paw injuries

[Gem66s]

I have an 8 months old cat. She is usually all over me, but for the past two days she has been very quiet.

I could kick myself for noticing before, but have had two very buy days - typical!

Anyway, I picked her up today to check her over and noticed that her paws look weird; especially her hind ones.

All paws are dry, but look (in places) like they are slightly crusted (no blood though). The skin on the largest pad on one of her hind legs is actually coming off. Again, though, everything is dry; no blood or puss, etc.

She lets me touch her paws, won't fight me, but she does keep licking them.

I have some antibiotics at home (from her last vet visit - when she was fixed) and have already given her some. I also have some colloidal silver drops at home, but am really not sure how to use them, and don't want to do anything wrong.

I have no clue as to how this happened.

Should I wait and see how she gets on, as she is still walking around, or is this something I should definitely take her to the vet for?

thanks for your help.

[opus88]

Oh poor kitty...yes they are our babies too and do need our care and attention even when it really hurts the old pocket book!
I am so glad you did take her in and get looked after that must be very painful for her and I hope the cream helps alot, lucky infection hadn't set in.
thanks so much for letting us know and keep us posted......for sure teach her NOT to jump on the stove....I hope she's learned now!
give her a hug for me. and my two boys.

[Gem66s]

Thanks opus88, for replying.

I have to admit, that after posting this afternoon I did that my cat to the vet. She acted so different from normal. Well, I was getting very worried.

It turns out that she has pretty bad burns on her feet (no surgery required, though), but they seem to have happened a couple of days ago. It's most likely that she jumped on top of the wood stove in the basement.

I feel so bad!!!  Had I not been so busy, I might have checked her out before.

Her temperature was normal at the vet's, and there is no sign of infection, but the vet gave her a shot of antibiotics anyway, as well as painkillers and a cream for burns.

A bit of an initial shock when it came to $140, but had it been my granddaughter cost would be no issue; and my cats are part of the family, too.  :o)

Anyway, I just wanted to say that it's worth checking your pets if they act different from normal. I guess I'm lucky, and my cat should be fine, but it could have been worse.

I just have to give my cat some lessons in sensing danger from now on.  ;o)

[opus88]

Hi, this is hard for us to help you unseen...has kitty stepped in anything that could be irritating the paws such as road salt or something similar?...try washing and drying them really well is all I can think of.
You can post this question on the ASK AN EXPERT FORUM, simply click on Pets up on top of this screen than on the left hand side you'll see where to click next, they'll give you some help by tomorrow...but I would suggest the kitty see a Vet.
good luck, please post back and let us know how kitty makes out.