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(Recommended Cat Nail Clippers) JW Pet Cat Nail Clippers
It is in a cats nature to scratch, and it is pure instinct that sees them carrying out this behavior.
However, as all cat owners know only too well when your pet’s claws become too long, this scratching can turn in to a more painful and destructive activity.
Because of this, it is important to trim your cat’s nails regularly to prevent the harm that may result from their natural tendency to scratch.
To help you find the find the right tools to carry out this process this guide will include in-depth reviews for five of the best cat nail clippers available as well as breaking down how to clip a cat’s nails in a step by step walkthrough.
Want to Save Time? Compare the Top 3 Best Cat Nail Clipper
ProductEpica Pet ClippersOmegaPet Dog Nail ClippersSafari 770045 Professional Nail TrimmersPrime DeliveryRatingStyleScissorScissorScissorNail File IncludedStainless Steel BladeEasy Grip HandleLong LastingSafety GuardIdeal ForMedium and large dogs2 models available for all size breedsSmall to medium-sized dogs.
ProductEpica Pet ClippersPrime DeliveryRatingStyleScissorNail File IncludedStainless Steel BladeEasy Grip HandleLong LastingSafety GuardIdeal ForMedium and large dogsCheck PriceOur Top Choice
ProductOmegaPet Dog Nail ClippersPrime DeliveryRatingStyleScissorNail File IncludedStainless Steel BladeEasy Grip HandleLong LastingSafety GuardIdeal For2 models available for all size breedsCheck Price
ProductSafari 770045 Professional Nail TrimmersPrime DeliveryRatingStyleScissorNail File IncludedStainless Steel BladeEasy Grip HandleLong LastingSafety GuardIdeal ForSmall to medium-sized dogsCheck Price
We hope we cover everything you need to know for you to happily get back to enjoying the company of your cat without the fear of overgrown claws accidentally catching your skin or brand new jumper!
Keeping your cat correctly groomed is essential for many reasons.
Aside from keeping their paws looking tidy, it is also essential for keeping your cat fit and healthy.
To new cat owners, this task may seem daunting at first, but you can carry it out at home once you’ve learned the proper technique and chosen the right type of cat nail clippers for the job.
Just like teaching your cat to use a litter tray, easing them into the act of having their nails clipped is extremely important.
Why Do Cats Scratch?
Cats scratch and claw for several reasons but mostly because scratching is a way of marking their territory.
Their paws contain scent glands meaning scratching allows cats to leave both a scent and a visual mark.
Not only that but scratching is also a natural means for stretching the body and flexing feet and claws.
It also allows cats to work off their natural energy, so there are many benefits for a cat to scratch, however annoying and frustrating it can be at times for you as an owner especially if you have an indoor cat.
This is because indoor cats still need to perform this instinctive behavior, but without trees or posts to scratch, they are left with finding a suitable alternative, which is more often than not a piece of furniture.
As well as scratching to exercise, cats also scratch as a means of getting rid of the dead outer film in their claws.
This means that cats who claws aren’t worn down through exercise may see them become overgrown. Left unclipped a cat’s nails will grow into their paws which can lead to many issues especially if they aren’t able to remove the dead outer film themselves.
This is where clipping your cat’s nails regularly can help to keep their hygiene levels up and ensure no long lasting issues.
Benefits of Cutting Your Cat’s Nails
While this step in cat grooming is often overlooked by many owners, properly cutting your cat’s nails is very important.
Here are some of the main reasons why regular nail trimming is essential, no matter the breed, size, or age of your cat.
