Cats groom themselves so often, it’s easy to forget that we can help them with this task. Trimming their claws is one thing that you can do, and it can also save you and your furniture from scratches.

As with all grooming tools for pets, there is a wide range of cat nail clippers to choose from. While you can use those thick clippers that you have for your massive canine, smaller clippers will work better for a cat’s paws.

These reviews are our recommendations for the best cat clippers. They range from regular scissor clippers to guillotine styles and nail grinders. We hope that this list helps guide you in your search!

A Quick Look At Our Favorites of 2026

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Hepper Cat Nail Clippers Set	Two nail clippers and a nail file Black pouch included as storage Stainless-steel clippers with safety features	CHECK PRICE
		Frisco Dog & Cat Nail Clippers	Japanese high-carbon steel Semi-circular blades for ease of use Compact design for small pets	CHECK PRICE
		Casfuy 2 LED Light Grooming Dog & Cat Paw Nail Grinder	Two LED lights Two speed options Suitable for all pets	CHECK PRICE
Best for Kittens		Four Paws Magic Coat Professional Series Cat Nail Clipper	Stainless-steel blades Small size Used by professional groomers	CHECK PRICE
		Pet Republique Cat Nail Clipper	Stainless-steel blades Convenient for small pets Ergonomic handles	CHECK PRICE

The 11 Best Cat Nail Clippers

1. Hepper Cat Nail Clipper Set — Best Overall

With the Hepper Cat Nail Clipper Set, you get three tools for an affordable price, making these the best overall cat clippers! The set comes with medium and small nail clippers and a nail file that fits inside the former’s handle for your convenience.

The large nail clippers also have stainless-steel blades, a non-slip grip, and an adjustable safety stop guard and locking switch. The small clippers are the scissor-type, with 160-degree angled and circular blades, a rubberized comfortable grip, a mechanical spring, and a safety lock. The set is available in gray or blue.

It’s worth noting that the small nail clippers have fairly small handles, which might make it difficult for some cat owners to use them.

At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

2. Frisco Dog & Cat Nail Clippers

Constructed with Japanese high-carbon steel for durability, the Frisco Dog & Cat Nail Clippers use semi-circular-shaped blades to make clipping claws easy. The style of the blades helps you see where the blades are positioned to allow for precise and safe cuts.

It’s a compact design intended for use on small pets and has a built-in finger rest instead of a spring-loaded system to make the clippers easy to use. The size, style, and affordability make the Frisco nail clippers the best cat nail clippers for the money.

A downside is how small the handles are. Cat owners with large hands will struggle to comfortably hold the clippers, even with the finger rest. The blades don’t stay sharp for long either and are not designed to be re-sharpened.

3. Casfuy 2 LED Light Grooming Dog & Cat Paw Nail Grinder

The Casfuy 2 LED Light Grooming Dog & Cat Paw Nail Grinder is more expensive than regular nail clipping options, but many pet owners prefer it over traditional methods of trimming claws. It’s not designed solely for cats in mind, but it is a useful alternative if you or your cat are nervous about clippers.

This tool has two LED lights to make it easier to see your cat’s nails, three ports for all nail sizes, and two-speed options. The included USB cable makes charging the nail grinder quick and easy.

If you’re accustomed to clippers, nail grinders can take a while to get used to. While it is designed to be quiet to avoid scaring pets, it’s noisier and vibrates more than regular nail clippers. You’ll need to introduce the grinder to your cat slowly and teach them to see it as a good thing before you try using it in earnest.

4. Four Paws Magic Coat Professional Series Cat Nail Clipper

Introducing nail clipping to your cat’s grooming routine needs to be done as early as possible to help them adjust to the activity. This means finding a pair of clippers that are small enough for your kitten, like the Four Paws Magic Coat Professional Series Cat Nail Clipper. Used by professional groomers, it’s designed to be used by left or right-handed cat owners. The stainless-steel blades ensure clean and quick cuts to make nail clipping as comfortable as possible.

This clipper can be used on kittens and adult cats, but the handles might be too small to wield comfortably if you have large hands. The blades dull quickly too, and there’s no way of resharpening them.

5. Pet Republique Cat Nail Clipper

Cats might have smaller paws than most dogs, but they still need sturdy and reliable clippers to make sure their manicure is done well. The Pet Republique Cat Nail Clipper has a conveniently compact design to make it easier to use on small pets. Besides cats, it can be used on rabbits, chinchillas, and small dog breeds. Its versatility makes it the best overall cat nail clipper.

