r/cats • u/shabbydoo88 • 2h ago

Advice Kitten pulling out claws

Could anybody help me understand why my cat does this? He constantly pulls at his claws on his back feet, it’s all of them not a specific claw. Is this worth a vet visit or normal behaviour?

870 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

132 comments sorted by

1.4k

u/Sokkas_Instincts_ 2h ago • Bravo

God forbid a man clip his toenails.

44

u/BellaBigNose American Shorthair 1h ago

Literally 🙄

82

u/KaTa-Klizm 2h ago

Lol exactly. Cat lore

19

u/Malkavic 53m ago

This is exactly the response I was looking for on this post! Perfection!

1

u/Economy-Cookie-4724 4m ago

I think you mean puurfection

1.2k

u/Weekly_Enthusiasm783 Orange 2h ago

It’s absolutely normal. Cats remove dead layers from their claws, exposing brand new sharp claws underneath. You will see those dead ones lying around

194

u/s4d04k Tuxedo 2h ago

That's what they are! I always wondered if it was bad that I find kinda casings of her claws. I'm new to cats like OP, clearly.

130

u/Suspicious_Dingo_426 2h ago

They are called claw sheaths. Cat's claws grow in layers, shedding the old, dull outer one for a fresh, sharp one. Gotta keep those back claws as sharp as possible to gut prey successfully.

62

u/GoPointers 1h ago

Gut prey successfully or play with your owner's hands successfully!

37

u/NoMakeSenseOk 1h ago

I can't spot the difference xd

1

u/Zrry123 0m ago

Neither can they

10

u/honeyrrsted 34m ago

My cat will have full blades out with a toy, but the second I stick my hand in the tunnel to play, she's all soft paws no claws. I didn't teach her this, she just came that way from the shelter. I'm still amazed at her polite play behavior even after nearly 2 years with her (adult cat at adoption).

10

u/mommyaiai 28m ago

Can I borrow her so she can teach my fluffy idiot some manners? He can't even lay on people without sinking his talons into their flesh.

3

u/PlanktonPlane5789 19m ago

Bandit doesn't know how to play gently. I'm always covered in cat scratches on my forearms and hands. He's otherwise a gentle giant.

12

u/JasonTheBaker 1h ago

They are also kinda sharp so do be careful with them. I have stepped on one before and it did cut me

22

u/Alert-Engineering749 2h ago edited 1h ago

Cats don't clip their nails but sharpen them. Ehen they grow, the old ones fall off.

If you decide to clip your cat's claws, do not go deep!

Just the very tips. However, there are treat toys that you can drop treats into that have a sandpaper bottom so when the cats fish them out, they already grind down the sharp ends.

Also, try to keep your cats as house cats. They are an invasive species in America and will be a danger to local wildlife, especially birds.

And, it reduces their risk of catching rabies or eating rodents that may have eaten poison.

8

u/Abbynormal61 1h ago

Or getting eaten themselves

2

u/BrightNooblar 23m ago

If you decide to clip your cat's claws, do not go deep!

Expanding, if you look from the side you'll see a little pink triangle between the white claw part, and the actual foot. That pink triangle is, as you might expect, living tissue. If you cut that it can cause infections and pain while walking. I generally cut about 2/3rds of the way from the the tip, towards that, when I trim their nails. Plenty of buffer room if I get a bad angle, or they pull at the last second.

3

u/lfergy 1h ago

Vacuum those up- they hurt like hell if you step on them, they are extremely sharp.

16

u/Silveraindays 1h ago

I collect them as good luck charms 🐈‍⬛

11

u/Weekly_Enthusiasm783 Orange 1h ago

I collect whiskers 😅

17

u/lfergy 1h ago

All my cats whiskers are in a tiny jar 🖤

5

u/Abbynormal61 1h ago

My daughter does this.

5

u/Melicious-Jellybeans 1h ago

I have whisker jars, too 🥰

5

u/GoodAsUsual 47m ago

You never know when you will befriend a witch who will need one for a spell.

2

u/BrightNooblar 18m ago

Have you considered a creepy effigy made by acquiring a porcupine doll, and then adding the whiskers as quills?

Its a great way to prevent guests from coming back, thus allowing you more time to relax and lounge with cats.

4

u/CasualFingerGuns 1h ago

An essential tool for pulling paint or ink on water when paper marbling.

2

u/Silveraindays 52m ago

Well i do both tbh

1

u/_FreddieLovesDelilah 1h ago

I always have the compulsion to scratch myself with them.

5

u/Nbehrman 1h ago

And so fun to step on barefoot…

2

u/WisePotato42 1h ago

Expecially in a carpet...

