Clean and covered cat claws
June 15, 2011 3:28 PM Subscribe
What can I use to cover my cat's paw?
For the past 8 months or so, Ferocious Joseph has had a nailbed infection.
Yes, I know it's weird—vets are stumped, he's had a million blood tests come back normal* and their current recommendation is basically "just try some stuff."
So we are. We're giving him occasional courses of antibiotics and a steady regimen of immune support pills, and we're spraying his claws twice daily with Vetericyn, which seems to be helping. But then he just sits and bites his nails for ridiculous amounts of time, and digs in his litterbox for even ridiculouser amounts.
We put a cone on him to curb the nailbiting, but I want to protect his feet from the litterbox too.
Has anyone had success covering their cat's (front) paws? What did you use? I'm considering a condom-type solution, secured with surgical tape, but Joe's looking at me funny and I'm wondering if he's right.
Please help me beat this infection beastie. I want to create a clean, covered environment where we have a fighting chance!
*Except that he has next to no white blood cells. Never has. Just FYI—it has nothing to do with the question at hand.
For the past 8 months or so, Ferocious Joseph has had a nailbed infection.
Yes, I know it's weird—vets are stumped, he's had a million blood tests come back normal* and their current recommendation is basically "just try some stuff."
So we are. We're giving him occasional courses of antibiotics and a steady regimen of immune support pills, and we're spraying his claws twice daily with Vetericyn, which seems to be helping. But then he just sits and bites his nails for ridiculous amounts of time, and digs in his litterbox for even ridiculouser amounts.
We put a cone on him to curb the nailbiting, but I want to protect his feet from the litterbox too.
Has anyone had success covering their cat's (front) paws? What did you use? I'm considering a condom-type solution, secured with surgical tape, but Joe's looking at me funny and I'm wondering if he's right.
Please help me beat this infection beastie. I want to create a clean, covered environment where we have a fighting chance!
*Except that he has next to no white blood cells. Never has. Just FYI—it has nothing to do with the question at hand.
My parents had to cover their lab's paws when he cut them up while being boarded (best guess: playing too hard on a gravel road), and their best, cheapest solution was packs of inexpensive cotton baby socks, which have built-in elastic to hold them on. YMMV, since cat feet are smaller and dogs don't have litter boxes.
posted by deludingmyself at 3:38 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by deludingmyself at 3:38 PM on June 15, 2011
I've seen the baby sock recommendation for cats, too. Though folks did say to pull the sock up over the 'elbow' and then wrap adhesive tape around the top of the sock (not on the fur obviously). They also recommended wrapping the cat in a towel before attempting this. ;)
posted by likeso at 3:44 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by likeso at 3:44 PM on June 15, 2011
You could use vetwrap around the leg above the sock, it might help it stay on. (yes, affiliated. But it's a well-known product)
posted by cabingirl at 4:29 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by cabingirl at 4:29 PM on June 15, 2011
Coban/Vetwrap. It's stretchy and sticks to itself. By itself or with a baby sock. He is so ferocious!!
posted by freshwater at 5:02 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by freshwater at 5:02 PM on June 15, 2011
Be careful with the Coban/Vetwrap especially on extremities. I've seen animals have to get their toes and legs amputated because their owners well meaningly applied bandages that were too tight and left on for too long. Consult your vet first and if they think bandaging is a good idea, get a how-to lesson. A better idea might be to switch litter to something pelleted like Yesterday's News. It won't get embedded in cuts/sores/etc. as easily as clay litter. It's often recommended for cats recovering from declawing for just this reason. Good luck, he's VERY handsome!
posted by troublewithwolves at 5:30 PM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by troublewithwolves at 5:30 PM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would not put anything non-breathable on his foot, it's likely to make the infection much worse. Anything that would get wet in the litterbox also seems very problematic. I think it's actually more sanitary to have his bare paws in there. Perhaps change to a litter with larger particles so they can't get caught in his pads and claws as easily. I would keep the litterbox as clean as possible (which I imagine you are probably already doing), and wipe his paws off with sanitary wipes when he gets out.
BTW, if he digs excessively in his box, have you tried changing things about it? Larger size, different litter, different place?
posted by oneirodynia at 5:45 PM on June 15, 2011
BTW, if he digs excessively in his box, have you tried changing things about it? Larger size, different litter, different place?
posted by oneirodynia at 5:45 PM on June 15, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone.
We've tried every type of litter in the store, starting with Yesterday's News, but it did *nothing* for odor, and the cats didn't like it much. We're using corn litter now, and changing it all the time.
I'm pretty good at wrapping things on humans, so I think I'm going to start with the sock-to-the-elbow plus vetwrap/coban suggestion, and definitely changing it often. He's due for a vet appt soon, so I'll bring up any concerns about wrapping there too.
He's a stubborn one, so fingers crossed...
posted by TG_Plackenfatz at 6:20 PM on June 15, 2011
We've tried every type of litter in the store, starting with Yesterday's News, but it did *nothing* for odor, and the cats didn't like it much. We're using corn litter now, and changing it all the time.
I'm pretty good at wrapping things on humans, so I think I'm going to start with the sock-to-the-elbow plus vetwrap/coban suggestion, and definitely changing it often. He's due for a vet appt soon, so I'll bring up any concerns about wrapping there too.
He's a stubborn one, so fingers crossed...
posted by TG_Plackenfatz at 6:20 PM on June 15, 2011
With a dog chewing on his foot, I put a shirt on him, long sock over the foot and up the leg, and pinned the sock to the shirt.
posted by galadriel at 8:01 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by galadriel at 8:01 PM on June 15, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by infinitywaltz at 3:36 PM on June 15, 2011