Looking for help with cat's perpetually scaly, cracked paw pads
August 9, 2015 5:32 PM Subscribe
My boyfriend's cat's paw pads are always extremely scaly and cracked, but it doesn't seem to bother him at all. Here's a picture to give you an idea of how bad. Has anyone ever seen this, and if so do you have any advice? Or is this just one of those weird pet things that probably isn't a big deal and you can't do anything about it anyway?
It can't be good, right? I'm constantly noticing little bits of his paws that have flaked off on my furniture. When we cut his nails every couple weeks, we peel off the larger chunks that have started to come loose, and sometimes there are cracked bits that are so big that we need to cut them off with nail scissors.
Kitty is 6, and my boyfriend has had him since he was a kitten. He spent the first several years of his life in Montana, mostly indoors but allowed to go outside when BF was home. For the past 2 years, he has been living in Boston and has been 100% indoors. BF says he can't remember when his paws started cracking, but they've been like that for a while. He thinks he may have stepped in something toxic when he was younger that messed up his pads. We've tried putting bag balm on his paws, but it didn't have much effect (admittedly we didn't follow a very systematic schedule).
Anyone have any ideas?
It can't be good, right? I'm constantly noticing little bits of his paws that have flaked off on my furniture. When we cut his nails every couple weeks, we peel off the larger chunks that have started to come loose, and sometimes there are cracked bits that are so big that we need to cut them off with nail scissors.
Kitty is 6, and my boyfriend has had him since he was a kitten. He spent the first several years of his life in Montana, mostly indoors but allowed to go outside when BF was home. For the past 2 years, he has been living in Boston and has been 100% indoors. BF says he can't remember when his paws started cracking, but they've been like that for a while. He thinks he may have stepped in something toxic when he was younger that messed up his pads. We've tried putting bag balm on his paws, but it didn't have much effect (admittedly we didn't follow a very systematic schedule).
Anyone have any ideas?
What did the vet say?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:41 PM on August 9, 2015 [9 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:41 PM on August 9, 2015 [9 favorites]
Does Kitty have a good scratching post? It's a long shot, but maybe if he's not scratching enough his paws are building up callouses.
I'd hesitate to put any moisturizer on there before you know what this is. Kitty may have a bad response to some moisturizers (he's probably gonna lick some of it off there too) and there are certain flaky skin conditions that are actually made worse by moisturizer. I'd suggest a vet visit, although I'd be surprised if this is anything serious. If you can think of other reasons to take him to the vet, like to get fresh shots or something, I'd say take him in and get a few things done.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 6:11 PM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'd hesitate to put any moisturizer on there before you know what this is. Kitty may have a bad response to some moisturizers (he's probably gonna lick some of it off there too) and there are certain flaky skin conditions that are actually made worse by moisturizer. I'd suggest a vet visit, although I'd be surprised if this is anything serious. If you can think of other reasons to take him to the vet, like to get fresh shots or something, I'd say take him in and get a few things done.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 6:11 PM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Working dogs are sometimes given gelatin supplements to keep their pads from tearing. One of my dogs has a tendency to get scaly, dry pads and gelatin definitely does help make them more supple.
posted by HotToddy at 7:14 PM on August 9, 2015
posted by HotToddy at 7:14 PM on August 9, 2015
This happens to my dog's nose, and there seems to be no explanation (the vet was not worried). I have found that coconut oil helps a lot. Plus coconut oil is good to ingest as well.
posted by Youremyworld at 7:26 PM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Youremyworld at 7:26 PM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Your cat needs to be taken to a vet.
posted by runincircles at 2:14 AM on August 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by runincircles at 2:14 AM on August 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
I can't see the pic, but yes, coconut oil is very good for cats and dogs and they like the taste, so I'd rub some of that on his feet. Do get a vet checkup, though.
posted by vickyverky at 10:07 AM on August 10, 2015
posted by vickyverky at 10:07 AM on August 10, 2015
IANAV but my guess is contact dermatitis from something the cat is regularly walking on. Thus my advice would be:
1) Try a different kind of cat litter
2) Switch to a more gentle floor cleaner and be more diligent about diluting/rinsing when mopping
3) Switch to a "free and clear" style gentle laundry detergent (the kind for people with chemical sensitivities)
4) If cat likes to hang out in sinks and tubs, switch to a more gentle cleanser there as well
posted by Jacqueline at 8:23 AM on August 11, 2015
1) Try a different kind of cat litter
2) Switch to a more gentle floor cleaner and be more diligent about diluting/rinsing when mopping
3) Switch to a "free and clear" style gentle laundry detergent (the kind for people with chemical sensitivities)
4) If cat likes to hang out in sinks and tubs, switch to a more gentle cleanser there as well
posted by Jacqueline at 8:23 AM on August 11, 2015
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posted by joan_holloway at 5:37 PM on August 9, 2015