In May, GNN reported that 48 lemurs, 30 primates of various species, several crocodiles, and over 1,000 rare tortoises were seized when a convoy of four smuggling trucks was raided in Thailand. The bust was valued at around $2 million on the black market, but now, these animals are set for a return to their […] The post 1,000 Endangered Animals Set to Return Home to Madagascar in Anti-Trafficking Victory appeared first on Good News Network.

The post 11 Best Cat Clippers – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks by Catster Editorial Team appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Cats groom themselves so often, it’s easy to forget that we can help them with this task. Trimming their claws is one thing that you can do, and it can also save you and your furniture from scratches. As with all grooming tools for pets, there is a wide range of cat nail clippers to choose from. While you can use those thick clippers that you have for your massive canine, smaller clippers will work better for a cat’s paws. These 11 reviews are our recommendations for the best cat clippers. They range from regular scissor clippers to guillotine styles and nail grinders. We hope that this list helps guide you in your search! Click to Skip Ahead Quick Comparison Our Reviews Buyer’s Guide How We Selected Our Top Picks Why Trust Catster? Final Thoughts A Quick Look At Our Favorites of 2024 Image Product Details Best Overall Hepper Cat Nail Clippers Set Two nail clippers and a nail file Black pouch included as storage Stainless-steel clippers with safety features CHECK PRICE Frisco Dog & Cat Nail Clippers Japanese high-carbon steel Semi-circular blades for ease of use Compact design for small pets CHECK PRICE Casfuy 2 LED Light Grooming Dog & Cat Paw Nail Grinder Two LED lights Two speed options Suitable for all pets CHECK PRICE Best for Kittens Four Paws Magic Coat Professional Series Cat Nail Clipper Stainless-steel blades Small size Used by professional groomers CHECK PRICE Pet Republique Cat Nail Clipper Stainless-steel blades Convenient for small pets Ergonomic handles CHECK PRICE The 11 Best Cat Nail Clippers 1. Hepper Cat Nail Clipper Set — Best Overall Check Price on Hepper Check Price on Amazon Material: Plastic, stainless steel Life Stage: All stages With the Hepper Cat Nail Clipper Set, you get three tools for an affordable price, making these the best overall cat clippers! The set comes with medium and small nail clippers and a nail file that fits inside the former’s handle for your convenience. The large nail clippers also have stainless-steel blades, a non-slip grip, and an adjustable safety stop guard and locking switch. The small clippers are the scissor-type, with 160-degree angled and circular blades, a rubberized comfortable grip, a mechanical spring, and a safety lock. The set is available in gray or blue. It’s worth noting that the small nail clippers have fairly small handles, which might make it difficult for some cat owners to use them. At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company! Pros Affordable Two nail clippers and a nail file Stainless-steel clippers with safety features Black pouch included as storage Available in gray or blue Cons Handles on the small clippers might be too small for some owners 2. Frisco Dog & Cat Nail Clippers Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Dimension: 4.53 x 2.76 x 0.28 inches Material: Japanese high-carbon steel Life Stage: Adult Constructed with Japanese high-carbon steel for durability, the Frisco Dog & Cat Nail Clippers use semi-circular-shaped blades to make clipping claws easy. The style of the blades helps you see where the blades are positioned to allow for precise and safe cuts. It’s a compact design intended for use on small pets and has a built-in finger rest instead of a spring-loaded system to make the clippers easy to use. The size, style, and affordability make the Frisco nail clippers the best cat nail clippers for the money. A downside is how small the handles are. Cat owners with large hands will struggle to comfortably hold the clippers, even with the finger rest. The blades don’t stay sharp for long either and are not designed to be re-sharpened. Pros Japanese high-carbon steel Semi-circular blades for ease of use Compact design for small pets Built-in finger rest Cons Too small for large hands Blades dull easily 3. Casfuy 2 LED Light Grooming Dog & Cat Paw Nail Grinder Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Dimension: 7.83 x 4.13 x 1.73 inches Material: Stone and plastic Life Stage: Adult The Casfuy 2 LED Light Grooming Dog & Cat Paw Nail Grinder is more expensive than regular nail clipping options, but many pet owners prefer it over traditional methods of trimming claws. It’s not designed solely for cats in mind, but it is a useful alternative if you or your cat are nervous about clippers. This tool has