Why Do Declawed Cats Bite Their Back Nails?

Many people declaw their cat̵7;s front paws to keep them from scratching on the furniture in their home. Cats are not trying to be destructive, but scratch things to keep their nails in a very sharp condition. Cats are digitigrades and actually walk on their claws in a tiptoe fashion. Maintenance of the back nails is important for balance, running and climbing.

  1. Shedding Claws

    • Cat̵7;s claws grow continuously as human fingernails do. A cat claw is comprised of an inner smooth claw and surrounded by an exterior dry area. The exterior sheds from the claw and reveals the sharp claw. Cats often chew their back nails to help remove the outer layer of their nails and keep their nails sharp and smooth.

    Grooming

    • Cats groom themselves several times a day to maintain their fur and keep it clean. Felines will scratch their coat with their hind legs to untangle their fur while grooming. Cats will then chew at their claws to release any fur that sticks to their claws and dispose of it. Clean claws are part of the daily grooming process after meals, a nap or using a litter box. Grooming time increases when the longer days of summer arrive and cats shed at a heavier rate to keep themselves cool.

    Compulsion

    • Some cats tend to chew their hind claws many times a day. This can be caused by a compulsive chewing habit. Humans have the same habit when they bite their fingernails and keep them very short.

    Emotional

    • Cats that move to a new home may become nervous at first until they acclimate themselves to their new surroundings. Cleaning their rear claws and grooming more often provides them with a calming sense of emotions. The introduction of a new pet to a feline's home or moving furniture to a different area may also cause excessive nail biting.