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Why does my adult cat keep losing her claws and nails?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 10 lbs

Ishka, my cat is continuing to lose her claws and I am finding them everywhere!! Is this normal for an adult cat to be losing them regularly?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 1st, 2017

It is normal for cats to shed some of their nails as they grow out. This is why it is helpful to have things like a scratching post in your home so she can keep up with her nail health. I would look for signs of limping or excessive licking of the feet, if you see any of these it could indicate that her feet are hurting her and a trip to the vet would be indicated.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    It can be normal for a cat to shed their old claw sheaths, and they generally shed each claw once every couple of months. As long as you are seeing new claws that have grown to replace the shed one, I would not be worried about it :-)

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