two LED lights to make it easier to see your cat’s nails, three ports for all nail sizes, and two-speed options. The included USB cable makes charging the nail grinder quick and easy. If you’re accustomed to clippers, nail grinders can take a while to get used to. While it is designed to be quiet to avoid scaring pets, it’s noisier and vibrates more than regular nail clippers. You’ll need to introduce the grinder to your cat slowly and teach them to see it as a good thing before you try using it in earnest. Pros Two LED lights Two speed options Suitable for all pets Rechargeable Cons Expensive Difficult for cats to get used to 4. Four Paws Magic Coat Professional Series Cat Nail Clipper Check Latest Price Dimension: 7.25 x 3.25 x 0.25 inches Material: Stainless steel Life Stage: All Introducing nail clipping to your cat’s grooming routine needs to be done as early as possible to help them adjust to the activity. This means finding a pair of clippers that are small enough for your kitten, like the Four Paws Magic Coat Professional Series Cat Nail Clipper. Used by professional groomers, it’s designed to be used by left- or right-handed cat owners. The stainless-steel blades ensure clean and quick cuts to make nail clipping as comfortable as possible. This clipper can be used on kittens and adult cats, but the handles might be too small to wield comfortably if you have large hands. The blades dull quickly too, and there’s no way of resharpening them. Pros Stainless-steel blades Small size Used by professional groomers Ambidextrous design Cons Too small for large hands Dulls quickly 5. Pet Republique Cat Nail Clipper Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Dimension: 3.8 x 2.5 x 0.2 inches Material: Stainless steel Life Stage: Adult Cats might have smaller paws than most dogs, but they still need sturdy and reliable clippers to make sure their manicure is done well. The Pet Republique Cat Nail Clipper has a conveniently compact design to make it easier to use on small pets. Besides cats, it can be used on rabbits, chinchillas, and small dog breeds. Its versatility makes it the best overall cat nail clipper. Made with stainless-steel blades and ergonomic handles, it’s designed to clip claws easily while being comfortable to hold. Pet Republique also donates 15% of the purchase price of its products to animal shelters and rescues to help you support abandoned pets. While these clippers are the perfect size for small animals, if you have large hands, the product might be too small for your fingers. The handles have also been known to stick sometimes, making them difficult to use. Pros Stainless-steel blades Convenient for small pets Ergonomic handles Donates to shelters Cons Too small for large hands Stiff handles 6. JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Nail Clipper Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Dimension: 5.75 x 4.25 x 0.25 inches Material: Stainless steel, plastic Life Stage: Adult Created with cats in mind, the JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Nail Clipper has short stainless-steel blades for precision cutting and to make the clipper easy to maneuver. The handles are covered with non-slip rubber and are ergonomically designed to fit into the curve of your hand to ensure your comfort. This nail clipper is also small enough to be suitable for kittens or other small pets. While the clipper is designed to fit into most users’ hands, the small size does make it uncomfortable for cat owners with large hands and fingers. It’s also not spring-loaded and can be difficult to use on thick claws, especially since the blades don’t stay sharp for long. Pros Non-slip rubber handles Ergonomic design Stainless-steel blades Short for easy maneuverability Cons Handles are small Not spring loaded Blades dull quickly 7. Resco Original Cat Nail Clippers Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Dimension: 5 x 3.5 x 0.5 inches Material: Stainless steel Life Stage: Adult Guillotine-style nail clippers can take a while to get used to and require a slightly different approach to trimming claws, but many pet owners prefer them over the regular scissors type. Resco Original Cat Nail Clippers are sturdy and made with heavy-duty stainless steel to make managing all types of feline claws as easy as possible. Unlike regular scissor clippers, the blade can be replaced as necessary to ensure that your clippers are always sharp enough for quick nail trims. Along with the durable handles, the Resco is spring-loaded to help make it easier to clip thick claws. Unfortunately, these clippers are a bit big. They’ll fit well in large hands but are too big for small cat breeds and kittens. The Resco clippers are also more expensive than the scissor-type clippers, and replacement blades aren’t included. Pros Replaceable blades Heavy-duty design for durability Spring loaded Designed to be