Groom Professional Small Animal & Cat Nail Scissor

The Groom Professional Small Animal and Cat Nail Scissor is the right shape for a small, thin claw -- a scissor action rather than a guillotine, which gives you far more control on a cat.

Key Features

• Sized for small claws: Built for cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and small dogs
• Stainless steel: Holds its edge and does not rust in a damp bathroom
• Scissor action: More controlled than a guillotine clipper on a fine claw
• Easy-grip handles: Comfortable for the fiddly, one-claw-at-a-time work this is
• Durable: Built for repeat use rather than as a one-off
• For home or salon: Simple enough for home use

Trimming A Cat's Claws

• Press gently on the top of the toe to make the claw extend.
• Take only the clear hooked tip. The pink triangle at the base is the quick, and it bleeds and hurts.
• One or two paws per session is a perfectly good result. There is no prize for finishing.
• Catch a sleepy cat rather than a lively one, and stop before it has had enough.
• Rabbit and guinea pig claws are the same idea, and their quicks are often easier to see.

Why Cats Still Need It

Scratching posts wear the outer sheath off a claw but they do not shorten it. Indoor cats, older cats and arthritic cats all stop maintaining their own claws, and an overgrown claw can curl right round into the pad. Older cats also grow thick, brittle claws that split painfully. Have a look at the back feet too -- they get forgotten.

Who Makes It

Groom Professional launched in 2009 on the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland and is sold through the grooming trade supplier Christies Direct. The range was built for working salons rather than for the bathroom cupboard, which is why so much of it comes as a concentrate and in four-litre sizes. Groom Professional say the products are manufactured in the UK.

Good To Know

• This one is out of stock at the moment, so the page is here for reference while we wait on the next delivery.
• Keep styptic powder to hand before you start, in case you catch a quick.
• Never try to trim a cat that is genuinely fighting you -- a vet or groomer can do it safely in a minute.
• A claw that has grown into the pad is painful and infected. That is a vet visit, not a trim.
• Not a toy. Keep it out of reach of pets and children when you are not using it.