How It Works
All nails are slightly different on every pet, although most are similar in size and shape on a given pet. The first time you use Zen Clipper, observe that the quick of the nail, the red part that has the blood supply, won’t be cut by the blade. Just a few tries and you’ll be using the Zen Clipper confident that it “Clips the Tip and Not the Quick”.
Clips the Tip and Not the Quick
- The unique conical design protects the quick. The stainless steel blade design shears and does not crush the nail like other standard clippers.
- Made from high-quality stainless steel for a long-lasting, sharp-clipping edge and blades.
- The cushioned non-slip handle and stainless steel design make a comfortable clipper that is durable, attractive and easy to use.
Zen Clipper is especially helpful for pet owners with limited near vision since it will prevent you from cutting off too much of the nail, even if you cannot see up close. There is a YouTube video of an owner using Zen Clipper with a blindfold on!
If the blade does appear to approach the quick we will exchange your Zen Clipper at no cost with a smaller size (there are seven sizes). Likewise if the nail is too big for the size Zen Clipper you purchased we will happily exchange it for a larger size.
Product Story
Zen Clipper was invented by cat owner Michael Bihlmaier of Northwest Illinois. After years of struggling to keep his cats’ nails trimmed, Michael called on his background as a trained machinist to create a very special blade. Many prototypes were made and the shape of the Zen Clipper blade was refined again and again. The end result of all this effort is a patented nail trimmer, the only one like it, that ensures you will never trim more nail than you intend.
What Size Do I Need?
There are 7 sizes of Zen Clipper and below are some guidelines for choosing the right size for your pet.
XXS – Small birds, kittens, ferrets, reptiles and small animals
XS – Most adult cats
S – Larger cats, larger birds, puppies, large reptiles and very small dogs
M – Small dogs and larger puppies. A Dachshund would be a good fit
L – Dogs approximately 20lbs to 40lbs
XL – Dogs approximately 25lbs to 50lbs
XXL –Dogs approximately 25lbs to 50lbs with thicker nails
Download the Sizing Card
The dots at the bottom are the exact size of each Zen Clipper. Make sure you print actual size, not scale to fit page or otherwise resized. This ensures the dots remain the correct size. By holding the dots near your pet’s nails or by actually poking the nail through the hole you can determine which size Zen Clipper best fits your pet. You can print this in black and white (sometimes called grayscale) to save ink.
Download the Sizing Card
Request a Sizing Card
The most certain way of getting the right size is for us to mail you a try-me sizing card – this is a card that has holes precisely cut matching the holes in the various Zen Clippers (the card has all 7 sizes of holes) and is about the size of a postcard. If you’d like a free try-me card mailed to you please complete the form below. We will never sell, loan or otherwise disclose your address. Free sizing cards mailed to US addresses only.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What if I get the wrong size for my pet?
We gladly exchange any Zen Clipper, no matter where you purchased it, at no cost to you. Use the Contact Us form and tell us what size you have, what size you need and your address. We will send you a replacement clipper and a prepaid return envelope for your original clipper. We only provide this service with the USA. For exchanges outside the USA please contact the store or website from where you purchased your Zen Clipper.
My dog or cat has dark nails. How do I know where the quick is located, so I can figure out what size I need?
There are a couple ways to do this. One is to trim a little bit at a time until you see a little white circle just start to appear at the end of the nail – this is the beginning of the quick. Stop when you see that white circle. Another option is to have your pet’s nails professionally trimmed and then measure after – good professional groomers, vet techs and veterinarians typically have years of experience and they will trim to the length you want to try to maintain. Trimming a little at a time is easier on your pet and safer.
The clippers, especially the larger sizes, require more force to use than I can create with my fingers in the finger holes. What should I do?
Grasp the clippers in your palm and wrap your fingers around the handle, not through the finger holes. This allows you to use the strength of your entire hand. Most people, after trying both the finger holes and the whole-hand method, use their whole hand.
Jennifer N. –
Thank you so much for my small zen clippers. I recently adopted two kittens from my favorite rescue and I clipped their lethal claws as soon as I opened it and I love love love them. It was so easy and they were both asleep when I clipped them and they both slept most of the way thru me clipping all ten claws. My arms and legs thank you too.:-) I will be purchasing another small one later this week and maybe a medium one also to give to our local kitty rescue. Here Kitty Kitty Rescue Sofie and Ellie will love getting pawdicures with these.
Date of Posting: 29 June 2015
Posted By: Jennifer N.
