Maine coons often have an extra dew claw that must be removed as it grows into the paw. Sometimes they must take the claw to the side as well.

Hi Patty,
Wow, 26! That’s pretty amazing. For this recent issue you’re experiencing, I’d say there can be several possibilities in terms of underlying causes. For a kitty of this age especially, we should think about some medical changes that may cause restlessness or discomfort.

Some possibilities might include hypertension, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), joint pain and quite a few others. Getting an updated veterinary exam, checking bloodwork and a blood pressure can be helpful because if there is a medical cause that is found, a more direct treatment for an underlying medical disorder can actually lead to improvement.

We can also see a condition called cognitive dysfunction, which is similar to dementia in people. We can have a number of behaviors with this condition but this can include restlessness and difficulty sleeping at night. This is a diagnosis of exclusion though, so we’re more likely to arrive at a diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction after checking for other medical disorders that may cause similar behaviors.

There is a medication called selegiline which is approved for dogs but used off label in cats for cognitive dysfunction. In my own experience it is used uncommonly, but there have been reports that it may be helpful for some cats and can be worth discussing with your vet.

Melatonin can be a good place to start. With our kitties, the form any medication or supplement takes can make a big difference. If the powdered form was not successful, there are other forms you can look into. There are a number of supplement forms online that include chew treat forms and oral drops. Compounding pharmacies, which you would need to work through your vet to utilize, can develop oral forms in a variety of flavors and can even put melatonin into a topical/transdermal form.

I don’t always find that melatonin is successful for everyone. If we’ve checked over other medical/health conditions, there are sedatives that can be tried to help with sleeping at night. Gabapentin and trazodone are just two examples. They are only available as prescriptions and whether they are appropriate or not will depend on your kitty’s health condition.

Sharon, do check out Dr. Lisa Newman’s holistic products and recommendations at http://www.holisticanimalcareshoppes.com/ She offers all sorts of herbal, naturopathic and homeopathic remedies that she formulates, and carries really good food options as well. All 5 of my cats (not all at once! LOL My 2 pairs + a recent rescued kitten) so far have all benefitted from support of various conditions over the last 19 years. I’m especially grateful for the help 2 of her products are providing to my middle-aged shelter cat who I figured out has Hyperesthesia syndrome! Such a BLESSING that she got relief and no longer lives with such fear, anxiety and pain. Dr Newman’s whole team is highly trained in knowing what remedies help with what challenges. Her Calm and Relax formula is amazing – be aware they are temporarily low on stock because of ingredient supply issues, but I think that will be improving soon! Wishing you equally impressive results!

Hi Michael,

Thank you for reading our article and sorry to hear your Maine Coon had his front paws declawed.

Just thought I’d mention it’s worth carrier training your gorgeous kitty prior to your next vet visit. You can learn How To Get A Cat Into A Carrier here https://cats.com/how-to-get-a-cat-into-a-carrier.

Hope this helps a little

Warm regards
Melina

Ohh Sharon, I’m so sorry to hear that, Boo is experiencing grief in conjunction with health issues. Anecdotally cats can grieve between few weeks to six months with individuals manifesting diverse behavioral changes. If you have a holistic vet nearby, it’s worth consulting with them regarding natural therapies which aren’t contraindicated with Hyperthyroidism. Sending healing thoughts to you and Boo, Melina

Hi Sharon, we used dried Valerian and had positive calming results, we also use Silver vine also known as Matabi sticks with varying results from one individual to another. Hope this helps, Melina