A cat was abandoned in our neighborhood by a family that moved away. At least they didn't leave him locked in the house =\ We've befriended this cat, we call him "Ebony" - a black short-haired domestic with polydactyl paws - he has a extra "thumb" digit on each of his front paws, and my guess is a year or less old at time of posting. We are a little concerned about an abnormal growth on his right front paw. it appears to be cutaneous material, up to a centimeter long, but seems to break off at times and regrow. It is brownish, like a horn, and grows from the side of one of his digits. that digit has a fully functioning / retractable claw besides the abnormal growth. It doesn't appear to bother him a great deal, though it drags on the ground when he walks, and his gait looks to be adjusted for that on hard surfaces. He doesn't react with a great deal of pain or anger if we try to touch this growth, but fusses enough to let us know that he doesn't like us messing with it. my first thought was that he had a small twig somehow lodged in his paw, or a very large thorn, but it is obviously some growth. my concern is mainly that this makes walking uncomfortable for Ebony and wonder if I ought to take something like dog's nail clippers and try to keep it trimmed when I see him. Ebony is a stray, and I don't know any medical history for him - he is not neutered and I can't say whether he has had any vaccinations at all. Could this be indicative of some disease or condition? or just an abnormality, more common in polydactyl cats? I have been around cats all my life, many of them, and never seen this before, though i've known a handful of "mitten kittens" i'm trying to link some pictures here -- hope these show up right in the forum post -- https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,22514,22514#msg-22514Mon, 25 May 2026 19:29:03 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,22514,22557#msg-22557 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,22514,22557#msg-22557
Yes I can just about appreciate the problem from your photos but would need to be able to touch and manipulate it to know what it attaches to and so how to manage it. You may be able to trim it if it is composed of keratin but it would be better if a vet assesses it initially before you start doing that. Any chance of you also getting him neutered and vaccinated. Those two things would also contribute hugely to his well-being.]]> Cathy Wickenden Ask The VetSat, 20 Jul 2013 16:31:27 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,22514,22514#msg-22514 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,22514,22514#msg-22514
We've befriended this cat, we call him "Ebony" - a black short-haired domestic with polydactyl paws - he has a extra "thumb" digit on each of his front paws, and my guess is a year or less old at time of posting.

We are a little concerned about an abnormal growth on his right front paw. it appears to be cutaneous material, up to a centimeter long, but seems to break off at times and regrow. It is brownish, like a horn, and grows from the side of one of his digits. that digit has a fully functioning / retractable claw besides the abnormal growth. It doesn't appear to bother him a great deal, though it drags on the ground when he walks, and his gait looks to be adjusted for that on hard surfaces. He doesn't react with a great deal of pain or anger if we try to touch this growth, but fusses enough to let us know that he doesn't like us messing with it. my first thought was that he had a small twig somehow lodged in his paw, or a very large thorn, but it is obviously some growth.

my concern is mainly that this makes walking uncomfortable for Ebony and wonder if I ought to take something like dog's nail clippers and try to keep it trimmed when I see him. Ebony is a stray, and I don't know any medical history for him - he is not neutered and I can't say whether he has had any vaccinations at all. Could this be indicative of some disease or condition? or just an abnormality, more common in polydactyl cats? I have been around cats all my life, many of them, and never seen this before, though i've known a handful of "mitten kittens"

i'm trying to link some pictures here -- hope these show up right in the forum post --




]]> post Ask The VetSun, 30 Jun 2013 22:56:45 +0000