Elkhart, IN
Kathy W –
Got mine in the mail today and love it! Saving me over $14 a month. The cat was a little wiggly, but was still able to clip his nails while I laid him on his back on my lap. Thank you Zen Clippers
Rebecca Ford –
FIVE STARS TO THE NEW ZEN CLIPPERS
July 9, 2015
Just received my order from Zen Clippers/large, to be used on two litter sister Yorkies. Hugs and Kisses weigh five pounds and will be three years old, July 27th. My fur babies are my fourth and fifth Yorkies I have owned. In the past, I owned one Yorkie at a time. This is my first experience to own two at one time. Thus, I decided to do all of Hugs and Kisses grooming and purchased all the tools and supplies.
I spent a small fortune on every type of nail
clipper/grinder with no success. Clippers/grinders were not faulty, but Hugs and Kisses fought me “tooth and nail”! Rubbing their feet when puppies did not pay off. I even purchased a hanging sling hoping the weight of them off their feet would allow me to trim their nails.
Repeated failure to trim my dog’s nails and my husband and I having senior citizen skin damage left me no choice but to take them to Pet Smart and pay $40.00 for eight little paw nails to be trimmed.
Yay! THANK YOU! The Zen Clippers allowed me to successfully trim those eight little paw nails! No fighting me or wiggling out of my arm. Hugs and Kisses laid quietly on my lap until I finished. No fear from grinding noise. Actually, I don’t think they knew their nail tips were trimmed!
When I first read about the Zen Clippers, a year ago, I couldn’t wait to try. You have one happy customer!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Ford
Miriam H –
I’m always looking for products that can help me make grooming easier for me and less stressful for my two (and one kitten on the way!) cats. I found an ad for Zen Clippers in Modern Cat magazine and was very intrigued. I love the spring action, and the circular blade goes right through the nail without any strain! I bought the largest size for my 15lb boy, and will be purchasing the smallest for my new kitten when he is ready to come home from his foster mom. There’s no pinching or crushing like with other clippers. These are the best design out there!
Miriam H –
Easy & Stress-free for all! Trimming nails used to be a stressful experience. It was my husband holding our cat, me getting very close to their nails to make sure I didn’t clip the quick and our cats not liking it one bit. I say USED to be STRESSFUL because with the Zen clippers, I am able to clip their nails with ease while the cats are sleeping because I just need to slip the nail into the scissor cone, move the scissors until they stop and then clip. IT no longer requires two of us. This is so easy and just another task instead of a stressful task that we dreaded. Thank you for your design – the reduction in stress if worth way more than the cost of these scissors. THANK YOU!!!
Anna –
Easy & Stress-free for all! Trimming nails used to be a stressful experience. It was my husband holding our cat, me getting very close to their nails to make sure I didn’t clip the quick and our cats not liking it one bit. I say USED to be STRESSFUL because with the Zen clippers, I am able to clip their nails with ease while the cats are sleeping because I just need to slip the nail into the scissor cone, move the scissors until they stop and then clip. IT no longer requires two of us. This is so easy and just another task instead of a stressful task that we dreaded. Thank you for your design – the reduction in stress if worth way more than the cost of these scissors. THANK YOU!!!
Maria G –
Brilliantly designed product – thank you so very much! Fool-proof to use on my squirmy and resistant cats – absolutely love that there is no danger of over-clipping (especially when dealing with my squirmiest cat!) and also truly love that the clipper doesn’t make any noise (which was something that upset both my cats with all the other clippers I tried in the past). The Zen clipper came in the mail yesterday and I was able to clip all front and back claws on one cat with ease and on the other cat with far less struggles than ever before!!
Nancy –
I love the Zen Clipper! It makes it so much easier (and safer) to trim my cats’ nails. It is less stressful because the Zen Clipper doesn’t pull on the claw like regular trimmers and you can’t accidentally cut the quick. I recommend these for all cat owners. The medium one works the best for my young cats.
Posted By: Nancy
Minnesota
Trisha –
Zen clipper is fantastic! We rescued 2 dogs ~50lbs, Catahoula breed, and we use this about once a week. Their nails are moving back very quickly and it’s so easy to use! Even if they don’t feel like cooperating on nail trim day it’s still a 1 person job; we’ve never accidentally cut too much so they are actually very receptive to the task. We did have to return for 1 size down so i highly recommend using the size guide, even if you think your best guess will be correct!
Staci –
I just got my clipper. Wow! I have 2 large cats. One is cooperative and the other not so much. I cut the cooperatives claws in less than a minute. It makes it so easy with no worry about nipping it too close. It cut clean and quick. LOVE IT!!!
Thank you!!!!!