- To prevent your cat from causing damage
Cats can be potentially destructive if their nails are allowed to grow too long.Long nails can easily cause wounds to people or other pets.Overgrown nails can also damage your furniture and other belongings. As a safety procedure, it is essential that you keep your cat’s nails at a safe length. - To avoid their nails splitting or breaking
Splitting and breaking of nails are problems shared by cats with their human counterparts.While it is often caused by aging and other benign processes, brittle nails can prove to be problematic. While there are many steps to prevent this issue from happening, you can start by keeping your cat’s nails at a manageable length. - Help maintain your cat’s hygiene levels
For hygienic purposes, it is essential that your cat’s nails must always be kept at just the right length. When your cat’s nails are too long, it can potentially harbor infectious agents such as fungi.You can minimize this risk by keeping your cat’s nails trimmed at all times. - Protect you and your family
Your cat may playfully or inadvertently scratch you or a member of your family.Long claws are likely to leave painful marks on the skin.Trim your cat’s claws to prevent painful scratches. - Comfort
Trimming your cat’s nails ensures your pet’s comfort and well-being.Cats with long claws are likely to have their claws snagged in furniture fabric or carpets, not only this but they are also likely to find it difficult to free themselves.This can mean they injure themselves when they try to get free.Moreover, claws that are too long can dig or cut the paw pads, causing discomfort, pain, and even infection. Clipping your cat’s nails regularly can help prevent thesclippe problems from arising. - Keeps your cat calm
Cats with long nails tend to scratch things to try to trim their nails.Scratch to get rid of the dead surface layer of their claws is a form of self-grooming.However, if you keep your cat’s nails trimmed, your pet feels calmer and more relaxed. This means they will not feel the constant need to scratch to remove the old nail sheaths.This will reduce the damage to your carpets and furniture as when your cat’s nails are long; the constant scratching is likely to cause unpleasant marks on your wooden furniture, as well as snags on the carpets, upholstery, and on the fabric covering pillows and cushions.
Also a dog owner? Find out why it is just as important to keep your pups nails trimmed here.
How Often Should You Cut Your Cat’s Nails?
Ideally, you should be cutting your cat nail’s every two weeks.
14 days seems to be the right amount of time to not annoy your cat by carrying out the process too frequently but also ensuring that their nails don’t become too long.
Considering it is a grooming procedure that you need to carry out fortnightly you need to invest in the correct tools that allow you carry out the process quickly and effectively
The Different Types of Cat Nail Clippers
There are several types of clippers available on the market. Below we examine the four most popular styles as well as features to consider when making a purchase.
Scissor
These easy to use clippers allow you to groom your cat’s nails by operating in the same way you would use a pair of scissors.
Just like human nail clippers of this type they are easy to maneuver and allow you to get a clean cut at your cat’s nails.
This means you can trim cats nails cleanly and quickly. Scissor nail clippers are also unlikely to splinter the nail which can be painful to your cat.
New cat owners will find these clippers easy to operate as they look and work like regular scissors and can be used in the same familiar and precise manner.
Guillotine
These clippers look like a small guillotine with handles.
They are operated by inserting your cat’s nail into a circular opening found at the bottom and steadily clipping the nail.
The handles provide a good grip so you can trim your cat’s nails quickly, neatly, and easily. They do not cause the nails to splinter provided you keep the blades sharp.
Pliers
This type combines the easy-to-maneuver, precise, and clean-cutting blades of the scissors-type clippers with the strong grip of the guillotine-type clippers, perfect if you are struggling to choose between the two styles above.
Battery-Operated or Electric Clippers
These are quick and efficient clippers. The only drawback is the noise they make which can startle and unsettle some cats, making the grooming process slightly more difficult.
They can also be slightly more costly, and in our experience, we haven’t found the results to be superior enough to warrant the higher price tag.
Features to Consider
We do believe that grooming your cat’s nails is easy if you choose the best style of cat nail clippers for your pet.
Now you have a better understanding of the different types of cat nail clippers available and before diving into the individual reviews below, here are three key features to look out for:
- Safety Setting – Now we know must households with cats also include young children which is why we have added this as the number one feature to look out for when buying nail clippers for your cat.The blades used on modern trimmers are often quite sharp, so it is vital that the clippers you choose come with a built-in safety locking feature.Luckily manner manufacturers include these as standard, but it is still worth looking out for to avoid any unwanted accidents.
- Handle Style – With a wide range of cat trimmers to choose from you will encounter products in a variety of shapes and sizes.As our step by step walkthrough highlights later in this guide, at first the process of trimming your cat’s nails may be a challenging task. As a result, it is vital that you find a set of clippers that you are comfortable using for a potentially long period and that you can also use with a steady hand to effectively clip any overgrown nails.
- Blade Design – When deciding on the best cat nail trimmers to purchase we highly recommend going for a product with stainless-steel blades.These blades are by far the best for clipping your pet’s nails and will ensure you can get a clean cut each and every time without splitting your cat’s nails.
