You’ve probably seen the infomercial for Emery Cat — a kitty scratcher that supposedly trims and grooms your cat’s nails so you don’t have to. I have a helluva time trying to trim my cats’ nails, so it sounds like a cool idea, but I’m always skeptical about any products you can buy on TV. I decided to check out what people who have bought the product are saying, because I’m sure you’re curious, too.

From my research, it seems like a mixed bag. Some people were happy with the product, and others were very, very unhappy. Many of the complaints had to do with the shady buy-one-get-one-free aspect (it doesn’t actually end up being a great deal because you have to pay for S&H; on both products). Some users worried that the product could possibly hurt cats by tearing out claws or possibly being dangerous to the soft pads on cats’ paws.

Read the reviews below and decide for yourself, but my final thought about this, as with all “As Seen on TV Products” is caveat emptor!

Positive reviews:

“I do believe that my cats’ claws have been manicured and remain dull compared to their condition prior to their new scratching post. My Emery Cat Review has to be a positive one because my cats seem to like it, I don’t have to clip their claws which saves me money at the vet, and I haven’t noticed any new damage to my furniture or door frames.” Read the full review here. 

“I want to point out in this review that besides being a scratching post of sorts, the Emery Cat is an actual emery board for cats. It uses their own scratching motion to file down their claws. I think it works well. I have tried to clip their claws in the past but I was always scared of hitting the quick and causing pain. I occasionally had their claws trimmed during vet visits but that was expensive and I don’t visit the vet enough to keep the claws at a safe level. Once they grew back, the destruction returned so it never justified the expense. Once the furniture is destroyed, well, why bother.” Read the full review here.

“I inspected his nails and noticed that the sharp edges were actually duller. Used in conjunction with frequent nail clipping, as difficult as that may be, the Emery Cat is a helpful tool. Now when he goes in for a swipe, there are definitely less battle scars!” Read the full review here.

“This is not a cure all. I will tell you what this thing does. You know those death needles cats claws turn into when you don’t cut them? You know the ones that dig into when your kitty jumps up on you? Well I have to say that the Emery cat totally gets rid of that. It’s pretty awesome and I am so glad that we got one… Well 2 they have a buy one get one free deal.” Read the full review here.

Negative reviews:

Via TheCatSite.com forum: “We ordered 2. took 6 months to come and the cats have looked at them and have not used them even once. We even put CATNIP from the stores on it and still they are not interested. We had 3 old scratcher’s that they loved but these they could care less. One cat tried it for all of maybe 3 seconds and has not been back since. We tried to donate them to our local VET but they said to just throw them away because of complaints about of the boards pulling out cats nails.
VERY VERY disappointed and a total waste of money..
I would not recommend to anyone not even my worst enemy.”

Via TheCatSite.com forum:“My boards finally arrived – only a 3 month delay. One cat has used it once and then decided that the sissel pads were more satisfying. One cat loves to play with the belled fluff that comes with it on a tiny pole that lodges in holes provided in the board’s plastic form. I added the catnip, makes it great to rub a chin on, but they don’t even like the feel of the surface on their pads, let alone on their claws. .. I, also, do not recommend this product. Maybe a lynx would like it (bigger paws and claws), but for normal domestics, just not the cat’s meow.”

Via ComplaintsBoard.com: “Advertisement uses misdirection and “BOGO” to imply buy one get one which is actually 25% off and appears to be 2 P&H; charges.
If you order one unit at $19.95 and $7.95 P&H; and accept the BOGO (expecting another P&H; of $7.95) for a total of $35.85. But the total is $66.70. The original $19.95 and BOGO unit, not free but 25% off, at $14.95 and 4 P&H; charges.
None of these add progressively and wait for acceptance they “are being processed” before you see your total.
You will also have a chance for an upgrade to a sturdy unit that won’t slide around for another $10.
Sounds like a good product with shady marketing.”

Via WeKidYouNot.org: “Now to the product itself. The sisel mat they use as the scratching surface is not soft at all – there is no emery surface underneath the scratching surface…the mat is totally hard and encrusted with a fine emery sand making the surface rough enough to tear the skin off the pads of your cat’s paws. I can’t imagine what damage could be done to a cat’s pad with it.
The “plastic” holder is thin – like the thinness of something molded for lightweight products to hold them in place.
My cats will not touch them – they are painful to even walk on much less dig claws into.”