quick and easy to use Cons Take time to get used to Too big for kittens Expensive 8. Necoichi Purrcision Cat Nail Clippers Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Dimension: 3.78 x 2.28 x 0.39 inches Material: Stainless steel Life Stage: All Intended for use on cats of all ages by left- and right-handed users, the Necoichi Purrcision Cat Nail Clippers are 30% thinner than most other nail clippers to help you see where you’re cutting. The handles are cushioned for comfort, featuring secure, non-slip rubber for safety. Made in Japan, the stainless-steel blades benefit from the experience of celebrated swordsmiths and are designed to ensure sharp blades and clean cuts. Unfortunately, the Necoichi Purrcision clippers are on the small side. They’re easy to use on cats and other small pets but are uncomfortable if you have large hands. Several users have noticed that the blades don’t hold the sharp edge for long and are also put off by the price tag. Pros 30% thinner than most other clippers Cushioned, non-slip handles Ambidextrous design Sharp stainless-steel blades Cons Expensive Blades aren’t sharp for long Too small to handle easily 9. CHI Small Nail Cat Clippers Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Dimension: 0.25 x 3.25 x 6.5 inches Material: Stainless steel Life Stage: All Designed for cats, the CHI Small Nail Cat Clippers are small enough for kittens, adults, and senior cats. The clippers aren’t spring loaded but do feature a built-in finger rest to make using the scissors quick and easy. These nail clippers have ergonomic grips for your comfort and contoured stainless-steel blades to assist with precise cuts. While the CHI clippers are quite affordable, the price does have a downside due to the cheap construction. Although the blades are durable, the rivet holding the scissors together is stiff and makes using the clippers difficult. There’s also no spring to help make quick cuts and the blades dull quickly. Pros Ergonomic grip Durable stainless-steel blades Built-in finger rest Affordable Cons Difficult to open and close Not spring loaded Blades dull quickly 10. Hartz Groomer’s Best Nail Clipper for Dogs & Cats Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Dimension: 3.25 x 0.88 x 9 inches Material: Stainless steel, plastic Life Stage: Adult The Hartz Groomer’s Best Nail Clipper for Dogs & Cats is spring loaded to make clipping nails easy. With sturdy, contoured stainless-steel blades and a safety guard to help you avoid the quick, it’s suitable for cats with thin or thick nails. You can lock the handles when the clippers aren’t in use, preventing the blades from causing injury or becoming dull. The plastic handles are also designed to be ergonomic to make sure you’re comfortable when using the clippers. Unfortunately, the thickness of the blades makes the Hartz clippers difficult to use on small cat breeds and kittens. Several users have had issues with the quick guard moving while the clippers are being used, and the spring has broken after a few cuts. Pros Ergonomic handles Spring loaded Safety lock Quick guard Cons Quick guard moves around Thick blades Too big for kittens Spring can break 11. H&H Pets Dog & Cat Nail Clipper, Medium Check Latest Price Dimension: 7.48 x 3.46 x 0.59 inches Material: Stainless steel Life Stage: Adult Available in two sizes to suit a range of pets, the H&H Pets Dog & Cat Nail Clipper, Medium, also includes easy-to-follow instructions for first-time users. It’s designed for ease of use, with rubber non-slip handles for a secure grip. The stainless-steel blades are contoured to help you position the clippers and cut safely, though the blades are thicker than most cat nail clippers, making it a challenge to use on small breeds and kittens. There’s also no quick guard, which many pet owners find inconvenient. Several cat owners have had issues with the blades rusting when they get damp or becoming dull and crushing nails rather than cutting them. Pros Contoured, stainless-steel blades Available in two sizes Includes instructions Non-slip rubber handles Cons Too big for kittens Blades don’t stay sharp Can rust No quick guard Buyer’s Guide: Understanding Nail Care for Cats If you own a dog, cutting claws should already be part of your grooming routine. A cat’s needs are similar, but there are several important differences that you’ll need to consider before you start. This buyer’s guide will help you choose the best cat nail clippers and provide a few tips on making the experience as harmless as possible. How to Choose the Best Cat Nail Clippers Many nail clippers can be used on cats but they’re not all good choices. Some are too big and clunky, while others simply aren’t sharp enough. Here are a few factors to keep in mind before you purchase a new pair of nail clippers for your cat. Blades Perhaps the most important parts of the nail clippers are the blades