What does it mean when a cat has overgrown claws?
Overgrown cat claws are common in older cats, and at its worst can lead to paw pad trauma as the overgrown claw curls into the pad. Onychauxis is a thickening of the claw associated with age, reduced exercise and grooming in senior cats exacerbate the problem. As the cat ages, circulation decreases, which has an impact on nail growth.
Is it necessary for senior cats to have their claws trimmed?
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. Some cats are happy to have their claws trimmed, others can be tricky, particularly if you have an arthritic cat.
What can I do about my cat’s claws?
Trimming your cats nails can encourage the natural process of shedding. You can do this yourself at home or take your cat to the veterinarian or to a professional pet grooming service.
What kind of Claw does a cat have?
You might notice a shed claw in your home. It looks like a shell of a claw. Sometimes they will come loose as your kitty cat uses the scratching post or during daily life. But sometimes the claw doesn’t come off and the claw becomes ingrown.
Overgrown cat claws are common in older cats, and at its worst can lead to paw pad trauma as the overgrown claw curls into the pad. Onychauxis is a thickening of the claw associated with age, reduced exercise and grooming in senior cats exacerbate the problem. As the cat ages, circulation decreases, which has an impact on nail growth.
How are senior cats claws different from younger cats?
Senior cats’ claws grow in significantly thicker than in younger cats, but the claws also tend to have an especially dry and weak texture. Senior claws are significantly easier to split and break, and they have a tendency to become overgrown. Nail retraction also becomes more and more difficult the older a cat gets.
What to do if a cat has a claw in its paw?
Where possible, trim back the claw before it embeds in 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.
How often does a house cat shed its claws?
Claws are essential for felines, who use them for defense, climbing and hunting. According to Dr. Smith, when this happens, the nail has grown beyond the blood supply, so the outside sheath is discarded to make room for a newer, sharper version. He estimates that this happens to each claw about every two to three months in the average housecat.