Please HELP Cat Torn Claw Smells?

Hello, 

I never notice anything wrong with my 8 month old cat Carl until I was trimming his claws and got to his back right paw and he cried. When I look a closer look I could see blood and some litter dried around one claw and I though it might just be a cut or his broke his nail. But after I cleaned his paws I notice that it wasn't bleeding but his entire paw was sore and he couldn't stand me applying pressure to his paw. 

After doing lots of reading online I think it might be a torn claw. I have a tree in my fenced backyard and I think he might have ripped out his claw coming down. I'm a student and I work part time so beside his shots I haven't seen the vet and wasn't planning till his next shots.

What I've been doing was cleaning the paw in warm saline water three times a day and after his paw is dry I spray it with some hydrogen peroxide.

I wanted apply some Neosporin or EMT first-aid gel ointment to his paw after cleaning but he won't allow me to wrap his paw. If it really important that his paw be wrapped I'd have no problem getting someone to wrap him in a towel and hold him for me. Carl doesn't bite or scratch at me when I'm cleaning his paws but he cries and does nibble on my hand. 

Just to let you know, Carl is eating fine, jumping on and off beds and playing with all his toys. What worries me the most is the smell that is coming from his paw. I know that no matter how clean I get the pay the minute he goes into the litter box... all that cleaning was for no use.  

Please, I'm just looking for any tips. It has only been a few days but I'm worried about this odor. Is there anything I can do to stop or get rid of the infection if there is one.

I am going to get some an antiseptic cleaner to make sure that I'm really get out the bacteria and then I will wrap his foot. I'd like to try this for a week before taking him the vet.  

Any comment or advice is greatly appreciated!! 

Hello, 

I'm looking for an antiseptic cleanser that is safe for my eight month old cat. I'm pretty sure he ripped out a claw and there is a slight odor that I'm worried out. 

Please, let me know what type of antiseptic you use. I've been cleaning the paw three times a day with warm saline and then spraying with hydrogen peroxide when dry. 

Thank you. 

If you put anything on his paw, he'll just lick it off and most likely remove any bandaging. The smell is concerning, it could mean a bad infection or abcess . Is the paw hot to the touch or have Any discharge (other than blood)? Paw injuries can abcess quickly and are difficult to treat without antibiotics because of the litterbox and all it's bacteria. Honestly, if the paw is that tender to the touch, I'd take him to the vet.

I agree with happybird - if the paw is tender and smells, your cat really needs to be seen by a vet now, not in a week. The longer you wait and try to "doctor" it yourself, the worse it can get, and you'll most probably end up having to take him to a vet anyway and paying more to clear up a really nasty infection.

Is Care Credit a possibility? This sounds like an infection, and the longer it goes then the worse it can get. I would seek a vet's help at this point. I'm a student too so I understand lack of funds, but I would call and see if a payment plan can be arranged. Claws are awfully close to blood and bones.

A bad smell is always a sign of a infection. bets go the vets..

Cats hide pain until it is really bad.  That combined with the fact that it is at a level your cat can't tolerate you touching his paw suggests to me he is in great pain.  The smell is a sign of an infection and if the infection is severe enough for you to smell it then it is well established. Not only is remaining in this level of pain horrendous for Carl, infections can spread, and they can get in to the blood stream, either of which would be extremely serious, and potentially life threatening for your cat.   Your cat needs to see a vet, and needs to see one ASAP.