non retractable claws

Hello. This is my first time here. We have 2 cats, Pheobe - Maine Coon and Cassie - tortie. We have a silly question. Cassie's back claws do not retract. She is the first cat we have had that is like this. Is this something unique to her or does it belong to a specific breed? Thanks in advance for any help.

Welcome to the site! I'm going to move this to Health & Nutrition since it is a physical question.

My Skinny's back left claw does not retract. It doesn't bother her although I was advised to have her operated to avoid accidents of getting stuck. I've decided not to. I keep it well trimmed.

Hi there! I too have a tortie gril whose claws don't retract. I have never asked anyone about it thought. They don't seem to get in the way of her daily life. But I also trim them atleast once a month.



Anyway Welcome to TCS

Where did Cassie come from? How long have you had her?

Hi! When Alix, my Totie Girl, first came home, she stuck to the carpet like velcro. I was really worried about her getting stuck to things. I wondered if she couldnt retract her claws, and couldnt really check because she was half wild, and didnt trust me. It just turned out that she was walking on her tippee toes, because she was unsure of everything, and a needed a good claw clipping, but It always left me wondering if there are some cats who can't retract thier claws.

I'm so glad I stumbled on this post, because this has been a problem I've been dealing with Scotch for a while. When he puts his claws out and gets hung on something, he won't pull them back in, just jerk until he comes free. I know he can retract his claws, he just doesn't seem to know how to control it. I have actually thought about getting his claws capped because of it, but if anyone has any suggestions on how to teach him, I am all ears.

Noel

Hello and welcome to the site I have an older female, she is 14 now, who does the same thing. I can always tell when she is walking through the kitchen, I can here the click click click of her claws on the tile floor. She never used to do this, I just think it is due to her age. She doesn't have a problem with them getting stuck though, but she doesn't have her front claws. We adopted her from a shelter when she was 10 years old and she was already declawed from her previous owner.

The funny thing is, they aren't out unless he uses them - he completely uses them just like any other cat, except when it comes time to let go of whatever he has (blanket when he is kneeding, a toy, or my shirt when I hold him) he will pull until he snags whatever it is, or the fabric lets go. Most cats just pull their claws back in most of the time...
What do you think of the caps you can get as an option instead of declawing?? I don't believe in declawing, but it would be nice to eliminate some nail problems...

How old is your Cat, Noel? My kitten who is only 6 months old is still learning how to use his Claws and does the same thing. He's forever getting them caught on the blanket on the bed.......where he LOVES to spend time Kneeding it. He also get's caught when he's up on my shoulder(he's kind of a parrot, He sits on my shoulders when I am on the computer or just sitting of the couch) he ends up getting snagged on my shirt.

He is almost one year old

I just noticed I messed up you name! I aplogize for that!!! Hmmm I'd say he is still just learning to use his claws. But I am not an expert my two cats are the first cats I have ever really dealt with. I just know that my oldest Willow who will be 3 in April(was also a Feral kitten) didn't get complete control over her nails until she was a little over a year old. My Blade tho is still working on it. He has progressed more then Willow has at his age. He's finally learning to let go after a few mins of fighting with it :LOL: it's pretty funny to watch him sometimes and at others I just have to let him free. As far as the cap thingys I don't know much about them but from what I have read on here from others they are pretty good!! I myself don't mind the claws and since Willow was a one time feral the chance of her acidently getting loose I want to make sure she has all claws to protect her and Blade well I don't want him to feel like a geek with the Painted nails look :LOL: yes I know I'm a geek but what can I say! These are my babies!

No, it's ok, you got my name right! It's Noel (like the Christmas song), but Noey is what my friends call me...

Thanks for all your help! I won't feel so discouraged!

HaHa Well Gald to see I got your name right after all

my 6 year old main coon`s rear claws don`t retract either. they don`t seem to get hung up on anything, so I just keep them trimmed. a little like a dog. XD 

maybe it`s just the breed. seems larger breed cats tend to have this traite. my smaller siamese`s rears retract. it`s odd.