themselves. They need to be durable and sharp to ensure stability and efficiency. Dull blades are more likely to cause pain and discomfort by crushing or shredding your cat’s claws. Some cat clippers have blades that can be sharpened or replaced when necessary. Most of all, you need to ensure that the blades aren’t too thick for your cat’s claws. The bigger the blades are, the harder it will be to see where exactly you’re cutting. This will increase the risk of you cutting into the quick. Handles Most clippers options are designed to look like small scissors and will have circular or oval holes for your fingers. Some will have a built-in finger rest. Make sure the handles are sturdy, easy to open and close, and not made from slippery material. Fortunately, most cat nail clippers have non-slip rubber covering the handles to make sure people can use the clippers safely. Still, it’s a good idea to check how safe the grip is before you use them. Size If you have a dog, you probably already have pet nail clippers on hand. The size, however, can be an issue. Large dogs have large nails, and the clippers may be too big to comfortably trim your cat’s claws. Your cat’s nail clippers need to be small enough that maneuvering around their paws won’t be a problem. This does pose another issue, though. The smaller the clippers are, the more difficult they’ll be for you to hold if you have large hands. You’ll need to find clippers that aren’t too big for your cat but not too small for you to use. Image By: Yimmyphotography, Shutterstock Type There are three types of nail clippers for cats, and they are similar to the ones used for dogs, though many of them are smaller and lighter. You can use traditional scissor-style blades, which are often the easiest to use, or you can try a guillotine style, which often requires a bit of a learning curve to use correctly. Nail grinders are popular alternatives. These can reduce the risk of you cutting into the quick but can be difficult for your cat to get used to, and they require a slightly different approach to nail trimming. In a pinch, you can use human nail clippers, provided that you’re careful. Always make sure the blades are sharp, no matter which type of clipper you’re using. Why Should You Cut Your Cat’s Claws? Even if your cat uses several scratching posts, it’s still a good idea to regularly trim their nails. While they handle most of their grooming needs themselves, which often includes nail care, trimming their claws can help prevent damage to you, your furniture, or other pets in the house. It’s also a humane alternative to declawing, a surgery that involves amputating the tips of your cat’s toes and often results in behavioral and health problems. How Often Should You Cut Your Cat’s Claws? It’s recommended that you cut your cat’s claws every 2–3 weeks. This will keep the quick short and reduce the risk of you cutting into it. It will also ensure that your cat’s claws are a manageable length and less likely to tear into you, your family, or your furniture, even if your cat doesn’t mean to cause damage. Trimming your cat’s claws shouldn’t be the only method that you use to help them tend to their nails. You’ll still need scratching posts around the house and maybe a nail file to smooth any rough edges if your cat has any. If cutting your cat’s claws yourself makes you cringe, you can hire a professional groomer to do it for you. What to Do If You Cut the Quick Cats often have white claws, and the quick is visible as a pink section inside each claw. It’s a blood vessel in your cat’s nail that will bleed heavily and cause pain if you cut into it. This is why many pet owners dislike cutting their pet’s claws and instead, hire a professional groomer or a veterinarian. Whether you pay somebody else to cut your cat’s claws or do it yourself, though, accidents can happen. If you do accidentally cut your cat’s quick, don’t panic. It can bleed a bit, and we hate causing pain to our pets, which makes the situation feel devastating, but it is manageable. Keep a styptic pencil or powder nearby whenever you’re trimming your pet’s nails so you can use it as soon as you need to. Fortunately, most accidental nicks don’t require veterinary intervention. You can treat it at home just by stopping the bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t show signs of stopping within 5 minutes, though, that’s when you’ll need to go to a vet. How We Selected Our List of Cat Clippers Catster has an experienced, expert team of writers, editors, and veterinarians who carefully consider a wide range of parameters when choosing the cat clippers. This includes but is not limited to customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, hands-on testing, and of course, our cats have a say in the process too! We aim to select and review only the best products available, to help you make the best possible