Last updated Jul 26, 2024
Cat nail clippers come in many sizes and styles. Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Finding the best nail trimmers for your cat is crucial in making the process as comfortable for them as possible. With so many products on the market, this can add stress to an already intimidating process.
The three main styles of nail trimmers are scissor-style, plier-style, and guillotine-style. There are also nail dremels, which grind down the nail instead of cutting it.
In this article, we’ll discuss what to look for in cat nail trimmers, whether you’re an anxious beginner or have been clipping your cat’s claws for years.
Our Top 8 Recommended Cat Nail Clippers
Want a quick look at the products reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Safari Professional Nail Trimmers
- Sharp blades and spring loaded handle for quick cuts
- Multiple safety features
- Comfortable grip
Hertzko Professional Pet Nail Scissors
- Sharp blades that cut quickly
- Comfortable to hold
- Affordable
SHINY PET Nail Clippers for Small Animals
- Easy and comfortable to use
- Angled blades help to better see where you’re cutting
- Instructional eBook included with purchase
Gonicc Professional Nail Clippers
- Sharp blades that are small for plier-style clippers
- Multiple safety features to prevent injuries to you and your cat
- Includes a small nail file to smooth the nail after cutting
Zen Junior Pet Nail Clippers
- Precise control of the space between blades via the middle wheel
- Sharp blades cut quickly and efficiently
- Safety lock for safe storage
Pet Republique Professional Nail Clippers
- Comfortable grip
- Sharp blades for a precise cut
- Great for small cats
PATPET N8 Quiet Small Pet Nail Grinder
- Quiet
- Grinds the nail slowly to prevent accidents
- Battery lasts up to five hours
Pawsibility Reinvented Nail Clippers
- Comfortable to hold
- Effective and easy to use
- LED light and built-in file work well
Why Trust Cats.com
I learned to trim cat nails shortly after adopting my first cats, who are now 16 years old. To choose the products on this list, I drew from my own experience as well as product reviews and advice from fellow cat lovers.
I then tested the products on multiple of my own cats to see how well they worked, how comfortable they were to use, and whether my cats had a preference.
Top Picks Explained
Since this video was filmed, we have updated the article with some new products. However, we still love all of Mallory’s picks.
The 8 Best Nail Trimmers for Cats
We consider many factors for our rankings. While the Pet Republique nail clippers are our top choice, every cat and human is unique with their own preferences. To help you choose the right nail trimmers for your cat, we’ve broken down our recommendations by nail scissors, plier-style clippers, and more.
#1 Overall Best: Safari Professional Nail Trimmers
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The Safari nail trimmers are advertised for small to medium dogs but work well on large cats. The blades were a bit tricky to use on my smallest cats.
The blades are sharp and the handle is by far the most comfortable of all the clippers I’ve tried. Family members with larger hands felt the same. The clippers also include grips that will stop them from sliding in your hands.
Other safety features include a lock to keep the blades closed in storage and a safety guard to help prevent cutting the quick.
What We Liked
- Sharp blades and spring loaded handle for quick cuts
- Multiple safety features
- Comfortable grip
What We Didn’t Like
- May be difficult to use on smaller cats
#2 Best Budget Pick: Hertzko Professional Pet Nail Scissors
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
These nail scissors are different from others in that they have a small hole to put the nail through before cutting—kind of like guillotine-style clippers.
I found them easy to use when my cats held still, but more difficult for my squirmy cats. It was a little tough to see precisely where I was cutting, especially on the dew claws. The sharp blades cut quickly and these are a great budget option for people who’ve clipped cat nails for years, but maybe not for beginners.
While I found these clippers comfortable to hold, people with large hands might find them less appealing.
What We Liked
- Sharp blades that cut quickly
- Comfortable to hold
- Affordable
What We Didn’t Like
- Can be difficult to see where you’re cutting
- Not ideal for squirmy cats
#3 Best Scissor-Style Clippers: SHINY PET Nail Clippers for Small Animals
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Like the other scissor-style clippers on this list, the SHINY PET clippers are great for small cats but work on cats of all sizes. They’ll be most comfortable for people with small hands to use.
What differentiates these clippers from the others on our list is their angled blades. This can make it easier to see exactly where you’re cutting, which can be helpful for beginners. I personally found the changed angle while cutting my cat’s nails a bit frustrating, but I think I’m just used to straight-blade clippers.
Other positive features of the product are handle grips and sharp blades. They cut through nails quickly and effectively.
What We Liked
- Easy and comfortable to use
- Angled blades help to better see where you’re cutting
- Instructional eBook included with purchase
What We Didn’t Like
- Might not be comfortable for large hands
#4 Best Plier-Style Clippers: Gonicc Professional Nail Clippers
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The Gonicc nail clippers have the smallest blades of the plier-style clippers I tried, making them most comfortable for my smallest cats. The handle fits comfortably in most hands.
The clippers feature a switch that locks and unlocks them for safe storage, a safety guard to help prevent you from cutting the nail too short, and a small nail file located at the bottom of the handle. I found the nail file a bit uncomfortable to use due to its size, but the blades on the trimmer itself worked perfectly.
What We Liked
- Sharp blades that are small for plier-style clippers
- Multiple safety features to prevent injuries to you and your cat
- Includes a small nail file to smooth the nail after cutting
What We Didn’t Like
- Nail file is very small
#5 Best Adjustable Clippers: Zen Junior Pet Nail Clippers
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
These clippers have a unique design with a curved handle and a wheel that controls the blades. You can keep the space between the blades small if you’re worried about overcutting, or open them wider for more flexibility.
I found these to be a bit uncomfortable to hold, but I didn’t find the same sentiment among reviewers. I found them easy to use and the blades are sharp to ensure quick, clean cuts.
