Best Cat Nail Clippers
Does trimming your cat’s nails feel like a battle, often? Many cat owners find it a tough job. Getting your furry friend to relax, to just stay put, that’s usually the hardest part of it.
But this chore doesn’t have to be such a struggle. Good nail clippers and files can actually make the whole thing much easier. You can now trim those claws right at home. This helps keep your cat comfortable and happy.
We’ve looked at many different options out there. We’ll show you what matters when you’re choosing clippers. Then, we’ll share our very best picks for cat nail clippers available here in the UK.
Best Cat Nail Clippers
We picked our favorite cat nail clippers and files for this quick guide. We’ve added short reviews for each one here. You can find our more detailed thoughts about them further down the page.
Best Cat Nail Clippers
SHINY Cat Nail Clippers
We really like the Shiny Pet Cat nail clippers. In fact, we use them ourselves on our own cats. They feel good in your hand. They also give a very neat, clean cut. This helps make nail trimming quick and easier for everyone involved.
For what they cost and how well they work, these offer solid value. They’re good for both adult cats and little kittens too.
Our Rating: 5/5
Best Nail Clippers for Large Cats
gonicc Cat & Dog Nail Trimmers
Have a bigger cat? The gonicc Cat & Dog nail trimmers might be a good fit. They are a little larger. These clippers give you a good grip for precise control. They also have very sharp blades. This means you get a clean cut every single time you use them.
We liked the safety guard these have. It helps stop you from cutting too much of the claw. Plus, there’s a small nail file tucked right into the handle. This made them feel like a full grooming tool, very handy.
Our Rating: 4.5/5
Professional Clippers for Cats
PetPäl Professional Nail Clippers for Cats
These PetPäl clippers are another sturdy choice for kittens and cats. They have a plier-style design. The handles have extra ridges for a strong, secure hold. This helps you keep proper control as you trim.
We appreciated the safety guard here. It really helps stop you from trimming too much of your cat’s nail by mistake. When we used them, the handles felt a bit firm to squeeze. But this gave a very clean, crisp cut. The blades were quite sharp, which is always good.
Our Rating: 4.5/5
Budget-Friendly Clippers
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OneCut Pet Nail Clippers
If you’re on a tight budget, the OneCut pet nail clippers are a smart choice. They have a simple scissor design. Both right-handed and left-handed people can use them without any trouble. This gives you pretty good control when you’re trimming your cat’s claws.
These clippers use a decent quality stainless steel blade. They work for both cats and kittens, which is nice. We did feel these clippers were a little less sturdy than the other ones we listed. But, they were much more affordable, which is a big plus.
Our Rating: 4/5
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What to look for when buying cat nail clippers
As cat owners, we have to keep our cats properly groomed. Trimming a cat’s nails often feels like a stressful task. It can be hard for both you and your pet.
We’ve picked out the key features that help make this whole process as easy and pain-free as possible. Look for these important things:
- Are the blades truly sharp? Are they made of stainless steel for a clean, quick cut?
- Do the clippers offer enough grip? You need good control to avoid any slips.
- Is there a small window in the blades? This helps you see the claw clearly before you cut.
- Are the clippers easy to use? Are they designed specifically for cats, not just any pet?
Cat Nail Clipper Reviews
We’ve checked out the best cat nail clippers you can find here in the UK. Our main goal is to help you pick the right pair for your cat. We didn’t include cat nail grinders in this list. We haven’t found one yet that doesn’t seem to frighten our own cats.
1. Shiny Cat Nail Clippers
Summary
Have you been a bit worried about trimming your cat’s nails? These Shiny Cat clippers can definitely help you out. They use a scissor design, which we really prefer. This, along with a small window in the stainless steel blades, lets you see what you’re doing clearly. You get to keep better control too.
We found these clippers to be very good indeed. The scissor motion just felt more natural than other types we tried. They were small enough for tiny kitten claws. But, they were also big enough for most medium to larger cats. The blades were quite sharp. They made a very clean cut every time we used them.
Key Features
- A window in the blade helps you see the nail as you cut.
- Ergonomic grip for full control of the tool.
- Sharp stainless steel blade gives a clean nail cut.
- Perfect size for cats and other small animals.
- Comes with a lifetime money-back guarantee, which is a nice perk.
2. gonicc Cat & Dog Nail Trimmers
Summary
The gonicc cat and dog nail trimmers offer good, solid quality. They have a safety blade feature. This helps prevent you from cutting too much of the nail, which is a common worry for many owners. There’s also an extra nail file, tucked right into the handle, making it easy to smooth out your cat’s nails after you trim them.
The main thing about these cutters is their size. They are mainly for bigger cats. Or, perhaps cats with thicker nails. The handles are pretty simple to squeeze, they feel comfortable. We felt like we had more control with these compared to some other trimmers we tried, a definite plus for precision.
