

If you have problems trimming your cat’s claws, a veterinarian or pet groomer will be able to help you. It is worthwhile investing in a good quality pair of nail clippers designed for pets (or even dogs, as they tend to be stronger and sharper). Human nail clippers can crush and splinter the claws on cats with overgrown claws, again due to their thickness and how dry and brittle they can become. I find the easiest way to trim claws on cats who don’t like it is to wait until they are sleeping and then gently cut one or two claws at a time. Handling the legs and feet can be painful, which will make the experience traumatic.Ĭats don’t like to have their claws trimmed because they are restrained. Some cats are happy to have their claws trimmed, others can be tricky, particularly if you have an arthritic cat. Not all senior cats will develop thickened and overgrown claws, but if they do, it will be necessary to trim them to prevent them curling back on themselves and embedding them into the paw pad. If the claw has already embedded, seek veterinary attention to remove the claw from the paw pad and check for signs of infection and prescribe antibiotics if necessary. Where possible, trim back the claw before it embeds in the paw pad. What to do if the cat’s claws are overgrown Do cats’ claws thicken with age?Ĭat claws can thicken and become brittle as the cat ages due to systemic diseases, a slowing down of claw growth as well as a decrease in mobility which means the cat is less able to maintain the claws. Older cats will not use scratching post if they are sick or if their joints hurt them, causing you to need to trim them at home. As your cat gets to be older, you need to inspect their claws more often to see if they are showing any issues. If you provide your cat with many places and scratching posts to sharpen their claws, you will not have to trim them. Ochoa: Many cats never need their claws trimmed their whole life. Q: Is it necessary to trim a cat’s claws?ĭr. Most cats will go their whole life without ever having to trim their claws. To help prevent this, you can trim your cat’s claws each week. Some cats will sharpen their claws on your furniture. Ochoa: It is best to inspect your cat’s claws every few weeks and trim them as needed. Q: How often should trim my cat’s claws?ĭr. Cat claws are usually very easy to trim with human nail clippers and rarely does someone cut them too short, causing them to bleed. You can easily trim off the sharp points to make them short. Ochoa: If your cat has overgrown claws, it would be best to trim these. Q: What should I do if my cat has overgrown claws?ĭr. Luckily, we can walk you through the process. You hear horror stories of how cutting too deep can make them bleed.
OVERGROWN DEW CLAW HOW TO
However, it can be a terrifying experience trying to figure out how to cut your cat’s claws. If you believe your cat’s claws are overgrown, the logical jump is to cut them. If not treated quickly, the feet can become infected from the open sores on their toes.” What should I do if my cat has overgrown claws? Dr. This can cause their feet to be painful and swollen. Sara Ochoa, provides her insight: “ If your cat’s claws are overgrown, they can grow back into their paw pads. One of our veterinarians here at Cat World, Dr. Cats with overgrown claws will have very thick claws that are grown close to their paw pads.” Does it hurt my cat to have overgrown claws? When you are looking at your cat’s claws, it should come to a sharp point. Ochoa adds, “ Most cats will sharpen their claws themselves and do not need to be trimmed. You can know if claws are too long if they catch on carpet, tap against hard floors, or even when they’re not out.ĭr. However, if your cats don’t get up close and personal, it’s hard to tell. This is usually a sign it’s time to cut their claws. Personally, I notice my cat’s claws are too long whenever they knead on me and it hurts.

How do I tell if my cat’s claws are overgrown? Learn how to tell if a cat’s claws are overgrown and how to treat them. But they can be very uncomfortable and even cause pain and hurt your cat.

Overgrown claws rarely cause permanent injury. However, you still need to watch your cat’s claws to watch to make sure they’re not too long. A cat’s claws extend from their fingerbones, but they sure can be sharp! Sharp claws are especially an issue with kittens, whose claw sheaths don’t shed as easily or with senior cats.