Top 5 Best Cat Nail Clippers – Product Reviews
1. JW Pet Car Nail Clippers
Grade: A+
This cat nail clipper from JW Pet is made of top-grade stainless steel, resulting in durable, sharp blades that will not rust, bend, or scratch.
These razor-sharp blades allow you to cut with speed and precision, without the ragged edges that often result from blunt blades.
The clippers have rubber-coated anti-slip handles which give you a firm grip and also include safety locks to keep the blades secure when not in use.
The Epica nail clippers allow you to trim your cat’s nails with ease and speed so that you can finish the task before your cat gets skittish from staying still through the process.
The JW Cat nail trimmer was initially designed for all types of cats.
2. OmegaPet Nail Clipper
Grade: A
The OmegaPet Nail Clipper is designed to provide long-lasting, efficient nail clipping service.
Made from sharp and heavy-duty stainless steel, they are lightweight but sturdy and sharp, resulting in efficient and fast nail clipping.
This nail trimmer has ergonomic anti-slip handles that provide large or small hands a firm and comfortable grip.
You can give your cat a clean and precise trimming, cutting through your cat’s nails even with just minimal pressure.
The nail clipper also comes with safety guard that secures the blades when you are not using the clippe and is one of the reasons these are a great professional choice.
3. Langxun Professional Pet Nail Trimmer
Grade: A
Expertly designed for the use of professionals like pet groomers, animal trainers, and veterinarians, these professional cat nail clippers feature ease and efficiency of use.
They are made of thick and high-grade stainless steel that ensures that the blades provide quick, sharp and precise cuts.
The non-slip rubber handles and heavy-duty spring are explicitly designed to give optimal leverage that ensures an efficient trim every single time you use the clippers.
The safety guard keeps your cat safe from the pain that results when you over-cut the nails. The in-built safety lock also assures that pets and children do not come to any inadvertent harm.
4. Pet SuperHeroes Pet Nail Clippers
Grade: A-
These professional cat nail clippers save you from the stress and anxiety that you may feel when you have to groom your pet on your own.
The clippers are ultra sharp as the blades are made of durable nickel-coated stainless steel that cut precisely every time.
The handles have a spring-loaded mechanism that makes it easy for you to maneuver the clipper with minimal pressure. You merely have to give the clippers a simple squeeze, and they will cut through your cat’s nails cleanly.
The clippers are safe to use as the handles are made of hypoallergenic PP and TPE.
The trimmers also come with a removable guide so that you do not over-cut your cat’s nails. They also have a locking mechanism to ensure safe storage.
A nail file on the handle allows you to buff your cat’s nails to get rid of sharp edges after trimming.
5. Grooming Portal Dog Nail Clippers
Grade: B+
These professional clippers combine superior performance, cutting-edge design, and detailed craftsmanship to provide a comfortable nail-cutting experience for your cat.
The razor-sharp blades cut clean and sharp, and we found this performance to only improve with every use.
They provide smooth, efficient, and clean cutting motions that will trim your cat’s nails quickly.
You are not likely to splinter, twist, or pinch the nails and as you just cut through quickly; you do not have to exert any strong or forceful pressure.
You get a firm non-slip grip on the full-rounded handles. This means you won’t have to worry about the nail trimmer slipping, twisting or pinching your palm. You also have the option of using the safety blade guard to ensure that you do not cut more than is necessary.
You can use these cat nail trimmers for your cat provided that the nails are not excessively curled or over-sized as the opening may be too small for this type of nails.
How to Trim Your Cats Nails
Hopefully, having read the reviews above you have now found a pair of cat nail clippers that you can be confident with and will help you to groom your pet’s nails to perfection.
However even with the best clippers in the world, it is crucial that you know how to do a good job when it comes to actually clipping your cat’s nail.
In this section we break down the process into manageable steps so you can begin clipping your cat’s nails right-away and can do so without causing your pet any harm whatsoever.
Step 1 – Prepare Your Cat
The first step in learning how to trim cat nails is preparing your pet properly.
Ineffective preparation can make them irritable and non-cooperative.
First, you have got to set the mood right, by relaxing them and making sure they’re comfortably positioned on your lap or flat surface. Once you’ve done with this, you have to make your cat becomes accustomed with having their paws handled.
You can do this by petting their paws while they are in their favorite position and can use positive reinforcement like praise and treats if they cooperate.
When handling your cat’s paws, it should be in such a way that they are able to remain comfortable.
