What is a nail clipper?
Cats have thick, curved claws that cannot be shortened with ordinary scissors. Using an unsuitable tool may cause bleeding or serious injury. Some owners trust groomers to carry out hygiene procedures. But to keep your claws in order, you need to visit a grooming salon every month.
In order to save time and effort, many breeders prefer to process the paws themselves. To do this, they use a functional tool. Nail cutter – special scissors for trimming cat claws. The durable design allows you to trim claws quickly and painlessly, without the risk of damaging the phalanx or root.
Manicure for a cat
Trimming claws is an important and necessary procedure for a cat, especially if he lives in an apartment and does not have the opportunity to grind his claws down in natural conditions. Or rather, the cat will sharpen its “weapon” in any case, another question: about what? The scratching posts and special toys you bought may well not please the cat, and then he will begin to scratch furniture and wallpaper, clothes and bags... It is doubtful that this will please you.
Cat manicure is a simple way to solve many complex problems.
Scratching is a natural process, not pampering or harmful. In this way, animals clean and renew their claws, and at the same time mark the territory that they consider their own. How to respect both the cat's and the owner's interests - without casualties and destruction. The simplest and most humane way out is to cut the claws. Different cats' claws grow at different rates, but usually one manicure session lasts for two weeks.
The procedure for trimming nails in a veterinary clinic is inexpensive, but you can easily handle it yourself - why create additional stressful situations for your pet? At home, you can cut not all the claws at the same time, but at least one or two at a time - only those that have become too long and sharp. This approach is easier for even the most impatient pet to handle.
Trim your nails on time - this will make life easier for you and your pet.
Why can't I use regular wire cutters or scissors?
The human nail plate is thin and round in shape. The structure of a cat's nail is different. The claws resemble a sickle - convex and curved downwards.
Let's talk about anatomy to avoid injury to blood vessels:
- Each cat has 18 toes - 5 on the front paws, 4 on the back paws.
- While the phalanges are relaxed, the claws are not visible. To cut the length, you need to lightly press on each finger.
- The claw consists of a pulp (closer to the base) and a horny part. The pulp contains nerve endings and small blood vessels. You need to trim the claw so as not to hurt it.
- The fifth toe on the front paws is slightly higher than the rest. He also needs a manicure.
If you use ordinary scissors for a hygienic procedure, you can crush the nail plate, damage blood vessels and stress the animal.
To avoid bleeding and injury, it is better to use a nail clipper for cats. We will tell you further about which one is better to choose.
Hello Pet 20112L
The model has dimensions of 4.70*16.50 cm. The design is very convenient, and the weight of the tool is very light, which makes using the nail clipper more comfortable. The cutting blades are made of high-quality heat-resistant steel. The model is ideal for small dogs and puppies. Thanks to such blades, the nail clipper quickly cuts claws without crushing or breaking them.
Pros:
- High quality steel;
- Sharp blades;
- Precise cuts without crushing the claws;
- High-quality spring material;
- Comfortable handles with rubberized inserts.
How to use a cat nail clipper?
Cats need a manicure 1-2 times a month or as the nail plate grows. In order for your pet to take the hygiene procedure for granted, it is necessary to teach it to manipulation from an early age. Talk to the kitten, gently stroke the head, do not scream, gently press on the pad to see the claw.
For a “manicure” you need to use a high-quality, perfectly sharpened tool to avoid peeling of the nail and injury. Please read the instructions before use.
Proceed with the procedure, following the algorithm:
- Use gentle pressure to squeeze the pad of your finger to reveal the claw;
- inspect the plate, visually determine the length that needs to be cut;
- step back from the pulp 2-3 millimeters, position the nail clipper blade perpendicular to the plate;
- With a confident movement of your fingers, squeeze the ends of the nail clipper;
- Wipe the treated claw with a swab soaked in antiseptic or hydrogen peroxide.
In the video you can see how painlessly cats trained from childhood endure the procedure:
You already know that the area of the plate in which the vascular bundle is located has a darker color. You only need to cut off the light part where there are no nerve endings. In some cat breeds, the claw along its entire length is dark and dense - it is difficult to independently determine the place for cutting. In such cases, you need to contact a veterinarian or groomer, who will tell you how to properly cut off overgrown claws yourself.
Why is it needed?
Ordinary scissors or manicure accessories will not work because they can cause discomfort to both the animal and its owner. After all, the structure of a human nail and a cat’s claw is different. Therefore, hygiene procedures should be performed only with special devices. Fortunately, the choice is now wide.
