i take mine to the groomers they do a quick, good job and it costs $8...i always give them a tip, so i spend $10...to me it is well worth it :)about once a month

May sound silly I used to use an emery board on mine. I agree with getting one of these scratching boards looks like about 8"s of cardboard rub it with a little catnip and she will be just fine. :)

If this is the one we got for our dogs I wouldn't recommend it. The one we have files down the nails. You insert the nail into the opening where they're filed with a sandpaper covered spinning cylinder. The idea is that you don't cut them too short. But it takes a whole lot longer to file them down and our dogs get real antsy. I'd rather just clip and get it over with. Don't know about cats but it's a two-person job for us. One holds the dog, the other clips.

I have to wait til mine are in the right mood. Then I just use toenail clippers.

All 4 of the cats I have now have all paws declawed. I don't have to worry with cutting their nails.

Same here. I have 2 cats that DH has to hold for me to get their back right paw because I can't get them in a good hold with my left arm and get to that paw w/o them getting very cranky (my oldest cat bit me three times yesterday when I was attempting it by myself). I use regular toenail clippers.

You have to be careful and never cut the "quick" (the part with the vein in it). It hurts the cat and it bleeds. Some claws are dark and that part is hard to see.

I have my babies trimmed at the vets everytime they are due for a checkup OR at the groomers when they need a SPA day.....

I've trained my cats to have their paws handled. When they were kittens I plays with their paws even when I wasn't going to clip nails. They are used to the feeling. (I also give them baths in the bathtub.) I bought the same clipper my vet uses (it is one big enough for large dog nails). I nestle the cat on my lap, head at my knees and paws facing me, and start clipping. They put up with it. The "kitty dremel" would never happen because they hate that kind of noise.

My cats have always associated nail trimming with a treat. Start out by only giving treats in association with the trimmer. Hold them in the same hand. Before you know it, they'll get excited at the sight of the trimmer. I use the inexpensive cat trimmer that can be found all over.

Treating works for dogs, too. Except I use a dremel for the dogs' nails.

Groomers generally cost less than vet trims. By about $10 here.

Keep a styptic stick handy just in case. I've never cut a quick myself but have had a cat toy sever a quick (damn bells). Styptics are a must for any first aid kit (human, too).

Good luck.

I'd have done the treat thing but somehow managed to train my cats to only eat out of their own special bowl. I have two cats and each has their own food bowl. They don't "double dip" as my kids call it. My vet tried bribing with treats and got his feelings hurt when they presented him with their tails. We decided I just have weird animals. He gives out good treats (so I'm told since I haven't tasted one :-) ).