Claw extended

Ugh, i hate to post so many threads on these forums - especially as I'm a first time cat owner and can't offer much helpful advice of my own to others yet.

As someone said though, it's overwhelming to find somewhere for support/answers.

We decided to go the soft paw route with our kitten, especially as she was being spayed and we didn't know how she'd be with her stitches. She pulled them off two of her claws in the first couple of days.

She's sleeping on my lap now and I just noticed that her thumb (i don't know what it is for a cat!) claw is permenantly extended. I'm sure she had the cap on last night or this morning so it's only recent.

Now, the question is, what do I do? It doesn't look red or swollen or sore. I'm thinking it might be where the glue came out of the cap and so now her claw is literally stuck in the extended position. The thumb soft paws didn't seem to fit right (retract into her paw) when they were put on.

I've tried massaging the area and pushing (just a very little) on the claw to see if it will retract. No luck though.

Obviously i'm going to call my vet first thing in the morning if it's not remedied... but is it ok to leave it that long? She's been running around and playing today as usual and as I said, it doesn't look sore. Or should I be trying to find a 24 hour vet tonight?

Also, does anyone know if the glue that comes with soft paws is water soluble? If it is and the glue is why it's extended, at least we can try soaking it tonight.

I read your post, but can't help - hang in there, someone will know ... are you able to go to the soft paws web site? Maybe they would have some infor there?

Sorry,
Gloria

I looked up the website for you ... there's an 800#, too, otherwise, I didn't see anything on the site that would help.

http://www.softpaws.com/faqs.html#18

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Gloria

Thanks Gloria I'd not been to the site, but only because i'd read all through it before we bought them and knew nothing had been mentioned.

As it happens though they have contact e-mail addys and one is for a vet. No doubt that wont be answered tonight, and we can call the vets in the morning. It's worth a shot though.

Thanks again

(D'oh, you replied while I was replying to your first reply (confusing!)).

I didn't notice the number on there before. We don't have a house phone but my husband will be in soon with his cell phone and i'll get him to give them a call Thank you

Really hope they can help - it'll be interesting to know how their customer service is on their 800#.

Gloria

Have you thought of clipping your kitty's claws instead of the soft paws? We do Bijou and Mika's nails about every 2 weeks. With a kitten you may need to do it more frequently though - like maybe once per week.

She's sleeping on my lap now and I just noticed that her thumb (i don't know what it is for a cat!) claw is permenantly extended. I'm sure she had the cap on last night or this morning so it's only recent.

Now, the question is, what do I do? It doesn't look red or swollen or sore. I'm thinking it might be where the glue came out of the cap and so now her claw is literally stuck in the extended position. The thumb soft paws didn't seem to fit right (retract into her paw) when they were put on.

**I don't believe the "thumb" or "dew claw" retracts like the others do. Don't worry....it takes a lot of practice to get them glued on just right!

Originally Posted by taterbug

**I don't believe the "thumb" or "dew claw" retracts like the others do. Don't worry....it takes a lot of practice to get them glued on just right!

Click to expand...

I was thinking that too. At least not as much.

Well, i e-mailed the vet instead of calling - probably a mistake. I got 2 replies and they were both useless.

I gave all the information I could, and probably even repeated some of it. The main points being that the cap has come off and to me it looks like her claw is stuck in an extended position (btw, my husband said the same when he got home, that he thinks that just how that particular claw is).

So I get one e-mail telling me about how the soft paws don't interfere with extension and retraction (i'd made it clear that I was aware of that).

The other telling me that it sounds like i'm seeing the end of the nail cap and not the claw itself (i'd made it clear that the cap had come off).

So, yeah. I'm tempted to write back and tell them they've been of no help - but really, with one e-mail and nothing to look at/no discussion i'm sure I can't blame them for getting teh wrong end of the stick!

I'm sure she'll be fine... i'm just a worry wart too much! Thank you so much for your replies - especially Jen and tater for your thoughts about how that claw retracts.