I have a cat that has this strange thing with his paws and I can not find any info about this anywhere.

My youngest cat (he is a maine coon cat) has a "thumb" (extra toe) on each of his front paws. This is not the weird thing. The weird thing is the claw on each of the 'thumbs'.

On both "thumbs" he has a double claw. Two sepetate and distinct claws growing out of one toe. The two claws are very close to each other, but are not attatched to each other at all.

I have seen cats with extra toes (thumbs) before.... the cat I had as a child actually had 2 extra toes on each front paw.... but the double claw thing is strange and I can not find any info about it at all.

The problem with the double claw is that the cat can not scratch the double claw very well on the scratching post, and scratching on the post is what helps cats shed their old nails so that the new growth has room.

Because he can not scratch well, he can not shed the old claws very well, so I have to help him by using the nail clippers. The biggest problem is that the double claws are so close to each other that it is difficult to get the clippers in the right place to trim one claw without huring the 2nd claw that is so very close.

Has anyone ever heard of a cat having a double claw - one toe with 2 claws?? Anyone have any hints or tips on how to better trim the claws for him??

Please don't suggest that I have the "thumbs" declawed because I would never have a cat declawed... and the double claw is not hurting him or causing a medical problem, it's just annoying to him to be unable to scratch it on the post properly (although it is amusing to watch him try) and he doesn't really like having me trim them either (but he does sit still because he wants his treat when I am done)
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Anyway, I am wondering if anyone has heard of the double-claw thing or if anyone has any ideas to help me maintain/trim the double-claw better.

Thanks
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Liz

My sister used to raise Maine Coons (had the world champion and an excellent cattery), so she is quite the expert. I'll email her your post and see what she says.

Thank you Julie
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I am jealous that your sister gets to interact with so many Maine Coons... they are such wonderful and beautiful cats.

Thanks
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I think I've read about one of Doody's cats that is a Maine Coon. I'll ask her about this.

Thank you scrabble
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I am have been trying to convince my husband to help me take a picture of the double claws, but he is not excited about this since he just helped me trim them this afternoon... he dislikes helping with these things because he doesn't want the cat to think he is the "bad guy" since he is the one who usually does the holding while I do the nail trimming.

I'm trying to convince him that I will hold the cat while he takes the picture... hopefully by tomorrow I will have a picture
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Liz

Ok, I got a picture
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If you click on the small picture you will be able to see a larger picture that shows the detail better.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Hi Liz~

Wow...interesting. Expecially interesting if there is more of this in a particular breed of cat. Thanks for posting the picture..it really helps to visualize.

I recently found that my little pooch has a back foot claw/nail that curves the wrong way. I haven't yet figured out if the whole "toe" is malformed, or just the nail... but it curves sideways and upwards instead of down.

Cara

Hi Cara,

My dog had 2 claws that grew in the wrong direction.

One of them was the "pinkie toe" on her front paw. This claw always grew outwards (away from the other toes) and the vet could never find a reason because the toe itself was fine. The only "problem" with the claw being sideways was that she would occasionally snag it on things and it was more difficult to trim than her other claws.

The second crooked claw was one of the dew claws on her back leg. This one grew upwards instead of downwards. Again, the vet found nothing that could explain why this claw grew up instead of down. Because it was a dew claw it was no problem at all.

Hopefully, your puppy has normal toes with a weird claw for no particular reason, and hopefully the claw will not bother him.
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Liz

I asked my sister and she had no idea. She suggested posting on some of the cat fancier type websites.

Hi Wittesea
I will post this question for you at my catlovers group.
Maybe with everyone checking someone can find something out for you.