Your cat is an adorable little creature, but her claws can really pack a punch when she wants them to. Why does she have them and how does she care for them?

Your pet’s claws are retractable so she can keep them safely tucked away when they aren’t in use. Her wild ancestors used them to defend themselves, but your pet is more likely going to use her claws to help her climb and to visibly mark her territory. Your pet scratches on things to let others know what areas she considers to be hers, but she also scratches to help maintain her claws. This helps keep her claws, which are always growing, filed to a manageable length and gives her a chance to remove portions that have seen better days. For more information, please contact your local Conyers, GA veterinarian.