Does It Make Sense To Shorten Cat’s Claws?
Many cat owners wonder whether it makes sense to shorten cat’s claws, as the claws of these animals keep growing. Thanks to their special tendons, the velvet paws can retract their claws. Therefore, you can only see them when they are extended. Because of this, they also don’t wear out naturally.
Learn about the cat’s anatomy before you start trimming the cat’s nails
The claws of a cat consist of two parts : one consists of various layers of the cornea that are mostly keratin, the other is the nail bed where the nerves and blood vessels are located.
A cat has five claws on its front paws and four on the back. The fifth claw allows the cat to climb.
Shortening cat’s claws: why does the house tiger need its claws?
In almost everything the cat does, it uses its claws. For example, if she digs her claws into a scratching board and then stretches, it activates and strengthens her upper body.
During the game, she grabs the object from the air with her claws and holds it in place. When she runs up the stairs in the house , her claws act like the spikes of a sprinter and give her more traction.
When the house tiger climbs to its resting place higher up, it uses its claws like a climber uses a pickaxe. That’s why cats can climb so well.
A cat also uses its claws to scratch itself, to catch mice, to balance on a narrow walkway, or to hold onto a surface to keep balance while cleaning.
A cat who has the opportunity to scratch is a lucky cat
A cat scratches on objects to get rid of stress, to mark its territory and to train its muscles. The focus is on the claws: the effort, the image the cat gives off, the scratching noise and the smells are a strong anti-stress agent for the velvet paw.
In addition , they even serve as a means of communication. A slight extension of the claws is a subtle way with which she lets you understand: “I have enough caresses now and now I want to be quiet”.
In some situations , the cat’s claws even save life. They allow her to climb to a safe place or to defend herself against an attacker. For all of these reasons, surgically removing a cat’s nails is prohibited.
What’s the best scratching board for your cat?
Cats have very specific demands on their scratching board or tree. It should definitely be close to where you sleep, because the majority of cats particularly like to mark their territory there.
In addition, the scratching board should be in a visible place, as there is no point in marking the area where nobody will notice.
In addition , the surface should have an elongated textured fabric so that the cat can sink its claws into it and scratch it lengthways.
In addition, the scratching board should be raised a little so that she can stand on her hind paws when scratching. However, you should make sure that it is securely fastened so that your house tiger cannot injure itself.
Why trimming your cat’s nails should be done regularly
- If the claws are too long, they will bend and your cat will no longer be able to retract them fully. A sure sign that this is the case is when your kitty “gets stuck” on carpets or other soft surfaces or if she can no longer retract her claws.
- It can also happen that the claws grow towards the toe pads if they are excessively long. This causes great pain for the cat and restricts its freedom of movement.
- In the case of very lazy or old cats who do not move much and sometimes no longer groom themselves properly, shortening the cat’s claws improves the quality of life.
- Are the nails too long, it can at the point at which the claw grows into the toe pad , lead to infections. These are usually very painful for your cat.
Basically, it is not necessary to shorten cat’s claws if your house tiger is active and spends a lot of time outdoors. However, if your animal is very old or is practically only in the apartment, then you should check the claws regularly and shorten them if necessary. As we mentioned before, there is a risk that the claws will grow in or cause further problems for your kitty.
However, if you find that your cat’s claws are very uncomfortable and painful for you while playing with your cat, you can simply shorten the end a little. That way, they’re not that sharp anymore.
