PRODUCT REVIEW and GIVEAWAY: ZEN CLIPPER®

Like you, I am afraid to trim claws for fear of cutting to much. Whenever they see the vet I ask the vet to trim their claws. I also have 3 cats that don't like being held and 1 cat who doesn't mind being held but is afraid of everything different from visitors to unfamiliar sounds. I think if this trimmer doesn't make any sound it would be perfect for that cat. You are correct that even though they have several scratching posts they still scratch my furniture.

Trimming claws is hard and stressful for both us, I only have 1 purrkid  that allows me and is easy to do. The other 4 are pretty impossible. It would so nice to be able to trim their claws, one of mine has, claws that catch when she walks. This sounds like a great product.

I have three cats, which I have named 'The Evil Plan Bureau'.  These cats can inimidate Pit Bulls; that's how tough they are.  When I plan on trimming their claws, I gather a thick towel, multiple bandages, rubbing alcohol, and gauze.  The towel's for them.  The rest are for me.  My partner wraps each of them in a towel, burrito-style, while I wait with our claw trimmer.  Within a minute of trimming the first cat, my partner is wearing three bandages.  When I'm finished, I'm wearing five.  I'm not sure if the EPB is scared of the sound of the trimmer, or want to remind us (in a not-so-subtle way) just who is the 'boss', but that's why I hate trimming their claws.  I'm the boss, and they tend to forget that.  

Mollie! Mollie! Mollie! Never once has she let me clip her claws without bloodshed -- even as a kitten in the shelter before we adopted her. She's strong. She bites. She refuses to have her claws clipped. If the Zen Clipper works, it will be a minor -- not major -- miracle!

Thanks for this review! This would come in really handy with five cats. Like you, trimming claws makes me very tense in case I screw up (once was enough to terrify me for life.) It's nice to see a solution out there. 

With 8 cats, 6 of whom are older rescues from hideous situations, and one with diabetes, claw trimming is a constant and unwelcome issue, but an absolute necessity.  I would appreciate unbelievably a Zen clipper to help make this activity easier and better for all of us.  As soon as one kitty is stressed, the rest of them "know" and hide, start yowling or get into a defensive posture, knowing their turn is coming.  I would do anything to make this a stress free activity for all concerned, especially my Max, who has diabetes and a closed head injury resulting from being dropped down a stairwell by children at his first home.  As a result, he is for all intents and purposes, according to his wonderful vet, an autistic cat he doesn't love to be held or touched too much and can't handle a lot of stimuli of any kind. He deserves (and I try to give him) as low stress an environment as possible, but claw trimming is something that is unfortunately something he fears and loathes.

As the kitties get older, their medical needs are more and more significant; this product isn't something that would otherwise be on our shopping list.

Thanks for considering me for the claw trimmer giveaway.

My cats are pretty good with nail trims but I help my friend and my cousin and some of those cats act like they are being murdered! The sound really does bother manuy of them. This trimmer sounds great!

Hi Robin,

I would love to be chosen for one of the Zen Clippers. I have three kitties with different needs, although all three are not fans of nail trims. Anything to make it easier, safer, and faster for my babies I'd love to use!

Kitty 1) Abby is a spry 19 years old and was rescued as a kitten. He is front-declawed (sadly, before I knew any better!), but he does have his back claws. One claw seems to grow faster than the others and causes him some discomfort. Abby, while not a fan of trimming his nails, will let me clip that one nail without too much argument, but it would be wonderful to be able to trim them all.

Kitty 2) Maxie is an 11 year old, large, pedigreed Maine Coon. He is NOT declawed (I learned so much after Abby!). He is also not fond of nail trims, but desperately needs them trimmed. I'm ashamed to say it has been a few YEARS since I last tried to trim his nails because it takes so long to do each one because, like you, I have a hard time with seeing up close. If I could do it faster, I am sure he would be more amenable to trimming. Anything that makes this easier, like the Zen Clipper sounds like it would be, would be awesome.

Kitty 3) Izzy is 9 years old, and is a wee little lass. She is not declawed. Izzy was a true feral kitten when I rescued her. She'd been shot with a pellet gun and her left shoulder was disclocated. Poor baby girl! I've gained her trust and she is such a little love-bug now. I have tried to trim her nails in the past, but because she will not tolerate being made to sit still for more than a few minutes, has not had all her nails trimmed for a long, long time. Her nails have a tendency to grow inward, and I hate to think that they may grow into her pads.

Basically...I am DESPERATE. Thank you for considering us for one of the Zen Clippers!

Sincerely,

Jules Burnell

I have a heck of a time trimming somewhere around 184 cat claws every month. The first couple cats are pretty compliant and know they'll probably get a treat when it's over. The rest of them squawk, flail, and try to bite. A normally sweet, soft round kitty screams like she's being attacked, then growls like an idling Mack truck. I'm scared to death of cutting a nail too short..I feel like a horrible mother. It's happened a couple of times and I go running for the flour, which is the everyday household substitute for styptic powder. Flour gets tracked all over my tiny kitchen. Poor kitty looks at me like the injury was intentional. 

I have gotten pretty lax at keeping claws on my six kitties trimmed.  It seems that they are all getting worse about sitting still for it.  I am having more of a problem seeing what I am doing and it takes longer and they don't like that.  Maybe if I didn't have to worry about hurting them, it would all be over with before they got upset.

My kitty was injured when I adopted him, probably in a fight, and his hind paws are very sensitive. He yowls, bites, and runs when I try to squeeze his paws. I end up trimming one at a time when he's asleep just to keep them from clicking when he walks. This product sounds like it would really help! 