choice and most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs. Why Trust Catster? A trusted online brand since 2001, Catster has a lot of experience with cat clippers. Our team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians is dedicated to helping you make the best decision for your precious cats. Our aim is to provide the best information available for cat owners to help cats live their best life possible. To do this, we scour reviews from the most trusted sources available and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options available to readers. Our team is deeply invested in the health and welfare of cats the world over, and believes that expert knowledge and veterinary guidance will help you make the right choices—for you and your cats Final Thoughts Choosing a good pair of nail clippers for your cat isn’t easy. There are many choices out there, and we hope that these reviews of the 10 best cat nail clippers have helped you out. Our overall favorite is the Hepper Cat Nail Clipper Set for its 3-in-1 clipping solutions, ease of use, and durable stainless-steel blades. A cheaper option without risking quality is the Frisco Dog & Cat Nail Clippers. Finally, an alternative method is the Casfuy Nail Grinder. It’s expensive and takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s useful for both cats and dogs. Featured Image Credit: Daria Bondina, Shutterstock The post 11 Best Cat Clippers – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks by Catster Editorial Team appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post How to Trim Cat Nails at Home: Vet-Approved Steps, Tips, & Advice by Catster Editorial Team appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Grooming your cat is an important part of being a responsible pet owner, and nail trimming is a step that should not be avoided. Still, trimming your cat’s nails can be daunting for finicky or skittish cats, especially if you have no prior experience. The best way to make the experience as stress-free as possible is to go in with a plan. In this article, we’ll look at the seven steps you need to follow to trim your cat’s nails at home. While following these steps, if you are ever concerned for your cat’s well-being or overwhelmed by the task, do not hesitate to take a break or consult a professional groomer for assistance. Gather Your Supplies Before trimming your cat’s nails, you must have the correct supplies. You should never use human or canine nail clippers on your cat. Clippers not designed for your cat’s nails may make the process more difficult and cause injuries. Trimmers First, you will need to pick out your feline nail trimmers. There are various types of trimmers to choose from, and you will want to consider the pros and cons of each one to make an informed choice. The first option is a scissor-style clipper. They appear like scissors with curved blades to fit around your cat’s nails. If your cat has particularly sturdy nails, you may want plier-style clippers. They have a little extra power behind them to cut through tough nails, but that also means you must be extra careful of where you are cutting. Another option is the guillotine-style clippers. The blade on the clipper will stay sharper for longer, but it can be a bit more difficult for novices to use. To use them, you will need to fit your cat’s nail through a small hole where the blade will cut across. It’s like threading a needle but with a squirmy cat instead. Hepper Cat Nail Clipper Kit - Small and Large... Complete Set - These cat nail clippers include both a large and small pair, meaning it works well as...Razor Sharp Stainless Steel - The most comfortable cat nail clippers for indoor cats provide a fast...Safety First - With a safety nail guard and locking spring, you can make sure every grooming cut is... Check Price on Amazon Trimming your cat's nails at home can be hard, but having a professional do it can be expensive. With the help of great tools like Hepper's Cat Nail Clipper Set, you can easily and quickly trim your cat's nails at home. This set includes two pairs of stainless steel clippers with safety guards and locking mechanisms, plus a built-in nail file and a convenient pouch. At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company! Support Items Speaking of squirmy cats, you may find it helpful to have a towel, a blanket, or a second person nearby as a helper. Wrapping your cat in a towel or blanket can keep your furry friend still while you trim their nails. If you have a helper, they’ll be able to hold the cat while you trim the nails, which will make the process much easier. Treats will also be essential to this process. To keep your cat appeased and patient, you will want to feed them a treat after every nail or so. If you accidentally cut the quick of your cat’s claw, you’ll need styptic powder on hand to reduce the bleeding and minimize pain. How to Trim Cat Nails at Home in 7 Steps Once you’ve gathered your supplies, you can begin trimming your cat’s nails. Throughout this process, take breaks if you feel that your cat is growing agitated, and don’t be afraid to call on an experienced pet parent for help if you are overwhelmed. By following these steps, you can make nail trimming as quick and easy as possible. 