Clipping or trimming cats’ nails is something most owners probably dread, but investing in a set of suitably sharp cat nail clippers can go a long way to making the process smoother. We’ve tried and tested some favorites to find the clippers that make the whole process effortless.
We’ve had very poor experiences with grinder style trimmers in the past; we’re yet to see a cat that’s comfortable around them. For that reason we’ve stuck to pliers and scissors, they’re traditional, cost-effective and always get the job done with as little struggle as possible. Here are some of our favorite options for trimming cat claws.
The Best Cat Nail Clippers
| Name | Style |
|---|---|
| Epica Professional Cat Nail Clipper | Pliers |
| SHINY PET Cat Nail Clippers | Scissors |
| JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Nail Clipper | Scissors |
| CleanHouse Pets Cat Nail Clippers | Pliers |
| Pet Republique Cat Nail Clipper | Scissors |
At this point, you could be forgiven for thinking that there’s hardly any difference between the options we’ve presented above, and you wouldn’t be far wrong. This is, after all, a guide to picking the best nail clippers, so it’s inevitable that the top picks that are of the same style will be similar to one another.
Stick with us though, and we’ll explain the benefits of each purchase and why we think the Epica is the best cat nail trimmer around. Below is a list of the best cat nail clippers ranked with comfort, value for money and durability considered.
1. Epica Professional Cat Nail Clipper
Cat owners who buy the Epica Professional will never need to buy another set of claw clippers again. Never.
They’re quite simply perfect. From the build quality to the grip, every angle is covered with these cat nail clippers. The finger grooves help you grip the clippers tightly without any worries about it slipping out of your hand mid-clip.
We seriously can’t believe how sharp this thing is. Stainless steel blades mean the clippers won’t bend, rust or scratch at all so you’re set for life.
The sharpness of the blades make trimming your cat’s claws super fast and smooth. You don’t have to try keep them still for an eternity to get the job done.
It has a safety lock that keeps the sharp parts concealed when not in use, which doubles as protection for both yourself and for the sharpness of the blades when stored alongside other items.
Did we mention it has a 100 per cent lifetime warranty? That’s pretty crazy right? If these ever break, you can get a brand new replacement totally free of charge.
It’s hard to see how any other product can compete with these premium cat nail trimmers and the warranty offered.
2. SHINY PET Cat Nail Clippers
These brilliant nail clippers from SHINY PET successfully changed our opinion on scissor style nail clippers. Clipping nails is effortless due to the razor sharp stainless steel angled blade.
Grippy handles designed to be anti-slip and ergonomic offer by far and wide the best cutting experience of any style nail clippers we’ve tried.
The bows of the handles are the perfect size to offer solid grip and comfort, even for those with larger hands. Something that isn’t often the case for scissor clippers.
Made out of 100% recycled plastic, they’re shipped with an instructional guide to help you through your first few clips. It’s therefore safe to say that these stainless steel nail clippers tick all our boxes for clipping your cat’s nails safely.
We’d previously been of the opinion that a pliers style offered better handling and cutting performance all-round; and we were wrong. These durable cat nail clippers earn their spot for showing us just how wrong we were. A lifetime money-back guarantee is the icing on the cake; giving you the chance to try these at no risk.
3. JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Nail Clipper
JW Pet’s Gripsoft nail clippers are another excellent scissor style clippers that we found to be incredibly comfortable to hold and smooth to maneuver.
They’re small enough to be able to navigate your cat’s claws without any trouble, but large enough to hold firmly in place. Though there is some seriously stiff competition for scissor style cat nail clippers, these offer a very precise cut that left us pretty impressed.
The angled blades help to offer a better view of what’s happening when compared to straight bladed scissors, and we felt that it gave better control of the cutting pressure.
Cats’ nails should be trimmed in several small clips, to minimize the risk of cutting too far or hitting the quick; these scissors are perfect for that. They’re small and nimble and make a quick job of trimming. We’re impressed!
4. CleanHouse Pets Cat Nail Clippers
These cat nail clippers from CleanHouse rank as one of the best in the business in terms of user reviews. They’re available in a few sizes, but you should opt for a smaller pair considering the larger models are usually manufactured with large dogs in mind.
Again, they’re constructed with stainless steel blades, ensuring sharpness and durability. We’ll talk more about the different mechanisms used by cat nail clipping tools later, but suffice to say that a pliers motion feels much more natural when compared to a scissors or guillotine.
The handles are made from a “non-slip” material. Unless you have particularly greasy hands, you should have no issues. We found the grip to be comfortable and secure throughout trimming.
They take a very small amount of pressure to cut a cats claws, and while it’s a purely superficial thing, they look a little more friendly than the other options on our list.
5. Pet Republique Cat Nail Clippers
Let’s step away from the pliers style nail clippers and take a look at another fine example of a scissors clipper.
Though we slightly prefer the pliers mechanism ourselves, this claw clipper from Pet Republique is a perfectly viable option. They’re not quite as sharp as the pliers featured in this post, but they do cut very well.
The finger grips have a rubber texture to reduce slipping, and they feel very sturdy to use. There’s no give at all in the hinge so we’d expect these to last a very long time.
We absolutely love that the manufacturer also donates 15% of all their profits to the American Animal Rescue Society. It has a two year warranty, which gives you a quick insight in to the manufacturers confidence that this product will last. You even get a 30 day money back guarantee, so there’s no risk in giving it a try.
Why should you clip a cat’s nails?
In days gone by, people often remedied the problem of sharp cat claws by declawing their cat entirely. In the modern times, many vets and cat owners consider this option as a last resort, thank god for that.
Often you’ll find that veterinarian doctors will refuse to go through with the process. This is because declawing causes your cat immense pain and discomfort leading to erratic behaviors and constant unease.
