nonretractable claw problem

this morning i noticed my cat giving special attention to his paw, which really concerns me given his previous problem with it (http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...ht=swollen+paw). so i look at it and his nonretractable claw is broken off. there was a little bit of blood that he must have licked off, but he's not limping and he doesn't seem to be in unbearable pain, just some discomfort i guess. but has anyone ever heard of this happening before? i don't know if it was dead because of whatever damage the vet did the first time around, or if this is something completely different. i suspect it's because his paw had been injured before though. it looks like the white part at the top of the claw is still intact, it's just the nail that's broken.

Jamie got a claw caught in the top of a radiator and jumped down before my husband managed to free him, ripping his claw out. The vet didn't think it would grow back due to the damage, but it eventually did. He can retract it, but the claw is pretty crooked.

I was looking this up online and I guess it will be ok as long as it doesn't get infected. I think the part that's still intact is the "quick"? That part you shouldn't cut when you trim their nails. So I'll have to keep an eye on it.

Originally Posted by jcat

The vet didn't think it would grow back due to the damage, but it eventually did.

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How long did it take to grow back?

Keep a good eye on it. Those types of things can pick up bacteria quickly especially after using the litter pan.

Nano had a problem when I rescued her. A claw looked "split" and she could not retract it completely. Eventually she "fixed it" with a scratching pad. Again, watch for infections but otherwise just give it time. Nano's situation was a bit different, but it took her about three weeks before all of her claws looked reasonably normal. But there were so many little problems that it is hard to say anything more definitive, so don't rely on my words too heavily.