Missing toe what to do?

I know it sounds bad but let me explain. A few days ago I notice my cat was missing a toe. Now it doesn't seem to be affecting her(What a brave kitty) but it worries me because I don't have the money to take her to a vet.(I work a seasonal job and I start work again in 1 week) now of course when I get paid I will be taking her straight to the vet but before I can I was wondering what I could do. Like cleaning it and making sure it doesn't get infected. The best I can do with my money is get it looked at but I have no $ for treatment. Just to get my cat looked at cost like 45+$. So if you guys have any ideas please let me know thanks!

did your cat have the toe before but doesn't now?

Do you have any idea how this happened? Does she go outside?

I really think you need to get her to the vet and on antibiotics at least. Would your vet work on a payment plan with you?

Yes she has always had her toe.

My oldest cat lived outside for many, many years before he became a full-time indoor kitty.  The incident that brought him inside for good was a missing toe.  To this day we still do not know what happened.  He appeared on the porch one evening holding his paw up, but he walked on it just fine.  I took him to the vet the next morning, and they had to amputate the rest of the toe, it was damaged and would have caused him problems down the road.  So definitely, as soon as you have the $$, take him to the vet.  I think they charged me about $75 for all of it.

That night before I took him, we flushed it with some sterile saline solution and tried to keep it clean.  That was about the best we could do.

She has been outside once or twice. She doesn't really like outside. I also have no idea how it happened. It looks like the cut was made from the bottom of the toe. My guess is she stepped on a sharp object or her brother played to rough.

Awww the poor baby!  Wurp's looked like maybe he stepped on something, or got it hung in something and it avulsed the toe itself when he yanked free.  His was a mess, it wasn't just cut off cleanly.  But he was walking on it like nothing had happened, just when he sat down he would hold it up.

We jokingly say it was due to the great mouse war of 2011.  I had a mouse caught in a mousetrap in my kitchen cabinet.  It freaked me out, so I (begrudgingly) picked up trap and all and threw it out in the yard.  Wurp snatched it up and took off running with it.  We joke and say he was trying to get it out and it snapped his toe

He has done fine without his toe now in the years since.  He gives us a 3 toe salute every now and then (his version of flipping us off).

He went back outside after his amputation healed, and went on a mouse-killing spree.  He left us mouse corpses everywhere the next morning.  We say he went and took out his vengeance

I'd try my best to keep it clean if I were you, if you don't have the resources for vet care.  If it is healing, and doesn't swell, she doesn't develop a fever or listlessness or signs of infection/abscess, she may be fine.  But I would still take her to a vet as soon as I had the means.

Would peroxide work? Plan on taking her in this weekend.

The only issue with peroxide is that it will remove any scabbing that has started, and it can be a bit caustic and inflame the tissues that are trying to heal. Our vet has always told us not to use it, to use either diluted betadine wash or just plain saline.  I keep a few bottles of saline around the house all the time just in case!  Plus, it works as a great eye wash for me after I mow the yard!

Sadly that all I got. I took a look at the toe. She didin't lose it fully it was cut like a slant /. I called the vets in my area. Gonna cost about 80+$. Thanks for the help and information. I will see about getting a bottle of that. If not ima use peroxide because I dont want her to get infected. Ill post on this again what happens. Here is a picture of her.

 

Briand127 said:

Sadly that all I got. I took a look at the toe. She didin't lose it fully it was cut like a slant /. I called the vets in my area. Gonna cost about 80+$. Thanks for the help and information. I will see about getting a bottle of that. If not ima use peroxide because I dont want her to get infected. Ill post on this again what happens. Here is a picture of her.
 

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• briand127
• Dec 13, 2016

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Saline solution is just boiled, then cooled, water and salt. You can make your own.

You can make your own Normal Saline:  Half a teaspoonful salt (not Iodised) to a cup of clean water, boil for at least 10 minutes, but best make at least 4 cups and do NOT boil the saline down as it may make it too concentrated.

With regards,

Geoffrey