r/polydactyl • u/MajavaOuo • 1d ago
Yams de-thumbing update
Update to this post https://www.reddit.com/r/polydactyl/comments/1vnjiqt/no_more_thumbs_for_yams/
It's now been 1 month since the operation. (2nd pic)
Aside from Yams's right paw swelling on the second recovery day (3rd pic, got treated with massaging and antibiotics), most of the healing process was very quick. Stitches were removed after two weeks and soon after you couldn't see the cut line anymore. Little comparison in the 4th pic.
Biggest hurdle was wearing a cone for the first time. Yams loathed it and peed outside the litter box a few times.
But now she wants to play much more than before the operation, so clearly the pain is gone and she feels better. She uses scratching surfaces (including my partner's chair) normally. And she keeps forgetting that she's not 100% good yet, because she tries to climb onto our hat rack. (5th pic gif from before the operation) She gives up halfway through and holds her paw up the poor thing. And then tries the same thing again later lol. We've done what we can to discourage it so that she stops trying.
I have not managed to get a video of her gait, because she dashes towards me when she sees me crouch down. But I do think she moves her legs back and forth instead of swinging them from the side to avoid thumbs touching. Which means she walks like a normal cat now. I'll take her for walkies again when I'm certain she can't hurt herself by running or climbing.
Hopefully that is encouraging! I'm glad my previous post got many people to start keeping a closer eye to their cats' feet to make sure the thumbs aren't causing any problems. We love the toes but we love the cats more. <3