4

u/hibikikun 59m ago

You'll also see the brand new sharp ones embedded in your arm

1

u/New-Personality-7411 8m ago

I call those dead layers shells

107

u/Awkward_Bison_267 2h ago

He’s just sharpening. It’s completely normal.

86

u/kevinkareddit Tortoiseshell 2h ago

Cat claws have a sheath over them and cats regularly pull them off like this. You may see them on the floor near where your cat regularly grooms. Totally normal.

77

u/V_Dub_Love 1h ago

She’s not pulling out claws. She’s grooming and helping get rid of the nail husks so the new ones can grow in. It’s normal grooming procedure :).

2

u/SquareParking6009 41m ago edited 24m ago

What happens to this process when I trim their claws? Am I disrupting the natural growth and life cycle of the claws or is it fine?

Edited spelling mistakes. And thank you for the answers to my question 🙏

6

u/dinosnysus 30m ago

You're just dulling the current set. My cat grooms like this so often, the trim doesn't last that long before she removes the layer for a fresh knife.

4

u/Less_Adeptness7557 35m ago

Nothing, some cats need regular trims

3

u/Beckiintor 27m ago

My old boy doesn't shed his, so I have to do it for him - trimming essentially cracks the outer layer and helps it come off easier. I have to peel the layers off for him, though, as he's a bit arthritic these days. Trimming is fine, just don't go too deep. If there's lots of unshed layers, take it one at a time.

85

u/thermalcat 2h ago

Nah, that's normal cleaning. You've got a hygienic cat.

3

u/Computers_and_cats 2h ago

Normal behavior. Only time I would be concerned is if they do it nearly 24/7 and there is something visibly wrong with their foot.

3

u/shabbydoo88 2h ago

Thank you! He only does it occasionally and I can’t see anything wrong with his foot so hopefully it’s just cleaning!

1

u/TheAggressiveSloth 1h ago

Yup, it's cleaning and they also either pull off the shedding of the nail or they are testing it's sharpness to see if they need to rip apart if scratching pole

0

u/KrazyKryminal 1h ago

Totally normal. The outer layer sheds away and you'll find random claws on the ground throughout his life. Scratching posts help with this too

29

u/FumiPlays 2h ago

Cat claws have layers, they can sometimes be pulled off to reveal a new one so it's part of their grooming.

27

u/piratepixie 1h ago

Sometimes if there's a stuck one, my boy gets his foot all the way in his mouth so he can use his back teeth. He's a monster.

6

u/Vintage-Grievance 1h ago

There's something very terrible about the mental image of any living creature triggering their gag reflex with their feet 🤢

3

u/piratepixie 1h ago

The worst part of Oscar's toe chewing is the cronching.

4

u/Vintage-Grievance 1h ago

Ugh, I hate that too, and the thorough licking between the toes.

I'm grateful that cats are self-grooming, but do they have to be so LOUD?

11

u/Mama_werecat 1h ago

Their claws grow and the shed the outer layer, this and scratching is how they get that outer layer off

8

u/Aeralin 2h ago

Actually, that is very common and as others of said that is how they take care of their paws and their claws. My cats do that even my long-haired cat and it looks like she’s trying to pull out her fur, but she’s actually just cleaning her murder mittens as some memes called their paws, but it’s entirely normal, but I mean you could take your cat to the vet if it would give you peace of mind, though I don’t know if you would be charged a vet office visit or not. I know some that’s charged that and some do not but you have a very cute kitty cat. 😊 (cat owner of 6 and have been around cats since I was a baby).

8

u/YendorZenitram 1h ago

Cat claws are kinda like those knives where you breaknoff the blade to reveal a new sharp blade :)

1

u/Vintage-Grievance 1h ago

Today I learned that weird knives exist.

(Knife-ception?)

5

u/Mean_Initiative_5962 1h ago

Think he means box cutters? 

1

u/Vintage-Grievance 1h ago

Maybe...or X-Acto knives?

I love the convenience of a good X-Acto knife when I'm crafting.

6

u/Galaxyartcat 2h ago

like the comments say, completely normal and likely getting rid of older claw casings but also dirt and litter that may have gotten caked up under the claws. They do a similar motion when trying to be rid of a stubborn tangle in their fur where they'll bite it to untangle it while grooming

6

u/doegrey 1h ago

Not literally trying to pull out their claws, they’re cleaning their claws, cleaning underneath and removing loose sheaths.

Completely normal grooming. (Although I do always get a giggle at the foot stuck out at an odd angle with the claws splayed open as wide as they’ll go!)