While most of my cats are philosophical about having their claws trimmed with their regulation cat claw trimmer, a couple of them get very nervous and stressed, to the point that I don't trim their claws at all, but depend on the many scratchers placed all over the house to help them out.  It would be more than amazing if we could find a trimmer that wouldn't cause my nervous cats distress! This Zen clipper sounds wonderful.  So glad you have found it for your cats!

3.5 years ago, I adopted a cute little tortie-and-white kitten from the Humane Society. I adopted her because she was so pretty, and because they told me that because she was a polydactyl on all 4 paws, that she was lucky. Of course, I didn't know until her initial vet appointment that when you own a polydactyl, you have to watch those extra toes and make sure that you cut the nails before they wind back into their toe. She's already my wild-child, so it takes both my boyfriend and I to clip her nails. And yes, I have had them curl in almost to touching her toes before. She freaks out every time we try to clip her nails- she KNOWS when we are going to capture her and do it. I want the clipping to be as nice as possible, and I know that she hates the sound of the toenail clipper (yes, I use a toenail clipper to clip her nails- I do have others, but nothing worked well enough) when they crunch down on her poor claws. If there was a way to help her, I think that this would do it!!! I got her quick the last time, and that made me sad. I do periodically touch her paws to help desensitize her, but again, she is my wild-child (but super sweet), and gets scared at loud noises.

Thanks!!!

Hi, Robin,

Churchy here. I read what you wrote about the Zen nail clipper and I asked Momma to enter the competition to win one. Why? You see, in our house, there are four of us and Momma (and Daddy) cut our nails every fortnight. That's English for every two weeks. Momma is from England, but you know that:-) Anyway, we are three boys and one girl and we all have different sized nails! We go in turn, one by one. Daddy holds us and Momma carefully cuts our nails. I won't tittle tattle but a couple of us scream bloody murder and pretend that we're dying. Daddy gets scared, but Momma uses that 'voice' that means we need to fix our faces and suck it up. She's one of those 'tough love' type of Mommas. Anyway, I know I'd feel much safer if we had one of these clippers because they can adapt to different nail sizes. Mine are second thinnest (and I bite them, which doesn't make it easy to see where there sensitive spot is!)

Lots of love, 

Churchy 

I'm one of those horrible people who didn't know better about declawing. I never realized what it does to them. I know now!

But my three do have their back claws and one of my girls is constantly pulling her sheaths off! I've been so afraid to try to trim their claws but if this works that great, I would definitely try it then!

Please, I would really love to win because since I'm on disability, vet visits for something like trimming is out of the question! They do get routine care twice a year since my three are all senior cats but I can't afford any extra!

With all the claws that get trimmed at our rescue, this would be a Godsend! Anything that would speed things up and improve safety is a great thing in my book!

And maybe -- if the people who adopt from me see how safe, fast, and easy this is, it would prevent some declawing?? Now THAT would be the ultimate Godsend!!!

I too have problems with close vision making me more nervous cutting my kitties nails.  We have several cats of our own plus my adult children that moved back home have their own.  On top of that we foster kitties that come from a feral cat colony until they are socialized and adopted out.  So there are a lot of claws that need to be trimmed and only a limited amount of funds for supplies.  We would really love to have a pair of the Zen clippers.

I grew up with cats but and currently have two I adopted from shelters, but I have never dared to trim their claws.  Knowing that I could harm them has caused me to always have the vet do this.  I would love to be able to do this on my own in the comfort of our home.  The Zen Clippers sound wonderful and I would be greatful to have them for Ace and Willow.

My sweet Nala...she acts like you're trying to kill her. She's not keen on anyone doing anything to her, except maybe a little petting when she's in the mood. Last time her nails were trimmed the vet tech was doing the clipping while the vet held her wrapped in a towel. She still managed to pee all over the place. My nerves were so shot after that visit I went home and cried over a glass of wine. Good thing is Nala was in a snuggly mood so I did get a few pets in. At least she was doing well after the visit. 

Not sure if this is over or not, however, I have always clipped my cats nails until now.  A tom for sure. He is so obnoxious that any help I can get to make is less stress for me and him would be fantastic... Thanks and if this is over, sorry....

I do need this , I don't do my 2 cats nails , I'm to scared they will bleed to much if I cut to much

Hi! Of my 6 cats, a couple of them seem to keep their claws at a reasonable length. The rest, well, they start getting stuck in stuff--their kitty condo, furniture, me, the carpet. Sometimes they get stuck so bad I have to unhook them. So far we've been lucky but I am so afraid someone will end up with a dislocated shoulder or broken arm! I like to think my kitties and I are pretty good at trimming claws but we usually only get 2 or 3 claws done before they decide they have something "better" to do. I believe the Zen Clippers would allow me to trim all the claws of all the cats so no more getting stuck in stuff!! We need some Zen in our lives!!

I have tried about every nail clipper, even the ones with sensors, and grinder (that were advertised as low noise level) on the market with no luck. Either they emited too much noise or they didn't perform as stated. Having cut into the quick on several occasions, neither myself or the pet are up for home nail trims at this point. I just don't feel confident I can trim the nail without cutting into the quick and it is evident the pet feels the same way. Therefore, trims are now done at the vets office.

The Zen nail clippers does sound like it would prevent over cutting of the nail, but again it could end up in the pile to take to the Goodwill as the other prior nail clippers succumbed to. I just keep hoping somebody will make a nail cutter that prevents human error! Who knows, this device could be it!