1 week old kitten has really swollen paw

Specifically his pinky claw and the area around it. It's quite red and swollen and has caused the toe to be pushed to the side. It also looks a bit crusty on the top. The rest of his claws look perfectly fine though. What could this be and what can I do? Also if I need to take him to the vet, how exactly to I manage to do that? Momma cat gets a bit freaky just when I handle them and even more so when I temporarily move them to change the bedding so I can't imagine how she'd handle me taking one of them to the vet or packing them all into a crate and taking them. 

I do think this kitten needs to go to the vet. You would need to pack momma and all kittens up in a carrier and take them all.

Another option would be to take a picture of the affected area and show to your vet. Perhaps they could offer advice from that. Some vets will also do a home visit, so you could check into that as well.

I agree with CatPack and the options they have given. Since your mama cat is very protective and anxious about you handling the kittens taking a pic and seeing what the vet thinks is the first thing I would try.

Can you post a picture? Maybe one of the kitten experts have seen something like this.

I won't be able to until the morning, but I'll add one then. That being said, I'm not sure my vet would be able to do that. Not because of the vet, he's fabulous, but because of the person that runs the front is one of those types that can't be bother with anyone just asking questions without bring the pet in.

I would take the entire group in crate to the vets office together.  This could be a sign of infection.  One of my adult cats years ago had a tiny cut on her paw pad that I could not even see get infected and it swelled up really bad.  The vet had to drain the infection out and put her on antibiotics.  If her paw pad had not been swelled up then I may not have even realized she had an infection because she was acting completely normal. The vet was surprised she was still putting weight on that paw.

I've never had much luck calling and asking either, I think a lot of offices tend to be that way.

Could you go by the vet, in person, and explain and show them the picture of the kittens paw? Tell them that you understand that they can't diagnose what's wrong without seeing the kitten and wanted to see if the kitten needed to come in before bringing them ALL in and exposing the newborn kittens to everything...

She may still tell you the vet would like to see her but maybe she can give you an idea of how urgent this situation is or isn't.

Seeing it this morning there's no question it's a definite vet visit tomorrow. It's swollen even more and now looks quite nasty. Poor thing. Here's a picture of his paw this morning. (Sorry this is the clearest I could get with his squirming)

Aww, poor baby...

Let us know what they say.
to you both!

-Tina

I am so sorry...that poor baby...really need to see vet.

(((Hugs)))

So it's now obvious it's an abscess that sometime within the last hour or so popped. Is there anything I should do to take care of it until I can get him to the vet in the morning? There doesn't seem to be any pus or anything draining that I noticed. It's just an area that looks like what you see after a popped blister. 

Does it look less swollen? You can use a warm compress, it will be soothing and help facilitate the draining.

I have used hydrogen peroxide on my cats, but never on one that young.  I think I wouldn't.  I agree, warm water, very gently, then trip to vet along with MamaCat and siblings.  If there is a bacterial infection, the other kittens may need attention, as well.

Please, please keep us posted.

Vet said to just clean it with a small bit of soap & warm water frequently. It's already looking a whole lot better. Swelling pretty much completely went away after it popped. 

Thanks for update...that's good news!

Hugs to you and your baby...

That's GREAT news! Glad to hear that update

How are the rest of the cat family doing? We love pics of mamas and babies

I'm so happy to hear the good news.  I was worried about the little mite. 

The other two kittens are doing great. They've started trying to walk and are starting to play with each other. Here's Mama cat with the three kittens (the one in the middle is the one that I was making this post about). When they're nursing is the only time now I seem to be able to get a clear picture of them.

Mama looks so sweet! Everyone looks healthy and so very cute!

If you have any hibitane pink liquid antbacterial soap that is what most wounds on animals works really well with.May go under different names as I am in Canada.Just a couple squirts into a bowl of warm water.Blotting or you can immerse the whole paw if the kitten lets you.Then rinse the bowl & fill with just warm water & resoak again.Blot dry & rinse once more & dry gently real well.Momma looks very happy & kitts are beautiful.Hibitane i keep around the house all the time with animals.First bottle I ever bought was from my vet.HTH Hugs to Mom & the babes. Good I'm not there as I'd snatch them up real quick.LOL hugs C.