Cat ingrown nails are rarely a problem in the wild because the friction of climbing trees works as a natural nail file for cats. Inside your home, however, our domesticated felines are more likely to need some grooming assistance. Curious if this is a problem with your cat? Take a look — what you're looking for is the cat claw growing into the pad of the foot.

When a cat's nails become overgrown and very long, the tip can grow around and into the cat's nail pad, resulting in a cat ingrown nail. This differs from a human's ingrown nail because the ingrown cat nail is actually growing out and back around into their paw pad, raising the pain factor significantly. Read on to learn more about spotting a cat claw growing into the pad and what you can do to help your kitty.

The Cause of Your Cat's Ingrown Nail

If you've ever seen your cat raised on their hind limbs, scratching furiously with their front paws, you may have wondered what causes them to do this. This natural habit is a behavior that sharpens the cat's nails and prevents them from overgrowing. In the wild, or with proper access to scratching posts and other nail-filing toys, ingrown nails generally don't occur or cause problems.

Among domesticated cats, however, an overgrowth of cat nails is a common problem, according to Merck Veterinary Manual. If your cat's nails are left untrimmed, and your cat does not have access to scratching posts, your cat's claws are at risk of curling around as they grow into and eventually puncture the paw pads.

How to Spot a Cat's Ingrown Nail

This is one condition that can be diagnosed by simply examining your cat's paw pads. The average pet parent can clearly identify a curved nail that makes contact with the paw pad itself. Before the claw damages the paw pad, you may notice your cat's nails getting caught on blankets or carpets more easily because the nails can no longer fully retract. Hearing a tapping sound as the cat walks on hard surfaces is another tell-tale sign. Intermittent bleeding and limping might also be observed because each step further damages the paw pad. Because of the pain associated with movement, affected cats may seem more lethargic or might lick or bite at their feet.

A common complication with ingrown claws is an infection of the injured paw pad. Discharge from the paw pad may also occur alongside an infection and can range from somewhat transparent yellow to thick yellow-green. The nails of cats are a site where bacteria and fungus become trapped and accumulate. While this usually doesn't pose a risk to cats, once the outer layer of the paw pad is punctured, the area is ripe for an infection.