For those of us who are cat owners or lovers, we all have to accept the fact that cat scratches are an occupational hazard.
Clipping your cat’s nails is a humane and sensible grooming method for reducing claw sharpness that benefits you and your cat. Though probably not the primary reason for doing so, reducing your cat’s capability of shredding your furniture to pieces is a reason you might want to trim it’s nails.
Clipping claws is a matter of comfort for both of you and your cat, especially if you own a cat who is fond of kneading. Clipping your cat’s nails will enhance this loving experience so that, instead of dreading it, it becomes something to look forward to.
A cat’s scratch can lead to infections due to their tendency to wonder into environments that are not very clean. If a cat is infested by fleas its scratch may cause you Bartonella henselae, which is also known as cats scratch disease. All it takes is for your cat to scratch you with claws that are infested with flea feces.
When cats sharpen their claws normally they are usually trying to remove the old, outer layers of nail. They don’t always manage to do a good job of this, and it’s especially true that indoor cats struggle with the process due to the lack of coarse surfaces around the home.
When they don’t manage the successful removal of old nails, it can lead to ingrown nails that are extremely painful for your cat. Ingrown nails then often lead to nasty infections that can very quite detrimental to your pet’s health and happiness.
Regular trimming ensures that ingrown nails are prevented, and can promote a healthier bond between you and your kitty.
Most vets recommend that you introduce your cat to nail clipping within the first six months of your cat’s life. This usually catches the end of the socialization stage of a kitten’s development.
Trying to introduce your cat to trimming after this period can be a hectic experience for both you and your cat for the first few attempts.
How to clip a cat’s claws
Before we get in to showing you how you should trim your cat’s nails, there are a few factors to ponder beforehand. The following points will affect how often and how much you trim your cat’s claws with a clipper.
- Whether your cat has a scratching post? Scratching posts increase the strength of your cat’s claws.
- Whether your cat stays indoors? Indoor cats get much less of a chance to naturally wear down their nails.
For those with have cats that are fully residential, it is advisable that you trim your cat’s nails once a week. It is therefore highly recommended you invest in a scratching post, or a cat tower that has scratching posts installed.
If you have a scratching post in your house you will probably only need to trim your cat’s nails every 15 days or so.
Hints and tips for cutting your cat’s claws
Familiarizing your cat with nail trimming at an early stage is best way to ensure a comfortable and safe trimming experience. Sadly this point has often passed for most owners.
You can minimize the discomfort during the initial few clippings by buying a premium set of cat nail clippers (never use ordinary scissors).
Know the anatomy of your cat’s claws
Most cats have 18 claws which are arranged with with five on each front foot and four on the rear feet.
A cat’s nails usually retract when they are relaxing and can be extended by applying pressure gently on the top and bottom of each paw.
You can practice this in a relaxed environment often so as to gain experience and to normalize the sensation for your cat.
You must also know how to identify the quick. The quick is a vital organ that supplies your cat’s foot with blood and contains nerves that gives the nails sensation. It’s just as sensitive in cats as it is on us humans.
Many guides will recommend firstly that you have Styptic Power on hand before you begin clipping your cat’s nails. This is very good advice specifically for those new to the practice.
If you are aggressive in your trimming, there is a strong chance that you will cut this organ. This will lead to a lot of pain and bleeding for your pet. The quick can easily be identified by its color which is usually a red tinge or pink color.
If at any point you do cut the quick, you can apply Styptic Powder to help stop the bleeding and relieve the painful sensation your cat will be going through.
You can also dab a small amount of olive oil onto your cat’s claw and it will make the outlines of the quick very visible.
Train your cat to be still while its feet are being handled
Cats don’t normally resist nail trimming unless the quick is touched. Unfortunately, cats don’t really enjoy remaining still for long while their feet are being handled.
As with most handling, kittens are far more agreeable to this process than adult cats but with time older cats become amenable to it. It’s a process that takes patience.
Make the trimming bonding experience not a fight
Cats have a fantastic memory, so as you try to trim its claws use a soft and gentle voice, it might seem crazy but it really does help.
If you turn the situation into a fight, it will not get easier any time soon. If your cat becomes angry in the process the best thing to do is to abort the operation.
After the trimming process, you can make a point of rewarding your cat for its patience during the trimming process.
When trimming your cat’s nails with a claw trimmer, it always best to work with another person. Not many cats will sit around for a 10-minute nail trim, so having someone on hand to help handle that cat while you get to work can significantly speed up the trimming process.
Remove the tip from each nail, and move smoothly from one nail to the other. If you’re in doubt about how much of the nail you should clip, it is better to just remove too little than too much.
Last but not least, remember cat nail trimming is like any other art, practice makes perfect.
What makes a good cat nail clipper?
Cat owners should not live to dread this process. But they should remember that equipping themselves with a set of the best cat claw clippers gives them a much better chance of a comfortable trim.
Choosing the right clipper plays a big role in ensuring that the activity goes smoothly. There are a variety of cat clippers on the market that are designed to trim and cut a cat’s nails efficiently.
In the absence of sharp blades, efficiency and precision go out the window. You run the risk of breaking your cat’s claws which is not a good thing for your cat.
The best nail clippers for cats are usually made from sturdy stainless steel blades. This makes them last almost an entire lifetime and as such reduces the need to keep on buying a new one every now and then.
A good clipper for cat’s nails should be easy to use. This means they must be comfortable to hold and operate. This clipper should fit in the hand properly; it shouldn’t be heavy and must have a nonslip grip.
They should also have adequate safety features. Nail clippers with locking blades are the best since they prevent accidents even when the clipper is not being used and stop the blades being blunted while stored.
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