Quote:
Originally Posted by impulce
Cats shed claws..theres absolutely no need to trim them and ive never understood why people do. They will never overgrow or ingrow, and the occasional scratch is just what we put up with as cat owners.
Its instinct to sharpen claws on scratch posts etc as they use claws to grip, climb and hunt.
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Cats shed the outer covering, the claw underneath continues to grow and they certainly CAN over grow and become in-grown. It's more of a danger for indoor cats, of course.
When they scratch they are not sharpening their claws. They are both marking and helping to loosen the dead outer sheaths. The claw will continue to grow.
Another danger when they get long and sharp is getting hung up on things. Long sharp claws get caught in carpet fabric or upholstery or blankets. Serious injury can result.
In addition, cats can cause serious injury to each other during play, if the claws are too long and sharp.