can cats claws get too long?

Question

my cat won't use her scratching post and uses the carpet instead but her claws tend to stick out nearly all the time so i am wondering if they can grow too long

Answer 1

Yes they can my cat is an inside cat so normal wear and tear on nails doesn't happen and she also won't use a scratching post either, eventually the nails can start pocking into her foot pads. The vet can trim them cost me £5 a time, but she hates the vet, so eventually I started to do it my self, using toe nail clippers, just don't cut them too short as you can cut blood vessels, I just trim them ever so slightly but do it more often. About once a month.

Answer 2

Hi! As you've noticed from all the answers (lol!) yes, they can definitely get a bit too long. However, I have a female cat who is 14 years old who has never had her nails clipped (she will not allow it, for love nor money) and they have never caused a problem.

If you can, get one of those cat trees that have carpet and rope on them, rather than only a rope scratch post. My cat also prefers the carpet and his claws get stuck in the rope.

If you've got quite chilled-out cats, you should be able to clip the claws yourself. I have a cat that is totally happy for this to happen (I have had four cats, by the way!).

To start with, wrap the cat in a towel to make it feel comfy and secure. Take things slowly. Touch their paw and give them a treat when they let you press their claws out. You just need to blunt the tip - if you look at a claw sideways, you will see the white claw and a darker, pinkish stripe running through the middle. As long as you don't clip as far down as the pink bit, you're ok. If you do, it won't be pleasant for the cat, but they won't die!

Alternatively, you could just take him/her to the vet to have it done. This might stress them out more than if you do it yourself, but if they refuse to let you do it that's the only option!

Hope this helps :-)
xx Emmie

Answer 3

Yes cats claws can become too long and grow right into their pads or even get snagged on carpet and ripped out you should go to the vet with your kitty and have them trimmed and have them show you how so you can do it yourself it is easy if the cat won't use a scratching post try rubbing it with dry cat nip that may intice her to scratch it good luck with your kitty.

Training Your Cat To Scratch Acceptable Objects
You must provide objects for scratching that are appealing, attractive and convenient from your cat's point of view. Start by observing the physical features of the objects your cat is scratching. The answers to the following questions will help you understand your cat's scratching preferences:
Where are they located? Prominent objects, objects close to sleeping areas and areas near the entrance to a room are often chosen.
What texture do they have -- are they soft or coarse?
What shape do they have - are they horizontal or vertical?
How tall are they? At what height does your cat scratch?
Now, considering your cat's demonstrated preferences, substitute similar objects for her to scratch (rope-wrapped posts, corrugated cardboard or even a log). Place the acceptable object(s) near the inappropriate object(s) that she's already using. Make sure the objects are stable and won't fall over or move around when she uses them.
Cover the inappropriate objects with something your cat will find unappealing, such as double sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, sheets of sandpaper or a plastic carpet runner with the pointy side up. Or you may give the objects an aversive odor by attaching cotton balls containing perfume, a muscle rub or other unpleasant odor. Be careful with odors, though, because you don't want the nearby acceptable objects to also smell unpleasant.
When your cat is consistently using the appropriate object, it can be moved very gradually (no more than three inches each day) to a location more suitable to you. It's best, however, to keep the appropriate scratching objects as close to your cat's preferred scratching locations as possible.
Don't remove the unappealing coverings or odors from the inappropriate objects until your cat is consistently using the appropriate objects in their permanent locations for several weeks, or even a month. They should then be removed gradually, not all at once.

Answer 4

My female cat seems to keep her claws trimmed herself, but for some reason the boy cat has really long claws that always need trimming and he's the only one that uses the scratching post.

A lot of cats don't like scrathing posts because the thread is usually coiled around the post and their claws can get caught in this. As she likes using carpet, you could try finding a small piece of carpet to wrap around the pole which might encourage her to use it more often.

Failing this you will need to keep her claws trimmed either by yourself or at the vets. Dependant upon your cat's temperament this can be quite easy to do yourself. I simply wait till mine are sleeping or very relaxed and then I press the large pad in the centre of their paw which makes their claws stick out so that I can trim them with clippers I purchased at the vets. I was nervous doing this the first time, but was surprised how co-operative my cats were. Remember only to do the tips, as if you cut too low you can cause them to bleed. You could always ask your vet to show you how to do this so that you feel confident doing it yourself.

