If the cat leaves the work area, the session ends 8
28) If before the trial starts, the cat remains in the work area for more than 3 minutes without setting the adequate conditions for a trial to begin, the session ends