Consequences of Not Trimming Your Cat's Claws: What You
1. Protect Your Pet from Physical Pain
2. Ensure the Integrity of Your Furniture
3. Minimize the Severity of Fights and Injuries in MultiCat Households
4. Strengthen the Bond Between Pet Owners
5. Reduce the Risk of Inflammation Caused by Overgrown Claws
While it's understandable that cat owners might forgo nail trimming for the first four reasons, there's a heartwarming story of a cat owner who never trimmed her cat's nails until she discovered the sharp claws had punctured her cat's paw pad and caused an infection. It was only then that she realized the importance of regular nail care!
Background Information
Pet Nickname: COCO
Species: Cat
Age: 13 years
Gender: Male
Weight: 7 kg
Spayed/Neutered: No
Living Conditions: Indoor with free roam
Complaints:
Lately, the cat has had smelly feet, has been reluctant to move or allow handling its paws, and sometimes doesn't put weight on its feet. However, it eats and drinks normally, and there are no issues with bowel movements or urination.
Physical Examination
Body Condition Score: 6/9
Capillary Refill Time: Less than 2 seconds
Heart Rate: 166 beats per minute
Respiratory Rate: 31 breaths per minute
Palpation: Sensitive toes
Analysis and Diagnosis
Diagnosis: Suspicious of a toe penetrating the paw pad
Treatment Process
Treatment: Daily cleaning of the wound to keep it dry and clean, wearing a head collar to prevent licking, and restricting activity for rest and healing.
PostTreatment Precautions
Regularly trim your cat's nails to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Doctor's Reminder
Cats naturally file down their claws when walking and using scratching posts, so outdoor cats often don't need nail trimming. However, as cats age and become less active, or if they don't like to scratch much, overgrown claws can easily poke into their paw pads, leading to serious abscesses. Therefore, indoor cats still require regular nail checks and timely trimming by their owners.
How to Trim Your Cat's Nails Properly?
Generally, a cat's nails have a pinkish part and a translucent white part. The pinkish part is the blood line, and cutting into it can cause pain and possibly infection.
Therefore, what we should trim is the translucent white part. As pet owners and lovers, it's our responsibility to care for our pets scientifically. Let's take charge of our pets' and our own wellbeing by starting to trim our cats' nails regularly, right now!