Answer 5

Yes they can get to long. And they also hurt when they latch into you.

You can get nail clippers for cats at your local pet store. I think they even have them at Walmart as well. Make sure you get the ones that wont crush the nail. You want a clean cut.

Start by wrapping the cat in a towel. So you dont get clawed. Take one paw out and push down on the pad. That will extend the nails out. Then clip just about 1/8 to a 1/4 inch, depending on the length of the nail. Now, IF you cut to short and it starts to bleed, you can stop the bleeding by using talcum powder. Just dab on some powder and it should stop.

I got all of this info from my vet. She is ranked as one of the best vets in the state of Indiana.

Goodluck

Answer 6

Yes they can, If your cat is a house cat, you may need to get the vet to trim them or do it yourself but be very careful not to take too much off as you will hurt your cat if you do.
If your cat goes outside it should keep its claws at the right length itself, maybe put a plank of wood in your garden as a scratch post if not. If it is a house cat, use a scratch post inside, rub some cat nip on it to entice your cat to use it. Every time it claws the carpet, remove it and put it on the scratch post, it should get used to it if you persevere..
Good luck...

Answer 7

Some cats don't like scratching posts because they are not "natural". Carpeting also has certain fibers in it that closely resemble hemp/catnip ordors which attract cats. I have one (grrrr) that LOVES the carpet despite 3 cat condos and trees in the house.

You can learn to clip her nails very easily yourself. Buy a pair of good quality toenail clippers. .... I can't stand the cat clippers in pet stores. If the cat has white claws, you can easily see where the veins stop. Clip down to just above the vein (dark line in the middle of the nail). If the nails are black it is tough to see the veins, but good rule of thumb is, clip the tip PLUS another 1/16th of an inch off. You may clip too far once in awhile, but your cat will NOT bleed to death. Actually the bleeding stops relatively quick. But...you will irritate your cat's delicate senses if you clip too far. Once you get the hang of it , it's a piece of cake. Keeping their nails clipped is for THEIR health.

You might also invest in a cheap piece of "berber" carpeting or a cheap outdoor porch carpet made of hemp/rope. You know the kind that shed like crazy. Cats love those. I put one down in my hallway and one in the entry for my one little naughty minx. She tends to gravitate to those.

Now as for the claws 'sticking out". That should not be happening. Cat's claws retract automatically when not in danger, "making biscuits" (when being petted) or exercising. It is an auto response. Should this continue or worsen, seek vet care. She could have some neuropathy or other medical issue in her feet.

Worse case scenario, you can buy a product and paint on her nails that create a little knob effect. It encases the nails so they can't do damage.

Answer 8

Too long for what?

Cats use their claws much more than humans use their nails (as long as the cat has a relatively natural outdoor life and isn't couped up for long periods inside), so nature has a way of taking care of its manicures.

If it sits around the house all day and you don't mind putting your moggie through 10 minutes of terror, you might want to clip them every 6-9 months. If you can, boot him/her out of the house more. or arrange a real piece of wood somewhere inside for it to perform it manicures.

Answer 9

Hiya, Is your cat a house cat? if it is then yes they do need to be cut, if your cat isn't a house cat then going outside should help keep her claws short, but i know in the winter cat's don't like to go out much. I bought a big pair of nail clippers cause one of my cat's never goes out and i just keep his nails short, you have to be careful when cutting nails if you just trim the nails first and see how your cat is after that.Good Luck

Answer 10

YES! If you can't clip them yourself, your vet will do it either for free or charge just a small amount.

I am handicapped and had an illness while living in a FEMA trailer because of Hurricane Katrina, and because of stress, I didn't realize that I missed clipping one of my cats' paws, and the claws grew slightly into her pads. Well, they pressed into her pads, just short of cutting into them. I felt so bad! It happens sometimes.

I prefer the clippers that are like scissors, rather than the ones that are like mini guillotines! They're just easier for me to handle.

**-----> After I clip my cats' claws, I use an EMERY BOARD to smoothe them a little. If you use an emery board a couple of times a week, your cats might adjust to it as mine did, and you won't even have to worry about clipping anymore.

My cats now love to get their mini manicure from me! I just use the emery board occasionally, and they don't have to get clipped anymore. Their claws are smooth, and don't get stuck on my clothes or bedding now.

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