Black Stuff Around Cat Nails?

solowars

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I was clipping my cat's nails last week and noticed that some of her nails had black gunk around it, near where the nailbed meets the nail, as well as underneath the nail. I've never really paid attention to her nailbeds much as she doesn't like her nails being handled so I try to get trimming over and done with as fast as possible.

At first I just thought it was dirt but some googling raised the possibility of a bacterial/fungal infection to me. What I did for the past week was to give her epsom salt soaks and try to get the 'dirt' off? It does come off with water and some scrubbing but I couldn't get everything off because she struggles so much. Her nails themselves look normal / nailbeds don't look inflamed, so I thought she was fine. They don't smell either. However there are a few things that I don't know if are normal for cats: (1) some of her nailbeds have grey patches across them (they aren't raised bumps, just bits where the skin is grey instead of white). I know this definitely isn't dirt, I've tried scrubbing and upon close examination it looks more like a tiny patch of darker pigmentation (and she's always had this all around her gums too). No idea if this is usual. (2) Her nails are all clear, but some of them are tinted more brownish than others. I know discolouration is something to look out for, but photos I've seen show the entire nail going dark/yellow. Her nails are still clear, just look tinted brownish. (3) some of the 'dirt' (if that is it) is coming back, just a tiny bit around her nails that I've cleaned. It was a little crusty so I suspected pus but it doesn't smell at all and her nailbed isn't inflamed so I really have no idea...

She's normal in all other respects though - other than being alot more annoyed at me because I keep fussing over her nails.

I think the problem is that I can't really tell what a normal, healthy nail and nailbed should look like... If the nails were deformed or the nailbeds were obviously red, puffy or weeping pus I would definitely know something is wrong, but right now I'm stuck between 'it looks fine...I think?' and 'maybe its not fine... I think?'

It's been impossible for me to take clear photos of her nails as she will only tolerate her nails being handled for so long. I am thinking of just taking her to the vet and getting a clear answer but I don't want to make a huge fuss over what could be just be normal (and I've had way too many vet visits just this year over things that turned out to be nothing at all). A friend suggested to me to just wait it out, as if it were an infection the signs should become alot more obvious very soon, but I'm just worried about my cat. I can't stand the thought of her being ill in any way and not being treated asap.

Sorry for this long-winded post, any advice would be super appreciated and as always I will keep a close eye on her condition.
 

FelisCatus

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Hi, it's good thing to be worried. Better to care and it's nothing versus not care and it's something.

Are you able to have a friend hold her down while you take pics? Even is she meows and fusses, it's only temporary and for her health, so just ignore her struggle and don't feel bad.

You could post them here and also send them to your vet. They should be able to take a look and tell you without even having to go in.
 

kmoulus

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How old is your cat? Is she an indoor kitty? My elderly cat Speedy, has the same thing and in the past I had another elderly cat with the same problem. As they age, they do not scratch as much to manicure their claws, and they don't groom as well as when they were younger. Cats scratch their posts and also bite their claws to remove the outer sheath. As they age it may be necessary to trim their claws more often and to wipe down their paws and claws, try a little gauze and warm water.

Speedy has always hated anyone touching her feet. If I am lucky I can trim one or maybe two claws before she starts biting me really hard. So it takes me a week or two to get through all ten claws.
 
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