When I first started cutting mine I "Injured" them a few times
especially the ones that fought me and I really felt bad also.  What I
did was to start just doing the tips then until me and the furballs
got used to it.  I then gradually started cutting more until I got to
where it should be.

I still "injure" one occassionaly but overall they and me have gotten
used to it even though they still run as soon as they see what I am up
to and they cry like crazy when getting it done but do not try to get
away like they used to.

In time you will get better at it.

I gave up trying to trim the cat's claws a long time ago. She loses the
plot altogether........even the vet told me not to bother as she would
have to be sedated every time. It doesn't seem to cause her much
discomfort though, except her claws getting stuck in things (the
furniture or me....) from time to time..

You're cat is cute by the way.

Oh, I would never use human nail clippers on her.
Her back claws are dark, so it's hard to see the quick, but from now on I'll
just stick to the very tips.

And yes, one time she yelped, and when I looked at her nail, I wasn't even
close to the quick.
Little brat. =)

Thanks for the advice! And thank you for complimenting her!

Yes you can use human ToeNail clippers.  Turn them sideways and clip
from the side, so as not to break the claw.

You may be cracking the nail shell, and that would hurt a little or
scare her.  Word:  if you actually nick the quick, she'll do a whole
lot more than just yelp, and as someone noted, it will bleed.

Vets do an amended V cut which makes the claw tips grow out too fast.
As the other posters have said, clip straight across, and here's the
key (read this in the Roscommons book "Good Owners, Great Cats"):
Clip about halfway between the tip of the claw and the pink quick.
You can see the quick through the black claws:  turn the light on and
look closely.

and yes, very perspicacious on the part of whoever said it, your kitty
may be false-alarming you to guilt you out.  Cause and effect:  she's
seen your reaction.

Don't let the cat down right away after clipping:  hug and kiss and
love them up, and go exuberantly ballistic over the top happy i.e.
"You're such a good girl to let Mama clip your claws!  You're the best
Fluffy in the whole world!  Fluffy has such wonderful, sweet claws!
Such a good girl!"  with an emphasis on "good girl", "clip claws",
"sweet girl", in a very happy, wonderful, excited voice, look her in
the eyes, and go on and on until the neighbors are ready to call the
nut-house to take you away, and then hear my voice saying, Do it
more.  More.  Make a party of it, and do it every time you clip her
claws, and you won't have any more trouble with her.

clip claws on a regular basis about every two weeks and start when
they're about two months old  and as someone above said, it helps to
start with a slightly sleepy relaxed kitty, regardless of age.

As someone above said, handle the paws and claws a lot, and appear [to
the cat] to be very loving and fascinated by them.  Teach your cat the
words paws and claws.  Tell the cat before clipping what you are
doing.

You do need to clip them so they don't get caught in you or other
things.  I heard somewhere they can grow around back into the pad, in
house cats.  Don't know if I believe that but I don't like casual claw
damage, so clipped they are.

I hurt my white cat with the clippers once very slightly last year,
and she's never let me forget it, so I do endorse the "buffaloing you"
comment above -- very astute.

summerrose