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My cat's back paw claw is hanging sideways. Is it broken or shedding?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat’s claw on his back foot is hanging on sideways, and I can’t tell if he is shedding the nail or if he broke it. There isn’t any bleeding, but from what I could see there was red under the nail (can’t tell if it’s dried blood or the pink part of the claw). He doesn’t seem to be in any pain or limping (he has been playing like normal), but he won’t let me push his claws forward to get a better look. Any thoughts/advice is appreciated.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Tomasz Wnuk

Answered By Tomasz Wnuk

Veterinarian

Published on April 27th, 2020

Hello and thank your contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is hard to say what happened to the nail without seeing and examining it in person. I suspect the claw is shedding and the hanging bit is only a thin layer of the shedding claw. If that is the case, you should be able to gently pull it off with your fingers or clip it off with a nail clippers (you should clip the white part of the claw only). If the claw is broken close to the nail base, touching the toe will be painful to your cat and there will be usually blood around the nail. So, try very gently to pull off the hanging part of the claw. If it is causing pain or discomfort, most likely there is also some damage to the nail base and you may need to take your cat to your local vets to clip the nail very short to remove the damaged part.
Vote Icon6Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Yes, the nail does look broken. You can use a human nail clipper to cut it off but honestly, if you just left it he will probably pull it off himself. If you do cut it and it bleeds you can use some corn starch or baking powder on it to help stop the bleeding.

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    5Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 4th, 2019

    The nail has been probably traumatically removed. The tissues surrounding the nail bed does not seem to be swollen or discharging so an infection is unlikely and the lesion seems quite old anyway. At the moment only monitoring is needed.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 22nd, 2017

    I am sorry to hear about Sly. I would be concerned that this nail could detaching from the nail bed (this can happen due to trauma or the nail getting snagged on something), or that we could have a fracture of the toe. I would recommend an examination at your veterinarian to palpate the toe and closely examine the nail. If the nail is loose it may need to be removed or trimmed back.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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