---
title: "Paws and Purrs: The Importance of Feline Paw Health and Care"
description: "Essential tips for cat paw care, including routine claw trimming, inspecting paw pads for injuries, and choosing cat-safe litter."
date: "2015-03-03T12:42:18Z"
author: "Just Cats Clinic"
canonical: "/paws-and-purrs-the-importance-of-feline-paw-health-and-care/"
---

# Paws and Purrs: The Importance of Feline Paw Health and Care


If you’ve ever injured a foot, you know how debilitating it can be. Having to limp around because of a cut, sore, or
other trauma can really limit your mobility and cramp your style! The same goes for our feline friends, making paw
health an important part of your cat’s care.

So how can you help your cat stay “happy-pawed?”

- **Always talk to your veterinarian if you notice that your cat is licking their paws obsessively, limping, or favoring
  a leg.** This behavior can indicate a variety of issues, so it’s best to have your cat examined if you’re noticing
  these symptoms. Obsessive licking can be a sign of dermatological issues, food allergies, or even anxiety. Limping or
  favoring a leg can be a sign of internal injury or even arthritis in a senior kitty.
- **Wipe your kitty’s paws with a damp cloth once a day, making sure to check between the toes and around the pads.**
  Your cat’s feet should be kept as clean as possible, meaning free of litter, dirt, and household chemicals. Keeping
  chemicals off your feline friend’s paws is especially important, as they may be ingested during the grooming process
  and cause toxicity. For outdoor cats, make sure to clean their paws each time they come back inside. By wiping each
  time they go in and out, you remove pollen and potential toxins they may have picked up.
- **Inspect your kitty’s paws for cuts, sores, swelling, or splinters.** In addition to being very painful, those
  injuries can cause potentially dangerous infections. If your cat has a prominent and obvious splinter, contact your
  veterinarian immediately. Attempting to remove it yourself can potentially cause more damage and pain for your cat.
- **Clip your cat’s claws regularly.** This will help prevent its nails from getting caught painfully when it
  scratches things. Most cats do not like it when their claws are trimmed, but gently massaging your kitty’s paws
  helps get it used to having someone touch its paws and makes the process a little easier. To clip the nails, carefully
  apply pressure to the top of your cat’s foot and the cushioned part underneath. This will cause your kitty to extend
  its claws. Then clip the very ends, making sure not to get too close to the base of each nail (which can cause pain).
  Your vet can help you with recommendations about which clippers to use and can even do the trimming if your cat is
  less than cooperative.
- **Certain long-haired breeds may need the hair between their pads trimmed.** Contact a groomer or your veterinarian
  before trying this at home. When and if you try it at home, always use a rounded pair of grooming scissors to minimize
  potential accidents. It’s incredibly easy to cut your cat’s skin accidentally and cause a painful injury.
- **Talk to your vet about how to protect your cat’s paws in hot and cold weather.** Just like our feet are sensitive
  to extreme temperatures, your kitty’s paws can dry out and crack in those conditions. Your veterinarian can
  recommend products to keep them moisturized. Additionally, for outdoor cats, make sure you are keeping their pads
  clean of de-icing chemicals that, if ingested, can be toxic or can cause painful sores on their feet if left for too
  long.
- **Find alternatives to declawing.** Declawing is a painful surgery in which a portion of your cat’s toes are
  amputated. Some cats also develop foot problems in the future as a result of the operation. A scratching post and
  regular nail trimmings can be much less painful ways to curb destructive scratching of your furniture. Contact your
  veterinarian for more helpful tips.