Key Features
- Includes a safety stop blade, handy for new users.
- Can be locked and unlocked for added safety when stored.
- Has a hidden nail file for smoothing rough edges.
- Non-slip handles and lightweight for easy, comfortable use.
- Blade window is a bit bigger, which works well for large cats and clear viewing.
3. PetPäl Professional Nail Clippers for Cats
Summary
These are another good pair of nail clippers for kittens and cats of various sizes. They have a plier design, which many people find comfortable. The extra ridges on the handles give you a very firm, reliable hold. This helps you keep good control while you’re cutting.
We really like the safety guard on these. It helps keep you from cutting too much of your cat’s nail, which is a common mistake. When we used them, the handles felt a bit stiff to squeeze. This did make it a little harder to begin the cut once the nail was in place. But, it gave a very clean cut overall. The blades were truly sharp, which is always important.
Key Features
- Optimized cutting angle for a clean, quick cut.
- Small window in the blades allows you to see the claw clearly.
- Ergonomic grip for comfort and a firm hold.
- Safety guard helps prevent you from over-cutting.
- Comes with a money-back satisfaction guarantee.
4. OneCut Pet Nail Clippers
OneCut Pet Nail Clippers
Our Rating: 4/5
No products found.
Summary
If you’re on a tight budget, the OneCut pet nail clippers are a smart, economical choice. They use a simple scissor design, making them easy to pick up and use. Both right and left-handed people can use them quite easily. This gives you full control when you’re cutting your cat’s claws.
The clippers have a good quality stainless steel blade. It works for both cats and kittens, so it’s quite versatile. These clippers did feel a bit less sturdy than the other ones on this list. But, they were much cheaper, which is a big plus if you’re watching your spending.
Key Features
- High quality stainless steel blade for clean cuts.
- Small window helps you always see the nail as you cut.
- Good for both kittens and adult cats.
- Non-slip grip helps you maintain better control.
- Comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Why trim your cat’s claws
Cat claws need regular trimming for a few important reasons. It’s not just about neatness or avoiding scratches on your sofa, though that’s a bonus. It’s for their overall health and comfort too.
- Stop broken nails. When claws get too long, they can break during play or when your cat runs around. This can be quite painful for your cat, making them limp.
- Comfort for walking. Long claws often curl inward, sometimes growing into the paw pad itself. This makes it hard and uncomfortable for your cat to walk around or put pressure on their paws.
- Prevent damage at home. Cats, of course, love to scratch things. Longer claws will definitely ruin your furniture, curtains, and carpets much faster. Regular trims save your stuff.
- Safety for everyone. Long cat claws can be risky, especially for kids. You don’t want accidental scratches or injuries when children play with your beloved pets.
Tips for cutting your cat’s nails
Clipping your cat’s nails can actually become a quiet bonding time. It truly depends on how you get your cat ready for it. Try to relax your cat first. Make sure they are as comfortable as they can possibly be, maybe after a nap or some cuddles.
Don’t even try to clip their nails if they’re already worked up or nervous about something else. That will just make things worse for both of you. It becomes a struggle instead of a quick task.
Get into the habit of trimming their nails often. This helps them get used to it. They won’t freak out as much over time, it becomes part of their routine. If you have kittens, start clipping their nails really early. Don’t wait until they are older cats to begin this practice. It’s much easier to teach them when they are young.
Always read all the directions for your clippers before you even use them. You should know how they work well before you touch them to your cat’s paw. Make sure the blades are sharp. This helps you clip nails quickly and cleanly, with less chance of a jagged cut. The handles should feel firm and secure in your hand. If something doesn’t feel right, if they slip or feel flimsy, don’t clip. You’d be much better off buying different clippers you feel more comfortable with.
Once you know how to use the tool properly, it’s easier to position the blades correctly. This helps make nail clipping a smooth process for everyone involved.
Training your cat to be relaxed during claw trimming
When you start teaching your cat to get their nails trimmed, use lots of praise and always be gentle. Try to avoid causing any stress at all during the process. These tips really helped us train our own cats to stay calm when we trimmed their claws, making it a peaceful experience:
- Start claw cutting when your cat or kitten is very young, if possible.
- Always be gentle and patient. Begin clipping when your cat is truly relaxed, maybe sleepy. We often find it works best when our cat is snuggled on our lap, almost dozing.
- Don’t take too much of the nail off. Nail clipping doesn’t hurt your cat if you only remove the very tip, just the clear part.
- Use sharp clippers to get a clean cut quickly and avoid splintering the nail.
- Be comfortable holding your cat and the clippers at the same time. Or, have someone help you hold your cat steady and offer treats.
You can read our full guide on how to trim your cat’s claws here.
