Kitty Nails

[Tonysweetie]

I'm totally freaked out about my kitty Max! I went to clip his nails last night and when I pulled his skin back to expose his nails every single one of his nails look like they have been bleeding and they were all spliting!!! I showed DH and he told me to give it a couple days and check again and if they're still like that to take him to the vet. He doesn't appear to be in any type of pain or anything. What is this? Is he scratching on things too much? He is strictly an indoor kitty, he doesn't go outside at all except on our porch. Whats going on? I'm going to take him to the vet on Wednesday most likely but I'm so worried about him! :(

[houseblend]

I don't have an answer for you, unfortunately. :(

How far back have you been cutting his nails?

[Tonysweetie]

:( I have just been cutting off the tip, not far down b/c I don't want to cut too far, they seem to be better but still bloody looking

[BethIrish]

Dumb question - but does he bite his nails? My 9 year old cat, Maddie, is a nail biter. If I don't keep her nails trimmed she bites them. They wind up splitting and can get a bit bloody if I don't watch her.

[Tonysweetie]

hmmm I don't think he does but you n ever know, lol. DH doesn't seem to think I need to take him to the vet but I'm afraid it's hurting him. Although he doesn't act like it does. Should I cut his nails if they appear this way or leave them alone?

[BethIrish]

Personally, I wouldn't take him to the vet unless the area looked infected, they were very tender, or he started acting sick. If he is his normal, playful self then I wouldn't worry too much. Of course, I'm saying that without seeing his paws. If they are a bloody mess I think I'd want to take him.

I'd use your best judgement on cutting them.

[Tonysweetie]

thanks! Well he appears to be just fine, running around, pouncing, playing etc. He's a kitten so he's very active! His paws aren't a bloody mess just his nails look like they have been bleeding, I mean every single one of them in the front and he little pads are peeling. I tried to cut them but he won't let me as easily as he usually does. I'll keep a check on him and see if it gets better Thanks again!!!

[houseblend]

ITA about just using your comfort level about taking your kitty to the vet. Just FYI, my cat's nails do "split" at times. I think it is just when she is scratching or something. They don't bleed, though, so I'm not sure what is going on with your cat. It sounds like you're cutting them just fine, though.

[LynzeyAHL]

as long as his nail isn't split or peeled to the 'quick' (pink interior point in the nail) you can trim them split and its better to trim them when they're like that b/c they're less likely to snag or get worse if they have a clean edge to them I have a 4 year old male and a 2 year old female and they don't like their nails trimmed, but DH holds them each in turn and I clip the nail and they get a treat after. Pretty much works out, but it gets done every 2 weeks or so.