Step 2 – Observe Your Cat’s Feet and Nails & Pay Attention to the Quick
Learning how to cut cat’s nails correctly means learning how to observe their nails.
To get things started, lightly squeeze the paws of your cat, applying the most pressure on the pads. This will make the claws pop out, readying it for both observation and cutting.
The most important part of the nail you should take note of is the quick. The quick is the pinkish area inside the nail, this area is highly vascular.
You should never cut into this part as it will cause pain and bleeding.
Each of your cat’s nails is similar, so you can expect that the locations of the quick for each nail will be more or less the same.
Step 3 – Choose the Right Equipment
As highlighted already in this guide, learning how to clip your cat’s nails means understanding that having the right equipment is essential.
It is highly recommended that you acquire proper tools for the job.
We have already looked at the different kinds of nail clippers out there, with the most popular ones being the scissor clipper and the guillotine clipper.
Regardless of the style you pick, it is vital that you get a trimmer that is sharp enough to cut into your cat’s claw smoothly. Dull clippers can make your job more laborious and more time-consuming than it should be, and can even cause pain to your pet!
Step 4 – Start The Trimming Process
To start cutting, you have to put your cat in position.
While you can use any position as long as the cat is comfortable, the best position is when your cat has their back turned on you and their rear is placed squarely on your lap.
Once your cat is in position, gently squeeze the edges of your cat’s paws to extend the claw.
Once the claw is exposed, you can now cut it using the clipper.
Taking extra care not to hit the quick.
Ideally, you should cut at an angle perpendicular to the quick.
Never cut too close to the quick as there’s always a risk of you hitting it.
Step 5 – After Cutting Is Complete…
Once you complete your nail trimming session, it is ideal that you reward your cat for being cooperative.
This will help foster cooperation in future nail clipping sessions.
One of the simplest ways to reward your cat after a good session is to give them their favorite treat.
Rewarding your cat will lead them to associate the trimming session to a treat, which will make them more cooperative in the long run.
However, there will be times when your cat is less-than-cooperative, especially during their first few sessions. Stay patient, never rush, and don’t show frustration or anger towards your cat.
Timing Is Everything
When learning how to trim cat’s nails, you have got to learn how critical timing is.
When you time your trimming sessions the right way, you can make your task significantly more manageable. Before even starting clipping, make sure to earn the trust of your cat first.
The best time to cut a cat’s nails is when they are at their most relaxed, such as when they just finished their meal or they are just about ready to take a nap. The more comfortable your cat is, the more cooperative they become.
Cat Nail Injuries
A common reason for clipping your cat’s nails is to prevent injuries or niggling issues that may affect your pet in some way.
As we have already covered throughout this guide, leaving your pet’s nails to grow too long can lead to a number of issues. This includes the likelihood of your cat catching their claws while they stretch or naturally scratch, and ripping or spliting a nail.
As active animals, preventing torn or split nails can be almost impossible. However, it is essential to take the right steps once the injury has occurred and this usually means caring for your pet’s nails in one way or another by trimming them carefully.
What to Do if Your Cat has a Split Nail
A significant reason for cats splitting their nails is because they have grown too long.
If your cat has split their nail either through scratching or any other way, then it is essential you look after it properly.
Depending on how much the nail is split you can clip it to prevent it from splitting any more and reaching the quick. So following the instructions laid out above only clip the clear part of your cat’s nails.
How Short to Cut Your Cat’s Claws?
You Should aim to cut your cat’s claw to within 2 millimeters of the quick.
You can identify the quick as the slightly pink colored part of your pets claw and if you are new to clipping your cat’s claws than take care when clipping too short as if you cut into the quick the claw will bleed and can cause your pet pain.
If the claw is cut too short you can use a styptic pencil to stop any bleeding.
Wrapping Up
Learning how to cut cat’s nails takes both practice and patience.
You’re not going to master this skill overnight, and you cannot expect your cat to be cool with it right away. However, once you learn this, your pet will thank you for it.
Use the tips outlined in this guide, and you’ll soon become a master in cutting cat claws.
Ideally, you should look to trim your cat’s nails every ten days or so but if you make it fortnightly this won’t hurt at all either!
Although this may sound a lot at first just like us humans cats nails can grow quickly and enuring they are perfectly groomed will leave you and your cat both happier.
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