A kitten should be trained to use a nail clipper from the age of 1 month. It is recommended to trim claws as they grow.
How to prepare the animal and the instrument?
Treat paws in a room with good lighting. Before the procedure, make sure that the cat is fed, healthy, and does not want to go to the toilet. Calm the animal, pick it up, stroke it, tell it that you are not going to hurt it.
It is good if the cat sniffs the tool before use. This is an important psychological moment.
To avoid infecting your pet, you need to prepare the following tools:
- wipe the nail clipper with an alcohol-containing solution;
- put hemostatic agents nearby for first aid: bandage, cotton pads;
- Wash your hands or use disposable gloves.
At the end of the procedure, praise the purr, tell him that he did a great job, give him his favorite treat. If this is your first time getting a manicure, call someone for help. One person will hold the animal tightly in his arms, the second will do the haircut. If this is not possible, wrap the cat in a towel to avoid scratches and accidental injury to the pulp.
If you injure your pet, treat the damaged area with hydrogen peroxide. If bleeding continues for more than 30 minutes, take your pet to the veterinarian.
QuickFinder Deluxe
The model is equipped with built-in sensors that help detect blood vessels inside the claw. Three LEDs indicate the danger of cutting, or vice versa, give the go-ahead. Red - a dangerous haircut, yellow - with caution, green - you can cut it. The model can be used for large breeds of dogs. Its design is very well thought out, so it fits comfortably in the hand.
Pros:
- Built-in touch sensors to determine the safety of a haircut;
- Durable and high-quality materials;
- Suitable for large dogs.
Minuses:
- The price is above average.
The best nail clippers for cats
To ensure that the purchased nail clipper model does not disappoint, choose the tool responsibly. The guillotine is often chosen by experienced breeders.
Beginner “users” prefer pruning shears. Their mechanism of action allows you to avoid injuries resulting from negligence.
Nail clippers-scissors are bought by those who are more accustomed to using accessories that look like manicure devices for people.
When choosing, you need to pay attention to the following criteria:
- Convenience – the handles of the nail clipper should match the size. The rubberized surface will provide a good grip on the tool.
- Blade - a high-quality nail clipper should be made of stainless steel. The edges of the blade should not have jagged or rough edges.
It’s good if the design of the manicure tool includes a limiter that minimizes the risk of injury.
Types of nail clippers
Before choosing, check out the possible types of nail clippers for cats. Which one is better is up to you to decide. But among the popular mechanical ones there are guillotine nail clippers, scissors, and pruners. You may come across an electric grinder. But it requires certain skills and is difficult to use at home.
Claw-guillotine
Despite the intimidating name, guillotine-type nail clippers are very popular among owners. The operating principle of a medieval execution weapon is reproduced with frightening accuracy. The nail clipper-guillotine provides:
- space for claw;
- trigger mechanism;
- a blade cutting off a doomed claw.
Despite the ease of use, the guillotine claw clipper will require some skills from the owner: the moment the trigger is pressed, the doomed claw falls out of sight. This can cause injury to the cat. This nail clipper is suitable for adult cats and cats with hard claws.
Nail clipper-secateurs
A less exotic and bloodthirsty claw cutter is also called a “secateurs” or “nippers.”
These look like ordinary pliers or garden shears, which in addition to comfortable handles have:
- Fuse. A lever that blocks the opening of the cutting part when not in use.
- A limiter that allows you to measure the part of the claw to be cut.
It is easy and safe to use. You need to place the claw between the two ends of the claw clipper, removed from the safety lock, and bring the handles together. Suitable for both kittens and adult cats.
Nail clipper-scissors
If you are used to using ordinary scissors, but understand that for cat claws you need far from manicure devices, there is a way out. In addition to the guillotine and pruning shears with a limiter, they also produce very simple tools for cats. They do not have a bloodthirsty mechanism or frills in the form of limiters and fuses.
Nail clippers-scissors for cat claws are practically no different from a regular manicure device: the same handles and operating principle.
Only the blades of the scissors differ: the inner sharp surfaces have a special curve, making it convenient to place a claw between them.
Codos CP-3400
The model has a built-in battery that is fully charged in 2 hours. Autonomous operation of the model is 3 hours. The nail clipper is equipped with two types of holes, each of which processes the animal’s claws differently. The model is considered completely safe. The nail clipper can also work from the mains, and thanks to the long 2-meter cable, this will be quite convenient.
Pros:
- 3 hours of battery life;
- Can work from the network;
- Long network cable;
- Rotary motor;
- Safety of use.
Minuses:
- High price.
