Shiny Pet Nail Clippers Review

We purchased the Shiny Pet Nail Clippers so our reviewer could put it to the test with her cat. Keep reading for our full product review.

Even if you take your pets to the groomer regularly, there will probably still come a time when you have to cut their nails yourself. This is why it’s important to add nail clippers—like those from Shiny Pet—to your grooming tool kit. 

The right pair of clippers makes nail maintenance easier, getting the job done quickly and efficiently so your pets can get back to playing. We wanted to see if the Shiny Pet Nail Clippers fit the bill, so we tested them out in a multi-pet household to figure out what type of animals they’re best suited for. Here’s what we discovered.

Size: For small pets only

Let’s not beat around the bush: The Shiny Pet Nail Clippers are small. However, this should really come as no surprise, as they have “for small animals” in all caps in the product description. That said, we were still wondering how the manufacturer defines “small”—are we talking hamsters? Cats and dogs? Puppies? 

First, we tested the clippers out on our sweet Golden Retriever puppy, Addy, who’s coming up on 6 months. She weighs around 40 pounds, and we quickly found out the clippers were too small to comfortably use on her nails. We were able to fit her nails into the semi-circular scissor opening, but we had to apply too much pressure to cut through the nail. 

Next, we tested the nail clippers on our cat, who proved to be a much less eager test subject. Nugget is a domestic short hair and weighs around 11 pounds. However, you’d think he was a much bigger animal if we told you how much of a struggle he puts up when it’s time to cut his claws. It’s a full-body workout to keep him contained! 

When we were finally able to test out the clippers on him, we found them to be the perfect size for his kitty claws. As such, we think these nail clippers would work well on small breeds of dogs like Chihuahuas and younger puppies, too. However, once your pets reach the 30- or 40-pound mark, you may need to upgrade to larger nail clippers.

Effectiveness: Makes quick work of cat nails

If you’ve ever tried to clip your cat’s nails, you know time is of the essence. Once we got Nugget swaddled, we were impressed with how effective the Shiny Pet Nail Clippers were. 

The blades of these clippers are at a 20-degree angle off the handles, which allowed us to more easily see what we were doing. With one quick movement, we were able to line up the blades and snip off the tips of Nugget’s claws, easily avoiding the quick (the name for the blood vessels within an animal’s claws). There was only minimal effort required, and the sharp blades cut through his nails with ease. 

All in all, it only took us about a minute to do all 10 of his front claws, including the dewclaws. By the end of the session, he was starting to struggle, so we finished just in the nick of time. The only complaint we have is that the blades aren’t spring-loaded, so they don’t automatically open back up each time you snip. However, given the small nature of the scissors, we didn’t find this to be a big deal. 

Durability: Solid construction

Despite their small form, the Shiny Pet Nail Clippers seem to be quite well-made. The blades are stainless steel and the handles are hard plastic covered in a slip-proof rubber material. The construction seems quite solid, and we wouldn’t worry that they would bend or break, even if you handled them roughly. 

The only concern we have is that the sharpness of the blades may wear down over time, making it a bit more cumbersome to trim your pet’s nails. However, this happens with any nail clippers, and given the low price of this product, it wouldn’t be a big deal to replace them a few years down the road. 

Comfort: Easy to handle

There are a few features that make the Shiny Pet Nail Clippers more comfortable than your average small animal nail trimmers. For one, we loved the angled blades. Our previous nail clippers didn’t have these, and the small detail makes it significantly faster, easier, and more comfortable to get the perfect angle when cutting your cat’s nails. 

Price: As good as it gets

These high-quality nail clippers cost just $13 (and are often on sale for less). Given their durable construction and sharp blades, we think they’re well worth the low price. 

Competition: Upgrade for bigger pets

Safari Professional Nail Trimmer: If your pet is in the range of 40 to 80 pounds, the Safari Nail Trimmers will better suit your needs. While they don’t have an angled blade, these medium-sized clippers have strong, sharp blades than can cut through tougher, larger nails with ease. 

Epica Professional Pet Nail Clipper: Those with really big dogs—we’re talking giant breeds like Mastiffs, Great Danes, and Saint Bernards—are going to need a serious set of clippers like these $10 ones from Epica. These large clippers are probably overkill for most average-sized pooches, but they’re extra strong and big enough for thick, rugged nails.