Made with stainless-steel blades and ergonomic handles, it’s designed to clip claws easily while being comfortable to hold. Pet Republique also donates 15% of the purchase price of its products to animal shelters and rescues to help you support abandoned pets.

While these clippers are the perfect size for small animals, if you have large hands, the product might be too small for your fingers. The handles have also been known to stick sometimes, making them difficult to use.

6. JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Nail Clipper

Created with cats in mind, the JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Nail Clipper has short stainless-steel blades for precision cutting and to make the clipper easy to maneuver. The handles are covered with non-slip rubber and are ergonomically designed to fit into the curve of your hand to ensure your comfort. This nail clipper is also small enough to be suitable for kittens or other small pets.

While the clipper is designed to fit into most users’ hands, the small size does make it uncomfortable for cat owners with large hands and fingers. It’s also not spring-loaded and can be difficult to use on thick claws, especially since the blades don’t stay sharp for long.

7. Resco Original Cat Nail Clippers

Guillotine-style nail clippers can take a while to get used to and require a slightly different approach to trimming claws, but many pet owners prefer them over the regular scissors type. Resco Original Cat Nail Clippers are sturdy and made with heavy-duty stainless steel to make managing all types of feline claws as easy as possible.

Unlike regular scissor clippers, the blade can be replaced as necessary to ensure that your clippers are always sharp enough for quick nail trims. Along with the durable handles, the Resco is spring-loaded to help make it easier to clip thick claws.

Unfortunately, these clippers are a bit big. They’ll fit well in large hands but are too big for small cat breeds and kittens. The Resco clippers are also more expensive than the scissor-type clippers, and replacement blades aren’t included.

8. Necoichi Purrcision Cat Nail Clippers

Intended for use on cats of all ages by left- and right-handed users, the Necoichi Purrcision Cat Nail Clippers are 30% thinner than most other nail clippers to help you see where you’re cutting. The handles are cushioned for comfort, featuring secure, non-slip rubber for safety. Made in Japan, the stainless-steel blades benefit from the experience of celebrated swordsmiths and are designed to ensure sharp blades and clean cuts.

Unfortunately, the Necoichi Purrcision clippers are on the small side. They’re easy to use on cats and other small pets but are uncomfortable if you have large hands. Several users have noticed that the blades don’t hold the sharp edge for long and are also put off by the price tag.

9. Hartz Groomer’s Best Nail Clipper for Dogs & Cats

The Hartz Groomer’s Best Nail Clipper for Dogs & Cats is spring loaded to make clipping nails easy. With sturdy, contoured stainless-steel blades and a safety guard to help you avoid the quick, it’s suitable for cats with thin or thick nails. You can lock the handles when the clippers aren’t in use, preventing the blades from causing injury or becoming dull. The plastic handles are also designed to be ergonomic to make sure you’re comfortable when using the clippers.

Unfortunately, the thickness of the blades makes the Hartz clippers difficult to use on small cat breeds and kittens. Several users have had issues with the quick guard moving while the clippers are being used, and the spring has broken after a few cuts.

10. H&H Pets Dog & Cat Nail Clipper, Medium

Available in two sizes to suit a range of pets, the H&H Pets Dog & Cat Nail Clipper, Medium, also includes easy-to-follow instructions for first-time users. It’s designed for ease of use, with rubber non-slip handles for a secure grip.

The stainless-steel blades are contoured to help you position the clippers and cut safely, though the blades are thicker than most cat nail clippers, making it a challenge to use on small breeds and kittens. There’s also no quick guard, which many pet owners find inconvenient.

Several cat owners have had issues with the blades rusting when they get damp or becoming dull and crushing nails rather than cutting them.

Buyer’s Guide: Understanding Nail Care for Cats

If you own a dog, cutting claws should already be part of your grooming routine. A cat’s needs are similar, but there are several important differences that you’ll need to consider before you start. This buyer’s guide will help you choose the best cat nail clippers and provide a few tips on making the experience as harmless as possible.

How to Choose the Best Cat Nail Clippers

Many nail clippers can be used on cats but they’re not all good choices. Some are too big and clunky, while others simply aren’t sharp enough. Here are a few factors to keep in mind before you purchase a new pair of nail clippers for your cat.

Blades

Perhaps the most important parts of the nail clippers are the blades themselves. They need to be durable and sharp to ensure stability and efficiency. Dull blades are more likely to cause pain and discomfort by crushing or shredding your cat’s claws. Some cat clippers have blades that can be sharpened or replaced when necessary.

Most of all, you need to ensure that the blades aren’t too thick for your cat’s claws. The bigger the blades are, the harder it will be to see where exactly you’re cutting. This will increase the risk of you cutting into the quick.

