I just witnessed kitty gnawing at her front paw thumb nail. It sounded like she was ripping a piece of flesh off. I think I found a piece of dead nail skin on her fur right after. Is this normal?
2006-09-14 14:48:52 · 13 answers · asked by Susan 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Totally normal. Cats do this for two reasons; Reason 1 is to help get the dead casing off the nail (you'll find these laying around from time to time....they often look like a full nail, only it's much thinner....almost like the "skin" of the nail). Reason 2 is if they have something stuck to their paw/claw. My male does it when he gets litter stuck in his claws.
The advice about NOT trimming your cat's claws is totally false....and possibly harmful to your cat. In a healthy cat, the quick does not usually run all the way to the tip. This does occur in some animals, but it usually occurs when the nails aren't trimmed on a regular basis, allowing the quick to grow out further and further (this happens in guinea pigs, as well). Trimming the nails regularly helps keep them healthy. Just trim the tips, and be careful not to clip the pink vein (the quick). If you're unsure about doing it yourself, an animal groomer will perform the service for a fairly small fee. You can have it done at most PetSmart stores, as well.
2006-09-14 15:07:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Our cats pull off their old nails. They do this either by scratching on their scratching post or biting and pulling till the nails come off. Our vet said it was normal. Like our nails, their nails grow and this is the cat's way of filing them down or biting them off, then cleaning where the new nail is growing.
2006-09-15 02:07:18 · answer #2 · answered by Sue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, its normal. Buy them a scratching post if you have space at home.
Sometimes, the older layer of their nails are peeling off, othertimes dirt can get into the shallow grooves beneath the length of the nails.
Unless your cats have a scratching problem, I don't recommend trimming their nails as the nerve and veins thread through the length of the nails until almost at the tip.
2006-09-14 15:01:20 · answer #3 · answered by Son of Gap 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's part of the grooming ritual. I have a siamese who can't scratch as she's club footed and she often nips on her nails. The others do it from time to time too. Don't worry, your cat is not manifesting signs of insecurity.
2006-09-14 14:58:44 · answer #4 · answered by Ragdollfloozie is Pensive! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Maybe there was something under her nail or around it that was irritating her; you might want to get her paws checked out.
2006-09-14 14:51:36 · answer #5 · answered by Katie X 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This has me puzzled too. I keep finding whole nails around my house. I have five cats. I don't know if they replace their nails like sharks replace their teeth.
2006-09-14 14:52:18 · answer #6 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
totally normal
2006-09-15 02:50:44 · answer #7 · answered by Wallflower 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, mine do. I guess it similar to how humans get manicures or something like that.
2006-09-14 14:57:11 · answer #8 · answered by ozzfan_iam 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes they remove dead nails.
2006-09-14 14:51:56 · answer #9 · answered by cats4ever2k1 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes....it's normal.....Cat's do shed their outer claws from time to time. I find claw sheddings on the scratching post all the time.
2006-09-14 14:51:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