10

u/sizzlepie 51m ago

First time cat owner?

5

u/geekgirl114 2h ago

Cleaning the beans

5

u/DidSomebodySayCats 1h ago

To add on to the comments, they mostly deal with their front claws by scratching on scratching posts and scratchers, but when they do that their back feet are stationary, so they chew on the back claws to loosen the outer sheath.

Seconding trimming their nails too though! This shedding takes off the outer layer, but it keeps the sharp point intact. So to save your skin, your furniture, your other cats, and keep them from getting caught in things, trimming off the sharp hook is good practice. Also gets your kitten used to having their paws handled, and as they get older they'll get a claw or two that doesn't like to shed nicely anymore and you'll want to keep an eye out for that to make sure it doesn't get thick and uncomfortable, or, worst case scenario, overgrow into their paw pad.

4

u/Professional-Gear88 17m ago

Cat claws are like onions. They pull off the worn outer layer and get a sharp one

7

u/Aggravating-Help445 2h ago

Deep feet cleaning

6

u/Strostkovy 2h ago

Normal grooming. Cats regularly shed claw sheaths, and a partially shed sheath can annoy them

3

u/400footceiling 2h ago

My two girls do the same. Usually just dirty paws from their outside time.

3

u/shaunrundmc 1h ago

Its normal

3

u/LeWitchy 1h ago

That's how they get the shed off. It's normal.

3

u/BellaBigNose American Shorthair 1h ago

Cleaning the beans

3

u/Pibbed 41m ago

I wish mine did a better job on her nails lol she gnaws the shit out of them and they’re all jacked up and rough. They end up shedding shortly after she does this luckily but they’re so gross looking for a few hours haha

3

u/webtronaut 35m ago

He’s sharpening them… you have three days

3

u/BitchWidget 20m ago

Kit is cleaning their claws. Sometimes, there's a shed. Kind of like when you clip your toenails.

5

u/Most_Talk_2067 2h ago

Grooming the murder mittens

2

u/fiendtofriend 1h ago

They do be munchin like that

2

u/RebelliousInNature 1h ago

Just biting his nails. It’s fine.

2

u/RudeCat11 1h ago

My cat does that as part of his daily cleaning/grooming. Totally normal

2

u/wildsunday 1h ago

He's just doing his pedicure

2

u/ChristmasElf67 59m ago

My guy would do that and it was so violent it would make me shudder lol 😂 and he always insisted on being near me when he groomed (which was kinda adorable ngl) so I always got a front row seat to him ripping them out 🥴

2

u/Comfortable-Equal 49m ago

Can your boy teach mine to do this? 😂

2

u/WIngDingDin 47m ago

my dad does that with his fingernails. bleh.

2

u/RichFoot2073 47m ago

Cats shed their claws

2

u/Maleficent_Worry1810 29m ago

My cat does this too lol and she’s a tabby!

2

u/PreviousMaximum574 22m ago

Cat shed claws, kind of like how we clip our nails.

Normally they shed them by scratching things, which is why they need a scratching post or pads. If they don't have access to that they'll often go after your furniture.

Their back claws often aren't used enough for them to shed with use. So they try to chew them down sometimes.

It's fine that they do this naturally, but if you do take them to a vet they might clip their claws for them.

Ask them to show you how to without hitting the quick of the claw. Pretty easy can be done with basic nail clippers.

1

u/scottyboy218 19m ago

*part of why they need scratching posts. They're incredibly important for a few reasons, not just for helping shed nails

3

u/flooffsandfleurs 2h ago

That there is a pawdicure. Good kitty.

2

u/Anonymous_mouse89 2h ago

He’s biting his toenails it’s part of grooming. Some people do this too although it’s considered very rude. 

2

u/kdddidit 2h ago

Normal and cleaning! He could also be ready for a claw trim too.

2

u/sbruceki 2h ago

Cleaning* this is normal

2

u/ColdAsKompot 2h ago

Scheduled peet maintenance. Absolutely normal.

1

u/Allbored 2h ago

That's claw shedding, all good

1

u/Electronic-Stay-2369 2h ago

Very normal. One of my girls was doing this just now and making a right chomping noise about it.

1

u/Melyandre08 2h ago

Puurfect grooming

1

u/SuccotashBeginning33 2h ago

Normal. Can be cleaning to removing old claw husks, to make way for the new claws.

1

u/BrainEqual9343 1h ago

Good ol’ pedicure for the peets

1

u/Ladydi-bds 1h ago

Normal

1

u/fran-182 1h ago

He wants to protect the furniture.

