Kitten's claw won't retract anymore

R
Rd73 Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone. I’ve got a little 4-month-old kitten and I’ve noticed today that one of the claws on his front paw won’t retract and looks twisted. He’s walking normally, running and jumping all over the place, but I get the feeling he’s struggling to put weight on it. Whenever I try to have a look or touch his paw, he meows and tries to pull away, which he doesn't normally do. Unfortunately, I live quite a way from the nearest vet and I won't be able to get there for at least another 2 or 3 days. I was wondering if there’s anything I can do in the meantime? Is it serious? Thanks!

Translated from French
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2 answers
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    • L
    Lisaf Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there,

    When I got my three-year-old cat from a rescue, he also had a back claw that doesn't retract anymore, so it’s longer than the others. I’ve seen him get his claws snagged before and pull like crazy, so I reckon he probably did that to his back paw too. If it looks a bit twisted, it might be slightly painful, but my cat gets on perfectly fine with it anyway! :)

    Translated from French
    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there,

    Getting him to the vet, even if it’s in a few days' time, is definitely the right thing to do.

    It could be that the claw is simply too long and your kitten can’t retract it properly anymore. However, since it’s twisted, it’s also possible he’s injured or broken something in his paw, but only the vet will be able to tell you for sure. If your kitten is still playing, it’s usually not too much of a concern.

    The situation might be uncomfortable for him (and stressful for you too!), but as long as he’s moving and playing without any trouble, he’s likely doing okay. It’s hard to know exactly what to do until your vet appointment.

    Have a lovely day,

    Victoire

    Translated from French

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