You’ve likely caught your cat sharpening his front claws. But why doesn’t he sharpen his back claws too?

Your cat’s ancestors depended on sharp claws to catch their prey, which is why it’s so important for them to keep their front claws nice and sharp. They do not use their back claws for this purpose, so there’s no need for your cat to sharpen them. It’s also worth noting that sharpening the back claws would be extremely difficult, making it not worth the trouble for your cat.

So then why don’t your cat’s back claws grow really long? Cat claws don’t grow very fast. A couple of times a month, your cat actually sheds the outer claw, revealing the sharper, shorter claw underneath.

If you’re having trouble with your cat’s claws, schedule an appointment with your veterinarians Sharon to have his nails trimmed.