A lot of people skip trimming their cat’s nails. They figure their cats do enough wearing down of the nails themselves on scratching posts (and furniture), so it’s not necessary. Besides, a lot of cats don’t like people touching their paws. But regular nail trimming is essential to a cat’s health, and scratching doesn’t cut it. That only removes the outer layer of the nails that have become frayed or worn, exposing the sharper layers underneath.
If a sharp nail then gets caught in a piece of upholstery, a plush blanket, or even something made of soft wood, it can end up breaking and causing your pet a lot of pain. In addition, a too-long nail can curl back under and into the footpad, making it difficult to walk in addition to creating pain.
