Horned paws?

peaches08

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Both of my polydactyl cats (brother and sister) have horns on some of their front paws. I monitor their claws to make sure the extra one doesn't grow into their paws, but is there anything I should do about these horns? They've had these horns since I got them a year ago and they'll be 2 years old in April.

Thanks!
 

mani

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Have they been checked by a vet for this? I'm guessing you will have.

I wasn't even aware of these, but did some searching to find out more.. This is what I found (just online... you can't beat a visit to a good vet)
  • Often no-one knows what causes them
  • A rare underlying cause is squamous cell carcinoma.
  • They can be linked to feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus infection, although lots of cats are negative for both of these viruses when the cutaneous horns are found.
  • A lot of vets believe that they are caused by an unknown virus
  • One vet trims them using a nail clipper and says they have no blood/nerve supply and so no pain, but I'd be checking this with my vet.. Some people use keratolytic solutions to dissolve these but cats tend to lick ointments or solutions off their feet.  Once again, I'd be asking my vet about removal and whether it's necessary.
Thanks for bringing this up.. I've learned something new! 

And lots of love and
to your kitties. 
 
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peaches08

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Thanks for that info!

They had a basic physical a few weeks ago and their vaccinations; the vet didn't mention them and I forgot to ask. They don't seem to be in any discomfort and the horns haven't grown any larger. They use their scratching post, run, jump, play, break lamps (lol)...they seem fine but I'm a worrier.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Do the horns grow, like their claws?  Have you needed to trim them?  If so, I would continue to do that.  If not, then I would do nothing.  I'm guessing your Vet saw them during the exam, and didn't think anything of them.  I mean, usually a Vet will notice a polydactyl and take a look at their feet, right?  (that is, if the cat will allow it
)
 
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peaches08

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The horns haven't grown any since I've gotten them. The vet noticed the thumbs and smiled when he pointed them out, but didn't comment on the horn. He did mention to monitor the claw beyween the thumb and other toes, which I do. I found one site saying that it is not a trait related to polydactyls, but I do find it odd that both of them have it.
 

belladoli

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I have four feral cats, all related in some way. Three have varying degrees of horned paws, its horrible I do notice that Annie's are the worst. Since she's the most shyest, skiddish and least affectionate, we usually let the vet cut them. Lately I've found that even if I get to cut one or two super long horns she gets really cuddly after, so I think they do bother, if not hurt her after all, and that she ( and Oscar and soon Tiger) /feel/ will feel better once they are trimmed. What a shame they cannot be cured as they only seem to bother them
 
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peaches08

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Sorry belladoli that the horns cause your cats discomfort. Do you trim all of the horns? Do some horns grow and some don't, or grow faster?

Mine are still the same; no growth and I haven't ever cut them. They are still pretty active and the horns don't seem to bother them.
 

lilblu

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I have a cat who gets these horns. I was told I could just cut them off, but that makes me uncomfortable. I've never come across a dermatologist (for people) who has said to just cut off a "growth." In fact, most do not recommend that. So I don't see how it would be acceptable to cut off a "growth" on an animal.

My cat's horns sometimes just fall off over time. She has developed more as she ages, but they're not too big. They don't seem to bother her so I leave them alone. I do keep an eye on them because I've read that they could become cancerous. It doesn't matter what vet I go to, they never check my cat's paws. If I want these horns looked at, I always have to point it out, every single time. I suggest that you all remember to do the same.
 
 

belladoli

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Peaches08 yes Annie's grow the fastest. They get so long that they curl up almost into her regular claws. I feel they imposed her ability to walk, scratch, protect herself.

Lilblu you are fortunate that your pets fall off naturally. But the growths are similar to a fingernail, as in its a dead growth, therefore it does not cause the cat any pain when trimming in, quite the opposite ( see my previous comments). The babies go to the vet today and Annie will be thoroughly trimmed of her horned claws so I shall update you on her attitude. I do try to cut them but its usually disasterous so I leave it to the professionals.
 
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peaches08

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Oh wow belladoli, I can see where the curling could be a problem. That's what I am to watch for with regard to their claws (curling back into toe). Neither of my cats' horns come close to doing anything like this.

Good luck at the vets and tell us what is said.
 

crazycatlady22

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I recently rescued a cat with a horned claw on her foot I read a comment about feline lukemia being a connection to this. My cat has been tested and was negative has anyone else had a cat with the claw that was positive for Flv?
 
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peaches08

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Mine were negative for FLV and FIV (shelter tests before determining adoption). And they still have not grown or caused discomfort.
 

martinmact

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I too have a polydactyle cat (Chaussette). She moved into my apartment one night when I had left the doors open after a heatwave had finally ended, and has been with me ever since.

In Quebec moving day is July 1st and Chaussette moved in about 40 days later, so I have no doubt she was abandonned by someone during a move because she was so skinny she looked almost like a slinky toy, and yet not in the least bit feral... When I brought her to vet she started explaining the importance of holding and petting a feral cat while they are still young but then ended up saying "yeah, okay, nevermind" because she kept jumping up into my arms every time I tried to put her on the examining table.