1. Find a Calm, Quiet Spot If you’re in a household with several people or pets, you won’t want to trim your cat’s nails in the middle of the chaos. To make the experience as stress-free as possible for you and your cat, go into an isolated part of the home and close the door. If your cat is in a high-strung emotional state, soothe them. Take the time to calm them down from their excitement and settle them into a relaxed state before you begin. 2. Get Your Cat into a Comfortable Position Once your cat is calm, it is time to get them into position for nail trimming. Experience will tell you which position is best for you and your cat, as some cats may find one position stressful, while others may prefer it. Some ideas include sitting with your cat across your lap or laying back on your chest. If your cat doesn’t seem satisfied with any position, this is where the towel or blanket and a helper will come in handy. You can wrap your cat up like a burrito and keep one paw sticking out to trim. The more you trim your cat’s nails, the better you will understand their preferences and what position will help them feel most at ease. Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock 3. Find the Nail and the Quick Gently take ahold of your cat’s paw and pick any nail to start with. With your forefinger on your cat’s paw pad and your thumb on the top of their toe, apply gentle pressure to expose the nail. Observe where the quick is, which will be the pink part of the nail rather than the white portion. The quick should be avoided since it is the vein in your cat’s nail. 4. Cut at the Correct Angle Once you’ve identified the nail and the quick, it is time to cut. Cut at a slight angle rather than straight across, which will help the nail rest more naturally on the ground as your cat walks. Although your instinct may be to be cautious and tentative during the process, you must cut decisively and firmly. If you are too slow in cutting the nail, you may crush it rather than cut it cleanly. You are free to use this image but we do require you to link back to Catster.com for credit Related Read: How to Use Cat Nail Clippers — 4 Simple Steps 5. Trim Little by Little Rather than cutting the whole nail in one go, trim little by little. This will help you to ensure that you avoid accidentally cutting the quick. It will also help you monitor your cat’s reaction. If your cat appears agitated and growls or hisses, it is time to take a break. 6. Repeat for Each Nail Repeat this process for each nail. If the cat has remained calm, it is a good idea to give your cat treats after every nail. You might even want to consider ending the session on a positive note and trying another nail the next day. Image Credit: Vydrin, Shutterstock 7. Finish With a Positive Experience After trimming your cat’s nails, make sure to end the process on a positive note. Give them treats, cuddles, or playtime—whatever they want. They deserve it!   Helpful Tips for Trimming Your Cat’s Nails If you’re still feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of trimming your cat’s nails, we have some tips that you may find helpful. Practice, practice, practice. Before trimming your cat’s nails, walk through the whole process without cutting any nails. This helps you and your cat to grow accustomed to the sensations involved, giving your cat plenty of opportunities to adjust before the real deal. Take advantage of supportive tools. Soft music or soothing pheromones may calm your kitty. Keep calm. If you aren’t calm, your cat won’t be, either. Your cat can pick up on the slightest emotional cues, so it is crucial that you remain patient during the process. If you feel yourself growing agitated, take a break.   Conclusion While trimming your cat’s claws may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. By following the seven key steps in this article, you can make the process simple and effective. Start by gathering your necessary tools and practicing before you start the process. If you keep the experience positive, it will be even easier to trim your cat’s nails in the future. Related Read: Can You Use Dog Nail Clippers on Cats? Care & Safety Tips Sources Be Chewy Humane Society Featured Image Credit: GaiBru-Photo, Shutterstock The post How to Trim Cat Nails at Home: Vet-Approved Steps, Tips, & Advice by Catster Editorial Team appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Books short fiction Seven SFF Stories With Surprising Endings Unexpected twists