Jenni, have you ever seen these?
Amazon.com: Cat Grooming Bag - Medium: Kitchen &...
I have an old rescued Siamese cat who has always been terrible about getting her claws clipped, but has gotten impossible in her old age. Like you, I don't want to stress her out more by taking her the the vet for nail clipping. She was abused before I adopted her and freaks out. I am thinking about trying one.