What to Do About Split Cat Nails

1 Cat Nail Splitting and Care

I. Causes of Cat Nail Splitting

1. Because a cat’s nails are layered one over another, when shedding, the upper layer splits — this is normal and owners need not worry too much.

2. If a cat lacks calcium, it can also cause nail splitting; then supplement calcium and vitamins, and appropriately feed some nutritious food rather than only cat food.

3. If the nails are not cut evenly, the cat may easily split them while scratching; owners should trim the cat’s nails evenly to avoid further damage.

II. How to Protect Cat Nails

A cat’s nails are very sharp; they protect the cat’s safety and help with eating and climbing, so healthy nails are very important to a cat. But cat nails are also very fragile, so daily protection and careful care are needed.

Cat nails grow fast, especially in dry weather, when they easily split; owners can apply some lubricating oil around the nails to prevent splitting to some extent. If splitting is found, tools can help protect the nails — for example, tailor a few pure-cotton small gloves for the cat; wearing gloves prevents the splitting from worsening, and remove them when the cat rests to let the paws breathe.

Cat nails need regular trimming, otherwise they grow sharp and long, making the cat uncomfortable and prompting it to scratch everywhere, which easily causes splitting; so owners must trim the nails flat, never unevenly. Living habits also affect the nails — if a cat stays in dark places long-term, nails easily calcify and split, so let the cat get more sunlight normally.

If a cat develops onychitis, repeated bacterial infection can also cause nail splitting, so owners should observe the cat’s paws more, detect problems early and treat promptly. If you have other related questions, you can also consult an online pet veterinarian.