My Kitten's Claw Doesn't Look Right! What Do I Do?!

[OraShoon]

I just got my new kitten Bby (Baby). She’s approximately 6-7 weeks old. I’m not very sure, my step-father found her and her brother in my papa’s barn a few weeks ago. This weekend I noticed that she was licking/sucking on her paw. I thought she was just cleaning herself, but this was different. She’d do this for at least 30 minutes or for as long as she could without being disturbed. I looked at her paw and I discovered her claw bed was inflamed and the claw was protruding. Also, she’d licked/sucked on her “digit” to the point where her fur on the area was licked off. I think she may have torn it, or something. It isn't bleeding at all, though. I’ve never had this problem with my last cat. She isn't limping and she still plays. I don’t know what to do. Any information would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

[PrettyKitty1]

Please take her to the vet ASAP. There is nothing you can do at home. The claw may need to be amputated, but at least the infection will stop by having a vet treat her. Poor Kitty. Please come back with updates. And, I hope the vet can cure that paw without performing any major procedure.

[OraShoon]

I took Bby to the vet and he told me since she was separated from her mother so early, she developed abandonment issues. So, now she suckles her paw pad just like a baby would their thumb. He said she may eventually grow out of it and that the fur will most likely grow back. The claw looked like it was protruding because of the lack of hair. Pretty silly, huh?

[aligator79]

Nope- not pretty silly.  Until you know for sure, you can't really tell what the issue is.  Sounds like you are a good fur-momma.

I have a cat that will grab something in her mouth and knead on something for a good half hour or more at a time.  This sounds about the same concept.  I got her at 5 weeks from the shelter and momma wasn't there with her- she was found as a stray.  poor thing.

[OraShoon]

Poor baby! My kittens mother ran away. She was gone a good week before my father finally decided they needed some TLC. Bby was the runt and her brother was much stronger than her. After a week of feeding her warm milk from a marinating syringe ( I improvised! lol ) she began gainging weight and now she's happy and playing and I love her to death. Actually last night she began a new habit of suckling on me and my clothes! Instead of letting her suck and irritate her paw pads, I let her suckle my fingers till she falls asleep. I'm begining to feel like her mother and all I want to do is take good care of her :)

[PrettyKitty1]

Please keep an eye on her, k? And, take care of that little one :)