a vet answered
Cat's claws shedding after a nail clip and one nail looks red: normal shedding or a nail injury?
What they asked
My Russian Blue cat is 1 year and 2 months old\. During his routine nail clipping, I noticed some of his front claws were shedding\. I was able to help a few shed naturally, but two nails on his right front paw seem more difficult, and one in particular looks red. I’ve noticed he still scratches the carpeted part of his cat tree but no longer uses the scratching pole, so I’m wondering if he’s experiencing some discomfort. He allows me to touch his paws, isn’t limping, and is still running, playing, and acting completely normal. I’ve attached pictures and would appreciate your opinion on whether this is normal shedding or a potential nail injury that needs attention. Thank you
Sorry you're concerned. Those look like normal nails that need to be filed. Try to provide extra cardboard scratchers and posts to let him scratch. Get him evaluated if you notice any swelling of the soft tissue around the nails.
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