I have two female, spayed sisters, they do not always get along well. Twice this month I have found what appears to be a claw on the floor. They are about a year old. The claw looks hollow . Is that normal?
2006-09-15 02:35:37 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
People think cats scratch to sharpen their claws, but this is not accurate. Cats claws are like an onion, and they shed each outer layer as it becomes necessary. They scratch to enable the outer sheath to remove itself. If your cat is not very adept at doing this, you will notice that there is a buildup of dead layers underneath the claw. These can usually be removed easily by picking it off with a fingernail. Your cat may also try to remove them by chewing on them. If you see your cat frequently chew on her claws, it may be because there are layers of dead sheathes he is trying to remove.
2006-09-15 02:43:08 · answer #1 · answered by babygirl4us 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
She's eating too much. It doesn't take much to maintain a cat. My 12 pounder maintains his weight on a little less than half a cup a day. I would just knock a tablespoon or an eighth of a cup off the top of her food when you feed her and weigh her in a few weeks to see how she's doing. If she lost weight, great. If she didn't, knock off another tablespoon and weigh again in a few weeks. Repeat :) Some people find better luck getting weight loss with canned food but you can do it with dry also. Canned food is healthier in general because it contains more moisture and more protein. Some experts are starting to see a link between a dry food only diet and kidney issues, diabetes, etc. Something to research and consider. Good luck!
2016-03-17 21:33:51 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi Sharon...cats shed the nail sheathes which appears to be of the shape of the claw. Usually the sheddings are more visibly apparent around scratching posts as the clawing action helps remove the dead sheathing.
Here's an article about this: http://amby.com/cat_site/nailcare.html
2006-09-15 02:42:11 · answer #3 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Do Cats Nails Shed
2017-01-02 11:41:08 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not the actual claw, just the outer part that has fallen off as the claw grows. Nothing to worry about.
2006-09-15 15:14:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is normal, they are just shedding, sometimes with rough play and getting their claws caught in blankets, rugs, etc.. they can tear them, but from what you are describing, it is the sheathing from around the claw, perfectly normal.
2006-09-15 03:01:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Each claw is shed on about 6-weeks period; not all claws are, I think, replaced at once. New claws grow up beneath, and the old ones fall down; scratching is used to make the shedding easier.
2006-09-15 02:41:24 · answer #7 · answered by AlphaOne_ 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, I have found many claws like you described over the many years I have owned cats. They shed them or they break off but they grow back so don't worry.
2006-09-15 02:41:31 · answer #8 · answered by Turtle 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes its perfectly normal they shed the outer sheath to their claws quite often
2006-09-15 02:40:11 · answer #9 · answered by cin_ann_43 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Skip waiting suites. When you have an scheduled appointment, check in and then go for a walk until the particular receptionist phones you.
2016-06-24 04:44:24 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