Should I splint my polydactyl cat's curled toes if he walks fine?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend taking Gray to a vet for xrays of the foot to see what malformation it is. If Gray is still able to move well and not in pain, then I would let it go without treatment. Cats (and dogs) do well on 3 limbs if necessary but if he’s in pain it needs to be addressed. Once a vet sees the malformation they can discuss treatment options if needed. Good luck and kisses to Gray!

Unfortunately splints often fail to repair the fracture perfectly and many cats will remain with a slightly deformed leg, this could resolve with time but it could also stay this way for life, only time will tell. ideally you should take him to your vet in order to have an xray done and this way your vet will be able to see if it healed properly or not.

Yes, I would discuss surgical removal with your vet. It is likely causing pain when he is walking. It will be interesting to see the x-ray of his paw! Simply trimming it down won't help much, he needs to have the nail and the associated bone removed to prevent continued growth.

This kitten will need to be seen by a veterinarian. It may be possible to orthopedically treat the kitten by applying braces or similar means to help it strengthen its front legs. It is necessary for the kitten to be examined and treated as it will not be able to walk properly on the front legs like this, making it prone to injuries and infections.

This claw looks very malformed - I wonder if he had previous trauma to his toe. If he’s never had an x-ray of his foot it might be a good idea to make sure the bones in his toes look normal. If he doesn’t limp he may not be significantly painful, but if he does limp pain medication, joint supplements or even amputation of the toe might be indicated.

It is impossible to know what is causing him to be lame without an examination. The best thing would be to have a vet take a look at him to do an orthopedic examination and take an xray, if needed, to determine the exact cause. He could have an infection, fracture, or strain/sprain. Once diagnsed, your vet can decide the best way to treat his problem. He may just need an antibiotic and/or an anti-inflammatory/pain medications. I hope Smokey feels better soon!

Usually with cats they do better without splints, bandages, braces. They do not like having things on them. If the limp is not consistent and it is only once in a while I would not bother with a brace. Honestly it is going to be more trouble than it's worth. Many times these things bother us more than they bother them. I don't know how old Mochi is but if he is a young kitten then sometimes once the ligaments strengthen the condition may resolve. What you can do is give him a good joint health supplement which should make him more comfortable. These supplements come in many different forms (Iiquid, powder, chews, etc) so just find one that he likes and will take readily. https://www.viovet.co.uk/Cat_Joint_Care/c142/ Hope this helps. Best wishes.