Handles

Most clippers options are designed to look like small scissors and will have circular or oval holes for your fingers. Some will have a built-in finger rest.

Make sure the handles are sturdy, easy to open and close, and not made from slippery material. Fortunately, most cat nail clippers have non-slip rubber covering the handles to make sure people can use the clippers safely. Still, it’s a good idea to check how safe the grip is before you use them.

Size

If you have a dog, you probably already have pet nail clippers on hand. The size, however, can be an issue. Large dogs have large nails, and the clippers may be too big to comfortably trim your cat’s claws.

Your cat’s nail clippers need to be small enough that maneuvering around their paws won’t be a problem. This does pose another issue, though. The smaller the clippers are, the more difficult they’ll be for you to hold if you have large hands. You’ll need to find clippers that aren’t too big for your cat but not too small for you to use.

Type

There are three types of nail clippers for cats, and they are similar to the ones used for dogs, though many of them are smaller and lighter. You can use traditional scissor-style blades, which are often the easiest to use, or you can try a guillotine style, which often requires a bit of a learning curve to use correctly.

Nail grinders are popular alternatives. These can reduce the risk of you cutting into the quick but can be difficult for your cat to get used to, and they require a slightly different approach to nail trimming. In a pinch, you can use human nail clippers, provided that you’re careful. Always make sure the blades are sharp, no matter which type of clipper you’re using.

Why Should You Cut Your Cat’s Claws?

Even if your cat uses several scratching posts, it’s still a good idea to regularly trim their nails. While they handle most of their grooming needs themselves, which often includes nail care, trimming their claws can help prevent damage to you, your furniture, or other pets in the house. It’s also a humane alternative to declawing, a surgery that involves amputating the tips of your cat’s toes and often results in behavioral and health problems.

How Often Should You Cut Your Cat’s Claws?

It’s recommended that you cut your cat’s claws every 2–3 weeks. This will keep the quick short and reduce the risk of you cutting into it. It will also ensure that your cat’s claws are a manageable length and less likely to tear into you, your family, or your furniture, even if your cat doesn’t mean to cause damage.

Trimming your cat’s claws shouldn’t be the only method that you use to help them tend to their nails. You’ll still need scratching posts around the house and maybe a nail file to smooth any rough edges if your cat has any. If cutting your cat’s claws yourself makes you cringe, you can hire a professional groomer to do it for you.

What to Do If You Cut the Quick

Cats often have white claws, and the quick is visible as a pink section inside each claw. It’s a blood vessel in your cat’s nail that will bleed heavily and cause pain if you cut into it. This is why many pet owners dislike cutting their pet’s claws and instead, hire a professional groomer or a veterinarian. Whether you pay somebody else to cut your cat’s claws or do it yourself, though, accidents can happen.

If you do accidentally cut your cat’s quick, don’t panic. It can bleed a bit, and we hate causing pain to our pets, which makes the situation feel devastating, but it is manageable. Keep a styptic pencil or powder nearby whenever you’re trimming your pet’s nails so you can use it as soon as you need to.

Fortunately, most accidental nicks don’t require veterinary intervention. You can treat it at home just by stopping the bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t show signs of stopping within 5 minutes, though, that’s when you’ll need to go to a vet.

How We Selected Our List of Cat Clippers

Catster has an experienced, expert team of writers, editors, and veterinarians who carefully consider a wide range of parameters when choosing the cat clippers. This includes but is not limited to customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, hands-on testing, and of course, our cats have a say in the process too! We aim to select and review only the best products available, to help you make the best possible choice and most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.

Why Trust Catster?

A trusted online brand since 2001, Catster has a lot of experience with cat clippers. Our team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians is dedicated to helping you make the best decision for your precious cats. Our aim is to provide the best information available for cat owners to help cats live their best life possible. To do this, we scour reviews from the most trusted sources available and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options available to readers. Our team is deeply invested in the health and welfare of cats the world over, and believes that expert knowledge and veterinary guidance will help you make the right choices—for you and your cats

Final Thoughts

Choosing a good pair of nail clippers for your cat isn’t easy. There are many choices out there, and we hope that these reviews of the 10 best cat nail clippers have helped you out.

Our overall favorite is the Hepper Cat Nail Clipper Set for its 3-in-1 clipping solutions, ease of use, and durable stainless-steel blades. A cheaper option without risking quality is the Frisco Dog & Cat Nail Clippers. Finally, an alternative method is the Casfuy Nail Grinder. It’s expensive and takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s useful for both cats and dogs.

Featured Image Credit: RJ22, Shutterstock