and turns elevate each of these short tales… By Ratika Deshpande | Published on December 3, 2024 Photo by Yannick Pulver [via Unsplash] Comment 0 Share New Share Photo by Yannick Pulver [via Unsplash] There are stories that begin in one place and end in another, taking a bumpy but relatively straightforward route. There are mystery stories that seek to surprise you by making you guess who/how/whatdunnit. And then there are stories, seemingly innocuous, that take your hand and pull you along, and then, right towards the end, spin you around to show you something you had never considered, like the following… “The Bone Flute Quartet” by KJ Kabza Bretchen, like everyone else in her world, grew up listening to the stories of Myrra Ferrinn, the infamous witch who was eventually lynched by the public, her dismembered limbs paraded in every street to announce her defeat. Despite the stories, Bretchen wants to be a witch and her Ommama supports the decision, although her Mémé would rather she went to a knittery and learned something respectable.  Ommalai gives Bretchen her bone flute and a recommendation letter, which actually includes directions for what she should do next: find a man who will tell her how one becomes a witch. She does and he tells her the true story of Myrra’s death, the events that happened after the witch died. Turns out, there’s more to her story, and to the bone flute. Bretchen doesn’t know how that’ll make her a witch, but she’s determined to become one, whatever it takes. A delightful read with an equally delightful ending. “Night Desk Duty at the Infinite Paradox Hotel” by Aimee Ogden  If you’re not familiar with the Infinite Hotel Paradox, this stunning video by TED-Ed is a good introduction. Dave sits at the night desk of a hotel that never runs out of rooms. He’s nice, committed to the “corporate promise” of always having rooms available, and has never given his customers or superiors a reason to complain. It’s not a difficult job when you know your way around prime numbers and exponents, but tonight, it seems that there’s no end to new arrivals. Can Dave keep up without destroying his record of excellent service? “Godfather Death, in His Own Words” by John Wiswell  Wiswell’s story is a retelling of the legend of Death’s godson, who goes on to be a doctor (there is also a TED-Ed video about the original tale, if you’re interested!). When the doctor cheats his godfather for his own benefit, Death is angry but forgives him. Eventually, when it’s time for the doctor to pass on, Death takes him beyond and shows him what his cheating cost. But the doctor is not the godson Death knows him to be; he sees an opportunity here, too. How will Death respond now? “Hope for Enthos” by Addison Smith Enthos is a gargoyle, stuck as a stone statue. All he needs is for the girl in the building opposite where he stands as a statue to unwind the music box on her bedside. One turn is all it’ll take. Will the girl set him free and end his waiting? “A String of Paper Dolls” by Sage Tyrtle Sometimes the problem with recommending stories with unexpected endings is that it becomes difficult to explain what those stories are about without also spoiling the surprise; this is one of them. A group of friends decide who gets to approach the new cute guy at school first. But he turns out to be something of a weirdo and knows things about the girls that the girls themselves don’t know—not because he’s a creep, but because he is stuck in a place that he can’t get out of. And no one wants to accept it when he tells them what that place is, or who all of them really are.  “…That Has Such People in It” by Jennifer Pelland The aliens are visiting Earth to determine if it’s suitable for membership in their interplanetary congregation. The poor and the downtrodden are hidden underground, lest they ruin Earth’s chances. No one knows when they’ll be brought back up again, if at all. And no one knows what would happen once they’re back. When the underground population finally emerges, they’re given something none of them expected to ever receive, making them reconsider their time away entirely. “Congratulations, Clockholder!” by R.L. Thull You know how they say time is money? What if it really was? In this story, time can literally be exchanged with money, thanks to the Bank of Chronos Platinum Credit Clock, which you’ve been preapproved to receive. No longer in need of a job, you submit your resignation, get a better house and car, and travel all over the world. And lo, there’s another exciting offer from the Bank. The Clock has already given you so much in return for years of your life, what’s a few years more? The offers keep coming, and you keep redeeming them, although there’s a very tiny feeling inside you that thinks there could be more, more, more… [end-mark] The post Seven SFF Stories With Surprising Endings appeared first on Reactor.