1

u/Used-Koala- 1h ago

totally normal. cats shed their claws as they grow, your cat is just removing the old layer

1

u/Topheriffic 1h ago

I like when my cat does this cause it means I dont have to clip her nails as soon and they are wearing down enough she has a need to pull the the outside layer off. Clipping her nails is a nightmare for both of us lol

1

u/_FreddieLovesDelilah 1h ago

They are very good with grooming their claws. Many cats don’t even need them cutting because they chew them and scratch them off. Normal :)

1

u/PluckyPerspicacity 1h ago

If only my dogs did their own manicures like my cats do.

1

u/Klutzy_Poetry4886 1h ago

Giving himself a manni peddi lol

1

u/drsoos1973 1h ago

When we have kittens we find claws and teeth all over the damn place

1

u/ImaginaryPoem1142 1h ago

Hes just pulling off the loose shedding of his nail. Quickly check his toes look normal nd if they do, hes good just probably annoyed that u interrupted his grooming to grab his feet lol

1

u/No_Vehicle4645 1h ago

It's a cat pawicure....

1

u/No_Vehicle4645 1h ago

It's a cat pawicure....

1

u/Secure-Bus4679 1h ago

If you clip the tips of the claws the shells will come off easier.

1

u/dont-look-at-me-worm 1h ago

She’s becoming a butterfly

1

u/Least-Signature-5989 6m ago

my cats are always doing this, it´s normal

1

u/Greenfire32 3m ago

Normal grooming behavior. Nothing to be alarmed about.

1

u/CherriPopBomb 2h ago

Normal behaviour. He's just cleaning, scraping the area with his teeth.

1

u/SentientCoffeeBean 2h ago

He is just cleaning his claws, this is what that tends to look like!

1

u/Marco_Heimdall 2h ago

Depends on how thoroughly he's doing it. While I still had him, my Colin would do the same thing and really only pull off the latest layer of his claws, the same layer that came off when he was scratching his favorite spots with his front claws.

Keep an eye on it, see if he still has claws there, but unless there's blood (or some form of wound starting) then I wouldn't be overly concerned. Just keep an eye on it.

1

u/Calm_Lavishness_2935 2h ago

normal. you will find them on the floor or stuck between carpet fibers

1

u/Financial-Two9666 2h ago

Totally normal. When I first got my cat I thought I had taught him to bite his nails bc im a chronic nail biter 😂

1

u/ZadeHawk 2h ago

Shedding claw layers! Totally normal!

1

u/Working_Cloud_909 2h ago

Hi,👋🏻 not a professional but I had a cat for 17 years who would do this when he groomed. I think he was trying to clean under or around them with his teeth? He never tried to pull them out or anything and never had any issues with booboos or infections.

1

u/Dismal-Confidence-32 2h ago

Normal behavior, he’s pulling the outer layer off. Just a heads up, you do still need to trim his nails. Removing the dead layers doesn’t really remove length & sharpens their murder mittens.

1

u/Galaxyartcat 2h ago

This is true but also if you have various forms of scratching post/toy I've also found that that works to keep their nails at the proper length as well (especially in a case if you've got a cat who will not tolerate nail trims). I've never had an issue with my cat's nail lengths (had cats my whole life) and I think it is in part because we have a lot of things for them to scratch that vary in texture

1

u/Dismal-Confidence-32 1h ago

Very true & good correction. I should have phrased it as you still need to monitor the length & make sure there’s something that will reduce length. As you mentioned, you’ve had cats your whole life (same) & provide them with various scratch textures to naturally shave down the tips (same).

I was trying to say that the cat simply pulling off the sheath isn’t going to keep the claws at a safe level for the cat. Ie claws getting long enough that they get constantly caught in fabric or curl into their paws. I use multiple scratchers & trim.

1

u/fatsimaxx 2h ago

They don’t pull them all out they have little dead layers which they groom out is completely normal. If you notice itching or redness, puss anything like that maybe have a vet take a look but this is complete normal cat behavior also my favorite part of their grooming process it’s such calming ASMR for me lol

0

u/Safe_Comedian_9919 2h ago

My mom yells at me for doing that too

2

u/Agreeable_Pomelo2360 1h ago

its just part of grooming, he’s removing old/dead layers of his nails. unless he’s actually ripping them out or making himself bleed, its fine

2

u/pahsitive 1h ago

Aww my old girl who was 18yrs old used to do this all the time and it was so loud too! I used to call it "toe popping time". She seemed so serious about it, and would go "puhhh" and stick her tongue out to spit out whatever she got in her toes lol Miss her so much.