Best Cat Nail Clippers: Choosing Clippers for Your Cats Claws

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There’s a variety of nail clippers available for cats. Let’s look at the best cat nail clippers.

How do you decide which are the best cat nail clippers? There is a wide variety on the market, and making a choice can be confusing.

In this article, we’ll look at the best cat nail clippers. We’ll discuss the benefits of clipping your cat’s claws and look at some natural alternatives, such as scratch posts and boards.

Types of nail clippers for cats

Cat owners seem to find the smaller-sized, forged steel safety blades with plastic grips and safety guards the most accessible and practical. They fit into your hand and are designed for precision when cutting small nails.

The next most popular have forged, spring-loaded safety blades and textured anti-slip grip handles. When you snip the nail, the spring pops the edges open, releasing the cuttings in addition to increasing pressure on the snip.

The last clippers group is called angled scissors with anti-slip handles. They are stainless steel with razor-sharp safety blades. These scissors are designed with an angle so you can see exactly where they are before you cut the nail.

Electric grinders are not a cat’s best friend. Cats are sensitive, so most will not tolerate an electric device’s vibration or grinding sensation.

Each type of nail clipper has its advantages and disadvantages. Finding the suitable clipper for you and your cat includes considering ergonomics and easy, one-handed use. How your cat reacts to the process will determine which style works for you and your feline friend.

Anti-slip handle grips help to prevent slippage if your cat gets wiggly when trimming. However, these handles can feel cumbersome until you get used to them. Razor sharp blades are excellent for cutting quickly; however, if you’re not careful when trimming, you can easily cut the quick.

Guillotine-type nail cutters are quick but can crush the nail instead of cutting it if the claw is brittle, as in older cats. Spring-loaded handles provide more leverage to cut, but it may be too much for smaller cats and result in a painfully nicked quick. Clippers with safety guards prevent cutting too deep but can be challenging to use for large cats and more extended claws.

The Benefits of Cutting Cats Claws

Cats in the wild use their claws for self-defense, hunting, climbing, and marking territories. These are automatic behaviors for cats and will continue when they dwell inside.

Cats’ claws grow continuously at varying speeds depending on the feline’s age. If nails are not trimmed every ten days to two weeks, they will elongate until they puncture the pads of the feet. As the claws angle into the cushions and pierce them, they can cause discomfort in addition to infection resulting in a trip to the vet for an antibiotic.

Trimming your cats claws is a part of routine care. However, protecting yourself and your family from accidental scratches is essential. Cats scratch on household items to demarcate their territory and make your home theirs. In addition, claws are used in self-defense and become increasingly sharp as they grow.

When kneading on their human, the sharpness of the claw is a good indication that it is time to trim their feet.

How to trim a cats claws

Once you have chosen your nail clippers based on size and ease of use, you can trim your cat’s claws. If this is your first time trimming their nails, there are online resources, including videos, to guide you. If you continue to have questions, your vet will be happy to show you how.

Trimming a cat’s claws begins with getting your cat comfortable in your lap. Cats are sensitive, so the best approach is slow and steady. Some cats tolerate new experiences, while others view anything new with suspicion. Determining your approach to trimming as part of routine care is vital to your feline’s comfort.

After your cat becomes accustomed to your handling of his paws, introduce the clippers and let them sniff them. You will only need to trim the claw’s sharp point, staying away from the quick to prevent injury.

The first step is to allow your cat to rest comfortably and be contented on your lap while you look at their feet. Next, press on their paws with your fingers, so you extend their nails and see where the pink quick is inside the nail.

The pink quick inside the nail has nerve endings and is the blood supply to the tip of the nail. Next, trim only the pointed end of the claw, staying away from the quick.

If your cat is food motivated, giving a treat before and after trimming can be helpful.

Best Cat Nail Clippers: Buyer’s Guide

When looking for cat nail clippers, try them out at the pet store to see if they fit comfortably in your hand. There are multiple types available at pet and feed stores, allowing you to find the ones that work for you. You want to be able to see the end of the clipper when it is in your hand. Ease of use is essential because trimming claws is an important part of routine care.

Clippers’ features include fit for your hand size, ability to see the end, durability, and sharpness. In addition, a textured grip will keep the clippers from slipping. Finally, a razor edge to the blades helps to provide a sharp, quick cut.

Alternatives To Nail Clippers

There are several alternatives and additions to nail clipping. For example, scratching posts and cat trees can become a cat’s favorite entertainment, distraction, and toy. Scratching posts encourage a cats natural scratching behaviou while keeping the claws healthy and wearing them down slightly, which means they don’t need to be trimmed.

Another is corrugated cardboard infused with catnip to entice the cat. Woven sisal mats and ropes also provide natural scratching alternatives. Sisal is a Mexican agave with large leaves harvested and made into fiber for carpets and cords. It is natural and safe for cats.

Alternatives that allow cats to display their instincts related to scratching make for happier felines and preserve household goods.

Conclusion

Trimming cat claws is part of routine care. Therefore, purchasing a tool that is easy to use, economical, and efficient is essential. In addition, allowing cats alternatives to scratching household items will help them become a well-adjusted, beloved family member.

Hopefully, this guide helps you to find the best cat nail clippers for you and your furry friend.

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