Declawed cat

Question
QUESTION: Hi Jana, I have a 15 1/2 year old cat who was declawed many years ago.  Sometimes she develops little calcium deposits on her toes.  She usually gnaws on them for a couple of days and they fall off.  However, right now she's got a fairly long one.  When she tries to bathe, it takes quite a bit of hair off.

Is there any reason I couldn't clip those deposits off with finger nail clippers?  I can't imagine any blood runs into these little deposits, she chews them off herself all the time, but this one is a quarter of an inch long, or longer.

Thanks in advance!

ANSWER: Well this is a first on me. I have never heard of that or seen it either. I guess it would be fine since you're correct, there shouldn't be any blood supply running to these. Are you sure they are calcium deposits and not errant toenails?

I have seen deformed nails grow out of these cats feet before due to botched up declaw jobs, but never calcium deposits.

I would nip a little off at a time until its short just to be sure there is no blood supply in there. Be careful!



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi!  Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.  I've been googling since I last emailed you, and evidently this is called a 'Horned Paws' or claws.  I see there's often underlying problems with this, or it's related to serious health issues, or that it happens for unknown reasons too.  My cat is 15 and she's had these for years.

Does that change the diagnosis?  I'm still assuming there's no blood in these little 'horns.'  Would it be okay to trim them a little bit at a time?

Thanks again!

Answer
Just for the record, I am not diagnosing anything. I just said to cut them a little bit at a time to avoid cutting her in case there is something of a quick there.

If she has had them for years then they are probably harmless. Just be careful is all.