@wildflower: I know from personal experience it is really freaky the first time it happens. It has only happened to me once, (thank goodness,that was more than enough) but now I use magnifiers and take her to a window that has bright daylight whenever I do it. I hold each nail up to the light and clip only the little tip. The advantage of holding it up to the light is that you can see where the vein starts and avoid it (hopefully). The lady that taught me would cut them really far back, but I’ve never had the nerve (since the first bleed) to do that. Instead, I just take a wee bit off each time.
You think it’s bad doing to a cat, try a kid. My son still has the scar from when he moved (at about 5 years old) when I was giving him a haircut. Just last month, his hairdresser asked why he flinched whenever she got near his ears. He showed her the scar where I had wounded him. notice mom doesn’t cut his hair anymore
I’m happy you both survived.