Others have all given you advice, I haven't read them but I'll add my 2 cents worth anyway. I didn't like that battery run thing --- the sandpaper thing on it was too rough. Cats hated it. I started with my cats when they were first brought home. I use the clippers like in the picture above, but I sit on the bed, one foot on the floor, and the other leg curled toward the leg that's on the floor. The cat fits in my lap on their back. Every Sunday morning, it's nail clipping time. Here's the point I want to make...no matter HOW you do it, make sure you do it every week. I had one that hated it and fought me, but after about a year, he lays there and talks to me....doesn't fight it any more. He learned it's going to happen anyway.