Is Cat Nail Biting a Common Behavior?

Have you ever seen your cat biting their nails? Many cat parents see their cats biting their nails, and they wonder if it is something to be worried about. Is nail biting common in cats, or is something wrong with your feline friend?

The short answer is that yes, nail biting is extremely common in cats. Although most nail biting behaviors are nothing to worry about, there are some instances when your cat may be telling you something is wrong by biting their nails.

Read through the information below to find out more about nail biting in cats.

Nail Biting Is an Instinctive Grooming Behavior

Your cat is probably performing part of their instinctive grooming routine when they bite and chew their nails. If this behavior only happens during your cat’s regular grooming sessions and not at other times, you likely don’t have anything to worry about.

You can monitor your cat’s other behaviors at the time to know for sure. If they appear relaxed and they only bite their nails while in the midst of cleaning, then this is normal.

Nail Biting May Occur When Cats Do Not Have Varied Scratching Surfaces

If your cat only has one scratch toy in the home, or if you do not provide enough scratching opportunities for them, then they may resort to biting their nails more often. Cats who have a variety of scratching surfaces to enjoy are less likely to bite their nails except when they absolutely must.

Scratching allows cats to keep their nails sharp, but it also helps keep the nails clean and healthy. Your cat needs to scratch for overall health and wellness, so make sure you give them all the appropriate opportunities you can for scratching behaviors.

Nail Biting Keeps Nails Trim and Paw Pads Clean

Cats like to bite their nails for grooming to keep their claws trim. Biting may also remove broken pieces of the claw, similar to hangnails in humans.

Additionally, biting the nails can help your cat keep their paw pads clean and free from trapped particles too. Grooming the feet is an important part of a cat’s daily routine, and they know what is best for their own grooming needs.

Nail Biting Even Occurs in Very Young Kittens

Young kittens learn how to bite and chew on their nails from their mothers. From an early age, as soon as kittens begin grooming themselves rather than relying on their mothers to do it for them, they begin biting their nails.

This is all part of normal cat behavior and is nothing to worry about. If you have a young kitten and you are concerned about their nail and foot health for any reason, see a vet; however, keep in mind that grooming through nail biting is health and normal, even at this age.

Nail Biting Can Indicate an Infection

In some instances, frequent and excessive nail biting can indicate that your cat has an infection in the toe, nail, or foot. It is somewhat common for cats to experience infections of the foot, so make sure you check your cat’s foot carefully if their nail biting behavior is new. Your cat could have an injury or abscess that needs treatment.

Most infections of the foot or nail can be treated relatively easily with the help of your vet. Make sure you go to the vet as soon as possible, however, to prevent the problem from getting worse.

Nail Biting Can Be a Sign of Anxiety

Finally, some cats may bite their nails out of anxiety, just like some humans might. Cats who suffer from separation anxiety are likely to develop a habit of biting their nails when they want to soothe themselves. Additionally, cats who are uncomfortable in their environment—such as those who dislike other family pets—may bite their nails as a soothing mechanism, too.

Mild to moderate anxiety may be able to be managed through training and redirection. However, some cats with moderate to severe anxiety need to take anti-anxiety medication to help the problem. Talk to your vet if you think your cat’s nail biting is related to anxiety.

Conclusion

As you can see, the majority of nail biting behaviors in cats are nothing to worry about. Many cats bite and chew on their nails as part of a daily grooming routine, and this is perfectly healthy. It is a part of how your cat keeps their nails clean and their feet free from infection.

However, if your cat’s nail biting seems to only occur when they are left alone or afraid of something, it could be a sign of anxiety. It is important to consider the situation when your cat bites their nails as well as the frequency with which they perform this behavior.

If you have any questions regarding nail biting in your cat, The Village Vets of Atlanta, GA is here to help. Find a location near you today!