What We Liked
- Precise control of the space between blades via the middle wheel
- Sharp blades cut quickly and efficiently
- Safety lock for safe storage
What We Didn’t Like
- Harder to use on squirmy cats
- Expensive
#6 Best Comfortable Nail Clippers: Pet Republique Professional Nail Clippers
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
These simple scissors are comfortable to hold with soft grips so the clippers don’t slip in your hands. I found them very easy to use though a bit slower to cut than some of the other nail scissors I’ve tried.
The product seems very sturdy and well constructed, and the manufacturer offers a six-year warranty. The blades are sharp and cut my cats’ nails well.
Although the clippers state that they’re built for large hands, the finger holes aren’t larger than most other nail scissors I’ve seen. They were comfortable for my small hands, but they might be more difficult for people with large hands to use.
What We Liked
- Comfortable grip
- Sharp blades for a precise cut
- Great for small cats
What We Didn’t Like
- Not made for large hands
#7 Best Nail Dremel: PATPET N8 Quiet Small Pet Nail Grinder
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The PATPET nail grinder comes in a box with the dremel, a cap for safe storage, a user manual, and a charging cable. The charger adapter required to plug in the cable is not included.
The dremel was already charged when I took it out of the box. It was a lot quieter than I expected and some of my cats took to it immediately. However, some were still afraid of the sound and vibrations. If your cat doesn’t like it, the desensitization process can take weeks or months—so keep that in mind before buying.
The grinder only takes a little of the nail off at a time, making it very safe for your cat. This does mean it takes longer to get each nail to the right length, and most of my cats grew impatient after just a couple of claws. It won’t be replacing nail clippers for us, but it will work well for people who are nervous about cutting nails too short.
The dremel is comfortable to hold, but as someone with wrist problems, I found the vibrations uncomfortable. This won’t affect most people but is something to keep in mind if you have arthritis or other wrist issues.
What We Liked
- Quiet
- Grinds the nail slowly to prevent accidents
- Battery lasts up to five hours
What We Didn’t Like
- Some cats need time to warm up to nail grinders
- Vibrations might be uncomfortable for people with wrist problems
#8 Best Nail Trimmers with LED Light: Pawsibility Reinvented Nail Clippers
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The Pawsibility nail clippers come with many fun features, including an LED light, a clear box to collect trimmed nails, and a built-in nail file. The box even included a bandana for cats to wear after their pedicures. I found the light and file effective and easy to use, but the nails did not collect in the box as advertised.
Like the PATPET nail grinder, these clippers came with a charging cord but without a charger adapter to plug it in. They were pre-charged when they arrived.
While these clippers were too large for my smaller cats, they worked OK when used at the right angle on my larger cats.
They have a safety lock, but the clippers spring apart if you squeeze them even slightly. This makes the lock less effective than it would be otherwise.
What We Liked
- Comfortable to hold
- Effective and easy to use
- LED light and built-in file work well
What We Didn’t Like
- Too big for most cats
- Safety lock unlocks too easily
- Nail catcher doesn’t collect trimmed nails
How To Choose the Best Nail Trimmers for Your Cat
Your comfort and the comfort of your cat matter most when choosing the best nail trimmers. Some styles of nail clippers work better for small cats, while others work well on larger cats. Some styles are uncomfortable for people with larger hands, while others will be easier to use.
Of course, you’ll also want to look for other features such as sharp, efficient blades, safety locks, and gripped handles to prevent the clippers from slipping. Nail clippers come in a few different styles, including:
- Scissor-style: These clippers are small, easy to use, and well suited to a cat’s small nails. They can be tricky for people with large hands to use.
- Pliers-style: Nail trimmers with a pliers-like shape that can be easier to hold. However, they’re often too large for small cats.
- Guillotine-style: Trimmers with a hole that your cat’s claw fits into and a blade that slices over the hole. These can trim nails precisely but are a struggle to use if you’re inexperienced or your cat is wriggly.
- Nail dremels: Quiet nail dremels can work well on cats and don’t pinch the nail uncomfortably the way traditional clippers do. However, they’re slower to file down the nail and the vibrating sound scares some cats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of nail trimmer is best for cats?
Scissor-style clippers work best for cats because the blades are small enough for their small claws. Other styles of nail trimmers are primarily built for dogs and can be hit-or-miss, especially if you have a small cat.
Is it better to cut or grind cat nails?
It depends on your preference. Most people are better off cutting their cats’ nails because it’s quicker and requires less training. Some beginners prefer nail grinders since they shave off only a little nail at a time, making you less likely to cut the quick. However, it can take time for a cat to become comfortable with the noise and vibrations of a nail grinder.
Do vets recommend trimming cats’ nails?
Veterinarians do recommend trimming your cat’s nails, and many will do it in-office for a low fee. Many cats wear down their nails on their own through scratching. However, trimming the sharp tips makes scratches to your furniture less damaging and makes accidents, such as your cat’s nails hurting you while they knead in your lap, less likely.
In addition, nail trimming is essential for cats that don’t wear their nails down naturally. Long nails can snag on objects, make walking painful, and can even grow into the paw pad if left unchecked for too long.
The Chewy website says the Millers Forge Nail Clippers are designed for dog nails–not cat nails. (Scroll down to the bottom where someone asks if they work for a cat.)
This list is B.S. – you ranked gonicc as the safest and then in the cons list wrote “No safety guard.” What makes it safest then? Never looking for reviews here again.
Cara, I agree; this doesn’t make any sense. Editing this article.
I would like information on the best nail grinder for cats. My cats tolerate having their nails trimmed and even try to play with my battery operated MediPedi spinning roller exfoliator for feet. I could use that but it’s not aggressive enough.