My kitten born with carpal hyperextension!

**sarah1stmc** · 14th February 2011, 06:32 PM

Hi everyone

I am new here and need some advice please.

My husband spoiled me for my birthday and bought me the most adorable Maine Coon kitten. She came from a breeder of long standing and a very good reputation.
She is 15 wks and has been at home with us for a fortnight, today.

Last week whilst watching her play, I realised how noisy footed she is, particularly on our wooden floors and compared to our BSH's. Its a real thud thud. I thought this may be because of her big feet and not being used to the breed traits, I started looking for comments from others. However, yesterday within a 8hr period, she went from being lively and bouncy, to be lethargic and not eating/drinking. Not wishing to wait, we whipped her into animal E.R.

She was found to have a very high temperature and was dehydrated (which I knew - despite giving her fluids by syringe). They duly treated her and told me to get her checked today at our own vet.

I have just returned from there, where they dealt with the more pressing issues and then I asked them to watch her walk. I have noticed over the past couple of days that she appears to walk on her front legs, with her front feet loose in front. (If a human - is would be like walking on the heels of your hands - with fingers up in the air or just flopping in front)

The vet saw what I saw and upon checking them, was able to bend her toes right back to her legs! Panda did not flinch. She showed no signs of pain or discomfort at all.
Obviously there is a birth defect at play but I can find nothing on the internet that discusses carpal hyperextension 'from birth'. There is lots about after landing from height and injury but nothing congenital.

Please does anyone else have any information or experience of this? I would like to try to find out a prognosis for the future. Our vet suggests X-rays but not until she is a year old, giving her time to grow. My concern is that as she gets bigger, she will be in pain. My vet could not comment, as she has not seen this before.

Also, without trying to sound mercenary, she was very expensive and we had to sign a document accepting full responsibility, after 5 days. I am not saying I would give her up, I am just trying to weigh up all the pros and cons with the future in mind too.

Your comments and advice would be most gratefully received.

Sarah

**sarah1stmc** · 14th February 2011, 06:33 PM

Hi - sorry, I might have hijacked someones thread here.. I apologise if I have. Sarah

**jckkerrison** · 14th February 2011, 08:53 PM

I haven't come across it but hopefully someone will,whatever happens you should get in touch with the breeder straight away,being a good breeder she would want to be kept up to speed on her,she might even have heard of it anyway & be able to help.MC's are very heavy footed as a breed,they can't creep up on you even if they try & I along with another member on here have a cat who each have a leg that turn at such an angle they appear double jointed.MC's are a breed unto themselves,completely different from any other as no doubt you are finding out.
Will keep checking your thread to see what happens & fingers crossed for a good outcome for you & your babe x

**Wendy1969** · 14th February 2011, 09:01 PM

Yes - Alfie has the 'double jointed' leg thing. Sometimes he looks like hes got two knees on each leg!

Afraid I can't help with the carpal hyperextension, but can only echo what jckkerrison says and contact your breeder. Hope your baby perks up soon. Keep us updated x

debbie560 · 14th February 2011, 09:12 PM

Sorry have not had this with a cat before and I am surprised actually the breeder did not notice it, as when Poseidon and also an Abyssinian (which actually came right) we knew as soon as they where born there was something not right straight away.

Keep in touch with your breeder as I am sure they will want to be kept in the loop. I know what you are going through as we have been through a similar trauma with Poseidon who was fine when he was a baby, getting around and stuff, but when he grew and the leg didn't we made the decision to remove it..

Fingers crossed for you and your baby xx

**mcguy** · 16th February 2011, 11:43 PM

I would definitely recommend talking with the breeder. A good breeder should know their own cats the best, and will be very concerned about any possible congenital health issues. I would not rely on the judgment of just one vet, but neither would I let it go and hope for the best. I don't have any experience with joint issues in pets, but there certainly are vet specialists that deal with joints and joint surgery.. I would try to see one of them if possible.

MCs are not dainty cats and can make a fair amount of noise while walking. Our girl Allie can bend her front paws (down and back) so that they nearly touch her leg. It is truly quite remarkable to see her grasp things. I don't see anything unusual about her when she is walking, however.

**jckkerrison** · 17th February 2011, 10:01 AM

My boy is the same,how he sits you would think his leg was broken but what I find weird is that although the leg is bent & at such a strange angle he still sits straight,you would think with the length loss due to the "angle"that he would look as if he was tilting over to one side.
Have to agree with Debbie though that I am surprised that the breeder didn't pick up on anything at all if it is right that babe does have a problem that severe.
Also agree 2nd opinion needed quite quick if that is the case & it is not just one of the MC traits that are after all quite unusual in the feline world sometimes.My boss hadn't seen a MC until my friend had one but now he is getting quite an expert on the breed,lots of new things learnt about them along the way.Our vet that does chiro didn't believe that any breed of "cat"would lay on the table & be manipulated like a dog,he always complained that they didn't give him a chance to work on them long enoughto see if it really helped until two of mine proved him wrong,you can always rely on the MC to be different from all others.....
I hope Sarah soon comes back on to post how babe is getting on both with her temp. dehydration + foot problem too !

**sarah1stmc** · 26th July 2011, 11:52 AM

Hi all

Thank you for your concerns and comments. I thought I would give you an update to my little girls oddity.

To start with, she is happy, healthy and growing well. She came through the dehydration episode unscathed and has been fine ever since.

Due to her funny feet, we decided to have her spay in May. (7 months) Whilst she was under, they x-rayed her feet and then 3 weeks later, we saw an orthopedic surgeon. It turns out, Panda has no ligaments running from her foot to her toes. Without putting her under and investigating further, they can not say whether the ligaments are missing entirely or just so long, that they are useless. It will not improve but it will not get worse. They have advised against repair surgery, as this could make things much worse, both now and as she gets older.

So to close, we are leaving well alone. She is getting around fine, catching fly's in the sunshine, rucking with her new family and for all intents and purposes, all is well in her world.

I do have one final question though....... I have read plenty of evidence that states that MC's are placid, easy going, laid back characters... our 'Madame' however, can be utterly spiteful. Perhaps this is a question for another thread?

Again, to all, thank you for the concern and comments - all would appear to be well in the world on Panda. x

**Carol ann** · 26th July 2011, 02:47 PM

Hi Sarah, glad you are happy with the outcome and your girl is OK. What did her breeder say. I wonder if any of the other siblings had any problems.??