Welcome back to the regular Kat Column where we chat all about cats. This month we are taking a look at cats and their claws. They are pretty well known for not being shy about using their paws as a method of offence and defence, but they have other uses too. Luckily in the UK declawing is illegal, but you may encounter it in a cat that has been brought into this country from abroad. By Katie Gwilt.
Anatomy of a Cat Claw
Cats have white/clear claws only and generally 5 on the front paws (including a dew claw) and 4 on the back feet. They have a pink quick which will bleed if cut but is easier to see against the clear/white colouring of the claw. I have groomed a cat with 1 back leg dew claw and there are some breeds that are prone to extra paw pads and claws. This is called Polydactyl and a generic trait especially common in Maine Coon cats but can be in any cat of any breed. It can be either or both the front and the back paws that have extra toes and the most toes recorded was a ginger tabby cat called Jake who had 28 toes so an extra 10!
The claws can appear black if they have dirt on them but this should come off. Breeds like Sphynx and Lykoi who have little or no fur are prone to being very greasy/oily and often have darker claws which need a really good clean when they are bathed. The front claws have a natural curl or hook to them for hunting and climbing. They grow from the base like human nails but also they grow outwards and scratching helps to remove the dead claw sheath revealing the healthy thinner claw underneath. Clients may say their cat’s claw has come off, but it will be the hollow dead husk they have found (usually around places the cat scratches). Indoor and elderly cats or those with reduced mobility are more likely to have thicker claws which are more prone to becoming ingrown. They look similar to those in dogs, like a thick circular structure.
How Cats Use Their Claws
Cats use their claws when hunting. They typically go after smaller rodents and birds but I have heard some interesting stories about cats going for roosters, chickens and squirrels which are bigger than their usual prey. I know one who managed to get an adult magpie alive through the cat flap somehow! They also use them for climbing and scratching behaviour. Scratching is an interesting one as it serves two main purposes. One is to keep their claws healthy and remove the dead outer husk to expose the fresh healthy claw underneath. They also use scratching as a communication method. The scratch marks themselves will give visual cues to other cats about how long ago a cat has been in the vicinity. Cats also have scent glands on their paw pads that leave messages by smell as well. This can give information about their breeding cycle, their health and where they are from etc.
Cat Claw Health
As I have mentioned ingrown claws can become an issue. They usually occur when the claw gets thick and the outer husk isn’t being shed. It can occur on the front or back claws and it is where the claw has curled around and pierced the paw pad. I have seen a couple where they have got right through and come out the other side! The best way to treat them is to have some Leucillin nearby and some cotton gauze as likely it will bleed and need cleaning. I cut the claw in the middle of the circle and then try to trim more off as needed. Usually when cut the part inside the paw will come out but I have had to remove it as well. If you aren’t confident then send the cat straight to the vet for them to do it. I usually let the paw pad bleed a little to make sure anything stuck near the entrance of the cut is cleared and then I go back and clean as needed with leucillin which is antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral. I never cover the pad and make sure the owner/guardian knows to keep a look out for any smells or green/yellow discharge which will need checking by a vet as a sign of infection. If the wound is quite open then keeping the cat inside for 24 hours is recommended to let the skin start to heal before getting dirt from outside in the open cut.
Something I have come across recently is a cat that has an infection at the base of the claw bed. The claws appeared black at the base like grease or dirt. When I removed the dirt though pus shot out of the claw bed and the skin all around the claw was visibly infected with the typical abscess type smell. They are now under vet care to see whether it is bacterial or fungal but likely it is something that is long-standing and has been recurring. The cat is a rescue who isn’t very cuddly so it has been difficult for her new family to check plus they would not be trained in what to look for. Hopefully, a biopsy will give more information and in the meantime, she will need regular claw trims and cleaning with Leucillin.
Declawing
This is a surgical procedure called onychectomy that fortunately is not legal in the UK but is in many parts of the world including some States in America. It doesn’t just remove the cats’ claws, but amputates the last bone of each toe. Declawing doesn’t serve any health or survival benefits, it is purely to stop them from scratching furniture. Many cats who have been declawed have an increase in biting as it becomes their first line of defence with their claws gone. Basically it causes a disability in the cat by removing part of the toe and can affect their mobility, posture and pain levels for the rest of their life. If you meet a declawed cat then take extra care with handling to accommodate for this.
Claw Caps
These are not used much in the UK but are found in countries like America where declawing is legal. They are plastic caps that go over the claws to protect furniture from scratching. They come in multiple different colours and attach with glue. As an alternative to declawing then they serve a purpose. They do however stop normal cat behaviour and can cause behaviour problems as a result. Remember cats use scratching as a way of communication by scent and sight to other cats. If they can’t scratch then they may move to other ways of communication like spraying and urinating in particular. My advice is not to use them in the UK as the disadvantages outweigh any advantages here.
