best cat nail clipper?

ours look basically like this:


a couple of things i've learned:

it's better to cut the claw in such a way that the blades hit the sides of the nail first, rather than the top and bottom. the claw is thinner in that direction, and i find that it is more likely to cut cleanly, rather than shatter, when i do it that way.

also, do you know how to see the quick of the nail? it's the pink part within the claw. stay away from it -- it hurts and will bleed a bit if you cut it. if you cut the cat's claws regularly, the quick will recede. so at first, you can just give an almost ceremonial clipping of the very, very end of the claw -- which is thin and easy to cut. that way you are encouraging the quick to recede while also teaching the cat that you are not going to cut her toes off. i find that they get really fussy when i'm getting close to a nail that has some damage from their own wild lives, so i usually don't cut any nail that looks at all split or frayed.

i also find that the position i hold the cats in makes a difference. i lay them on my lap like babies, spine in the crevice between my legs, head at my stomach, left arm hooked under the body and pressing the claws out one by one, right hand clipping. the key is to make sure that they don't have their back paws on your lap, which makes it easy to spring away.

i really, really applaud how much effort you're going to in order that your cats will have a nice life with you. it's wonderful (in my opinion -- not trying to attack anyone) that you are so determined not to declaw them. i've found it especially difficult to get adult cats used to this routine, but they have gotten used to it. i know you probably already know most if not all of what i've written, but i figured better to give too much than too little information.

My cats don't love it, for sure, but I have the same type of clipper pictured and I manage to get it done. I try to sit them on my lap, facing away from me. Then I sort of put my elbow on their back to gently pin them down....take one paw in hand and gently push out their "fingers" until the nails show. Clip with the other hand.

Give treats when done.

p.s. Grafixguy - I love Meow Say Tongue's new photo!

The clipper pictured above is perfect. They also sell a little kit that has some styptic powder just in case you screw up, but you can see the quick pretty easily - some care should prevent any unpleasantness.

Our cat was raged the first few times I clipped her, but she resigns herself to it now. Makes it faster and easier for both of us.