How To Keep Your Cat’s Claws Healthy
Claws are very important to a cat as it allows them to climb, balance, pounce, scratch, protect themselves, etc. Therefore, claw maintenance is necessary for a cat to thrive and it requires more than just trimming their nails. Various factors help keep your furbaby's claws healthy and well-maintained. Let's learn about it further, shall we?
Cat Claw Maintenance
1Trim the claws:
Too long of a claw can turn out to be quite troublesome, not just for the owners but for the cats as well. If the claw accidentally breaks off, it can be very painful, especially if it breaks off too close to the skin. Therefore, frequent trimming is recommended to avoid such situations. You do not need to trim it too short, just keep it long enough for your cat to be able to use them without hurting themselves(or others).
2Enable scratching:
It's no secret that cats love to scratch. Scratching keeps their claws sharp and strong. It is a great way for your cat to release some pent up energy and it also provides them some stimulation. Scratching allows them to express emotions such as discomfort or excitement and only with healthy claws can they do that. Also, by scratching they will be able to shed their claws, making way for new and healthy claws. To fulfill your cat's scratching urges, you are recommended to get a scratching post or a scratching board on which she can scratch to her heart's content.
3Watch out for infection:
If your cat has a broken claw, you should get it checked immediately because delay can result in an infection. It is recommended that you inspect your cat's paws for any injuries that have the possibility of turning into an infection so that you can treat it in time. The noticeable symptoms could be swelling on the paws or around the claws, cuts that are bleeding, an unpleasant odor or pus, etc. In such cases, take them to the vet for a check up.
4Wash/Bathe your kitty:
Although cats are self-groomers, they may have a hard time getting out the dirt stuck underneath their claws. Bathing your cat thoroughly, including washing their paws and claws would help keep their claws healthy and clean.
5Provide enough nutrition:
Pet nail health, like humans, is highly dependent on proper nutrients like omega fatty acids and biotin. If their daily nutritional consumption is poor, their claws would become brittle and break. It is strongly recommended to provide your cat nutrition-filled meals every day to improve claw health, making them strong, tough and healthy.
6Schedule outdoor visits:
Many cats prefer climbing and scratching on real trees, running outdoors and even doing their "business" outdoors because these activities allow them to use their claws efficiently, in turn keeping them in use. Many cats don't get to use their claws much inside the house resulting in the claws becoming dull and those who do use them indoors often resort to scratching on furniture or clothing. To avoid this, visiting outdoors once in a while may not be a bad idea. Many cats thrive in nature and are better able to stimulate their body and mind outdoors, which is why we recommend outdoor visits with your cat to help them thrive and be happy.
Just as we humans depend on our nails for several things, cats depend on their claws for a lot of activities. However, our use of our nails is minimal compared to cats. We can't underestimate the importance of claws to cats and that is why as pet parents we should do all we can to maintain and improve our kitty's claws. The above mentioned pointers are those few mandatory care one should provide to their fur babies so that they can flourish for a long time.
