I will be prepared with all tools if I end up needing to trim Bernie!Be careful with the horse nippers. The spur can be somewhat brittle with that type of a strong tool - it can split the spur (which is a hard coating with thick quick/core in the center.
Ha, ha, ha...I see what you did there...file 'drawn out',
Seriously, though, it only takes 4-5 'strokes' back and forth to give it a halfway decent 'file'. AND it doesn't really make noise, which is probably what scares your cat (plus will make the chickens nervous, too - a strange noise and the vibrations of the machine. Honestly, manually filing is much easier!!! Hold the toe and gently swipe!!
I don’t think the cats are scared of the trimmer, they just want to hold on to their weaponry.
From their perspective, you never know when you might feel the urge to kill something!