Mocha does the same thing. When she got vaccinated a week ago, I asked the pet on how to hold her firmly yet gently so I can trim her nails and paw fur nicely. The vet didn't show me anything radically different, but Mocha did stay still in his hold. He told me it is because Mocha knows I will let her go if she keeps struggling and that is why she does it. Basically he just told me to practice holding Mocha still for longer and longer at times.
It makes sense to me, but I would love advice from more experienced members. I can only trim anything when she's very very sleepy, but even then she wakes up very quickly so it will only earn me half a paw's trim lol
Love,
Babz