Feral Tom with front claws that look like thin roots

[uwharries]

A feral Tom lives behind my apartment. I feed him and try to keep the fleas off him. He is very gentle and loving, probably left behind by apartment dwellers.

He has long gnarly discolored front claws. However sometime between yesterday and today his claws seem gone and replaced by what looks to be shredded plant roots. However they do not pull loose and appear to be where his claws were. He doesn't seem to have difficulty walking but worried about him. I am an elderly disabled and impoverished guy. No longer drive and while I can feed him and buy and apply flea meds I don't think I can get him to the vet. Any idea what is going on?

[uwharries]

Here is a pic of said paws

[Mollycat]

Sure. He has dry grass caught up in his claws probably from burying his poop, and his claws are neatly tucked away inside his toes where they go when a cat retracts them.