Not only does she have "mittens", but the "extra" front toes were been deemed fully functional by the vet  (I'll tell you right now, a cat with opposable thumbs can be a real pain in the butt sometimes), But her back feet are like snow shoes with an "extra" toe there too.

So my point is... Every other cat I've "owned" has been a complete charity case that ended up costing me thousands of dollars for one or two years of companionship, up until "Lucky".  He was a few weeks old when I got him off the street and he had to be put to sleep at 3 months of age due to blindness caused by pandonitis likely triggered by FIV; I swore I would never have another cat again, because putting to sleep a 3 month old kitten broke my heart.

Chaussette didn't ask permission, she just moved in... But I had her tested for EVERYTHING two days after she moved in, and she was clean.  Two years later she is still in perfect health, active, playful... occasionally a bit psychotic but she has never once hissed at a human being (although apparently all the cats that pass by the window are bad).

So why the horns on her feet?  I had assumed it was some type of feline papyloma (sp?) virus, but everything I read about this trait seems to point to polydactile cats, at least 90% of the time, which would contradict a viral explanation.
 
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martinmact

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Also, since two years ago when she moved in, they have shrunk significantly and reduced in number.  They never seemed to hinder her although as a kitten (6mo) she used to bite at them.
 
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peaches08

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Originally Posted by martinmact  

Not only does she have "mittens", but the "extra" front toes were been deemed fully functional by the vet  (I'll tell you right now, a cat with opposable thumbs can be a real pain in the butt sometimes)
Oh do I know what you mean!  The brother, Mason, his thumbs are fully functional.  He gets into everything. 

The horns may have shrunken slightly on both cats, they certainly haven't grown.  And they still aren't causing any problems, so I've just left them alone.
 
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martinmact

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Oh do I know what you mean!  The brother, Mason, his thumbs are fully functional.  He gets into everything. 

The horns may have shrunken slightly on both cats, they certainly haven't grown.  And they still aren't causing any problems, so I've just left them alone.
My fear is assuaged to hear so many people say these horns don't cause any trouble.

She bites at them sometimes which she didn't do at first, which explains why they are smaller now, but I think that has to do with the fact that she had stopped grooming before she moved in (she weighed 2lbs when she moved in, and weighed 6lbs within 2 months).

None of this brings me any closer to understanding the cause, but so long as I know they aren't a threat to the first cat I've ever owned with a life expectancy of more than 3 years I guess I'll sleep at night.

And I can relate to the Mason story:  sometimes I come home and get freaked out if I can't find her (Where I live cats should really not go outdoors)... I'm convinced she got out somehow.  I end up finding her inside a closed kitchen cupboard 8 feet off the ground, sleeping.  She gets herself into everything.

She is the sweetest and most loving cat I have ever owned, but also the smartest, the least obedient, the best at jumping and the most dexterous.  She can cause all kinds of trouble/panic when she wants to.

I also suspect she has an evil twin sister that I call "Destructo Kitty".
 

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I've seen a few of those. Not super common but it's regular enough that they are easy to recognize. They are usually labelled as cutaneous horns or hyperkeratosis. Most of the time, we dont know why they are they are there (cat's cat grow weird things!), and I havent seen one cause trouble yet, despite the fact that they  can originate from viruses or rarely skin tumours (ive never personally seen a tumour cause them - it's just reported in the literature). Most people dont worry about them, although I have surgically removed one that ended up bleeding alot and was irritating to that patient....

k
 

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Oh do I know what you mean!  The brother, Mason, his thumbs are fully functional.  He gets into everything. 
My RB cat Tiger was the same with her thumbs.  I was still in school and living at home when we had her.  If I was doing homework on my bed and she wanted attention; she'd use the thumb to grab my pen from my hand.  She was an awesome cat but totally had a mind of her own!  A few months before she passed she actually stole an entire raw hamburger while my mother was making dinner.  She was already sick at this point too.  I miss her and her antics!  My mother's current poly doesn't do any of that stuff and I think she actually has more toes.  Her feet are massive but she's also long haired and not a snuggler; so it's hard to get a good look. 

Neither have had horned paws that I'm aware of.  I know Tiger did not.
 

serenechristine

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Hi Peaches

My poor Trinity was having trouble walking without limping  sitting to drink and eat thats when i saw IT

The horn on her back foot paw pad. It was longer than her pad so she was walking o it..stepping on it pulled it from her pad causing it to bleed after figuring out online what this is I cut it..now I think i see a little dot at the top of the pad right next to this one on the same foot They are so ugly YIKES.....i see that the cats that also have this, that are  mentioned in this forum didn't have any pain assosciated with this "Horned paw"..However I guess depending on where thihs thing grows from..i Googled images of this and oh boy can it ever get ugly
 
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