A top priority for the incoming 119th Congress and the second Trump administration should be to extend and build upon President-elect Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, most of which are set to expire after December 2025. The stakes are high. If the tax cuts are allowed to sunset, Americans would face the largest tax hike since World War II. The 2017 tax legislation—which included tax reductions for individuals, small businesses, and corporations—was one of the signature achievements of Trump’s first term and helped drive the booming economy of the Trump years. Americans for Tax Reform compiled an impressive list of 1,233 known examples of companies announcing pay raises, job creation, employee bonuses, benefits increases, and business expansions that were made possible by the tax cuts. The unemployment rate fell to 50-year lows. Median real wages grew as much in the two years following the tax cuts as they had in the 30 years leading up to the tax cuts. Inflation declined slightly, remaining at a historically low rate. Corporate inversions were halted and, in some cases, reversed. And Americans enjoyed major simplification in tax filing. The bottom line: Americans were allowed to keep more of the money they earned, and they were earning more of it. The good times would have continued if not for the Black Swan event that was COVID-19. But if not for the Trump tax cuts, we’d be in a much worse position today than we are. U.S. businesses would have entered the 2020 pandemic with among the highest taxes in the developed world and with significantly less financial cushion to absorb the economic shock of the pandemic. Fewer businesses would have survived the lockdowns, and the road to economic recovery would have been longer and more painful. Since the pandemic, the American economy and the American people have endured the consequences of inflationary government spending, overregulation, and misguided new taxes, such as new taxes on natural gas, oil, and stock buybacks, as well as a new corporate alternative tax. The empowerment of government over private individuals and businesses has left the economy on shaky ground. Doubling down on the failed government-centric approach of the past four years and allowing a historically large tax increase  would be a huge mistake and would leave America at risk of a major recession. Lawmakers shouldn’t allow it. Congress should act to deliver a budget-reconciliation package to the president’s desk that includes an extension of the critical pro-growth tax provisions from the 2017 legislation. That includes allowing companies to fully and immediately deduct purchases of equipment and machinery instead of subjecting them to convoluted depreciation schedules of up to 20 years that complicate tax filings, make small businesses vulnerable to inflation, and punish companies for investing in the tools that allow their employees to become more productive and to command higher wages. Likewise, Congress should ensure that companies can fully and immediately deduct research and development costs in determining taxable income. There’s no sound rationale for biasing the tax code against forward-looking companies seeking to develop new products or to improve on existing ones. Congress should also stop the expansion of the death tax that is set to take effect after 2025. The 40% death tax is a killer for family businesses and farms. It hits families in their time of loss, and it all-too-often forces desperate family members to auction off the decedent’s life’s work to the highest bidder. Congress also should act to stop or mitigate the looming tax-rate hikes, which—if allowed to take effect—would particularly hammer small-business owners. Altogether, the government scorekeepers at the Joint Committee on Taxation will likely claim that extending current tax policies with no spending cuts or new revenue-raisers would add about $4 trillion to the national debt over 10 years. For the government scorekeepers, tax hikes are baked into the baseline. Conservatives in Congress have grown increasingly skeptical of the reliability of government scorekeepers’ budget scores. And justifiably so, as enormous errors from the scorekeepers facilitated deficit-busting policies like the trillion-dollar green energy subsidies that were passed during President Joe Biden’s administration. And government prognosticators have always undersold the benefits of pro-growth tax cuts. Nonetheless, a reconciliation package that avoids a large deficit hole will have an easier time passing. But more importantly, if Congress passes a reconciliation package that pairs an extension of the tax cuts with spending cuts and other deficit-reduction measures, businesses and individuals will have more faith that the tax cuts will last and will be able to plan and invest accordingly. Out of the $6.8 trillion of annual federal spending, there’s a lot of room to cut, and the incoming Trump administration has signaled that it’s serious about making the government leaner and more efficient. Part of the effort to make government more efficient should include making taxes more efficient. The tax code is littered with trillions of dollars of carveouts and special-interest subsidies, such as Biden’s Green New Deal tax credits that pick winners and losers across the economy. Most of these subsidies are formally miscategorized and not recorded as government spending, but they’re still coming out of the pockets of the American people. The 2025 tax package should be part of a broader reconciliation deal that acts as a rebuke to those special interests who have benefited from business as usual in Washington, D.C. On Nov. 5, the American people delivered a mandate for low taxes, a secure border, common sense, and a leaner government that works for the people—instead of the other way around. Now it’s time for Congress to stand and deliver. The post Atop Agenda for 119th Congress: Lock in Trump Tax Cuts appeared first on The Daily Signal.

No, Trump Shouldn't Run His Nominees Through an FBI Gantlet

Democrats Fear Worst POTUS Ever Tarnishes His Legacy with Hunter Pardon

As a symbol of global catastrophe, this one is hard to beat, and the effects will be more than just symbolic.

The failure is bad news for the planet, but good news for fossil fuel companies.