Clawing away!

Cats and their claws are something I get asked about a lot in my line of work and for groomers it is a very important subject to know lots about.

By Katie Gwilt, iPET Network Cat Grooming Tutor.

Customers often want to know how they can safely maintain their cat’s claws at home, and it is also important for us groomers to have a good working knowledge of all things cat.

The iPET Network’s portfolio of qualifications in cat grooming, which I teach, are the best place to get the skills that you need to become a cat groomer or add cat grooming to your businesses’ existing offer.

Below is my ‘need to know guide’ to claws on cats, which I hope that you will find useful.

Cat Claw Structure

The majority of cats have 18 claws total (polydactyl have one or more extra paw pads so extra claws as well), ten on their front paws and eight on the back.

The front paws have five on each to include the dew claw which is a bit higher up like where a human thumb would be.

Claws are made of keratin much like human nails and again like human nails they keep growing their entire life.

Claws grow like the layers of an onion or the rings of a tree. In the centre is the new claw and around it the sheath gets thicker and dies off.

When you find that weird hollow looking claw and wonder where it came from, this is the dead outer husk of the claw that gets shed much like the skin of a snake so don’t worry that the cat has pulled their claw out.

etc, scratching is also part of natural cat behaviour and part of how cats communicate.

Felines have scent glands on their paw pads so scratching also leaves behind their smell, helping to tell other cats about who they are and their status.

There are also the physical marks left by scratching, and combined they can tell other cats how recently they were in an area, what their mating status is and their general health too.

Trimming Cats Claws

Cats’ claws keep growing and healthy claws will constantly be shedding that dead outer layer/husk.

What

do Cats use their Claws for?

As well as the obvious uses like hunting, climbing, defending themselves

Indoor cats, and those that are older or sick, don’t get as much exercise so have less of a chance to work their claws on hard surfaces so they can need a little help to keep their claws in tip top shape.

Claws on cats like this can get overly long, and start to get caught in plush furniture and carpets as well as the skin on humans (usually the legs) when they are kneading and settling down for a snooze.

Giving the claws a trim can help prevent them from getting stuck and having that little panic attack when they do!

Before you trim a cat’s claws, watch out for the pink quick that grows in the centre of the claw.

If you cut this it is too short and it will bleed.

It won’t cause any damage as such but can be messy and feel a bit like a stubbed toe... Ouch!

Ingrown and Thick Claws

The other problem to look out for is if cats aren’t properly scratching and exercising their claws then that dead outer husk keeps building up and the claw gets thicker and thicker.

These can then start to curl around and grow back into the cat’s paw pad as an ingrown claw.

Ingrown claws look like a strange thick circle of hard claw that pierces the cat’s paw pad and can cause a lot of pain.

Every step the cat takes pushes overly long claws into the paw pads or deeper into the pad itself.

It can cause infections as well, where the claw pierces the pad allowing pathogens and dirt to get inside the broken skin.

It’s important to check at cats’ claws as they age and slow down to make sure that this isn’t happening and it can occur on both the front and back paws.

You may notice that your cat’s claws are getting thicker as the keratin is building up.

Visit www.thekatlady.co.uk and, to find out more about the iPET Network’s portfolio of cat grooming qualifications, go to www.ipetnetwork.co.uk

Animal Talent & Casting Agency

Urban Paws UK

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Grooming and Hygiene

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Grooming Supplies

Artero Artero has specialized in dog grooming and hairdressing products since 1909. With 113 years of experience, Artero has become a reference in both the Grooming and the Hairdressing worlds, Artero is now present in over 72 countries all over the world.

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Petcetera

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Industry Services

Pet Industry Federation

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Pet Food

Burns Pet Nutrition

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Raw Feeding

Natural Instinct

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Shampoo

For All Dogkind

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Secret Weapon UK

Our unrivalled range of top quality dematting products, shampoos and conditioners are suitable for all coat and skin types. Organic and hypoallergenic our ethically sourced products make grooming easier, kinder and faster. Award winning and successfully selling worldwide for 8 years.

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Sharpening

Barras Blades

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Teeth Cleaning

The Dog Tooth Fairy

The Dog Tooth Fairy offers Emmi-pet equipment, online training courses and support for dog groomers. Helping businesses thrive and increase their salon revenue with Emmi-pet ultrasonic teeth cleaning, achieving great results with guaranteed client satisfaction.

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E: thedogtoothfairy@gmail.com

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Training and Education

Capel Manor College Train to become a qualified dog groomer; choose from full and part-time courses with free tuition for 16 to 18 year olds.

T: 0303 003 1234

E: study@capel.ac.uk

W: www.capel.ac.uk

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Four Paws Groom School

Dog and Cat Grooming Training Courses and regulated Qualifications. Our friendly and knowledgeable Tutors will support you every step of the way. Locations in Cheshire, Kent, Herefordshire and Greater Manchester.

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Haddon Training

Established in 1997, Haddon Training are an award-winning training provider specialising in dog grooming, animal care and equine. We offer qualifications which are all supported by our team of expert Trainer-Coaches.

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KD Grooming Studio

KD Grooming Studio, a multi-awardwinning pet grooming Studio, delivers flexible C&G/National Pet College & vocational courses. Train with Britain’s Best Groomer, Kelly Davis (BBC) and her highly skilled team. Enrol year round.

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National Pet College

Offering City & Guilds dog grooming qualifications via our approved training centres around the UK. Also, Higher Diploma in Dog Grooming, teacher training and short courses including canine first aid.

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Pet Passion to Profit

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Rob Fellows Reiki

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Summit Groomer Training Group

Summit works with dog grooming training centres delivering quality tuition and City & Guilds qualifications. With centres across the UK there is one near you.

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T: 01535 661776

E: enquiries@summitgroomer traininggroup.co.uk

W: www.summitgroomer traininggroup.co.uk