This article was co-authored by Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD. Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Cats sometimes get debris stuck in their paws. You can easily remove it by cleaning your cat’s paws with a damp washcloth to remove cat litter, food, or gravel. If your cat has a splinter or other sharp debris in its paw, you can remove it with tweezers. Be sure to contact your vet if you notice blood, pus, or unusual smells coming from your cat’s paws.
Steps
Cleaning Debris from Your Cat’s Paws
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1Gather your materials. To remove debris from your cat’s paw, you will need a damp washcloth, a towel to wrap your cat in, and a pair of tweezers. If you suspect the debris has punctured your cat’s paw, you will also need a pet-friendly antiseptic.[1]
- Some pet friendly antiseptics include Betadine (cleanser or solution), Burrow’s Solution, and witch hazel.[2]
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2Wrap your cat in the towel. Gently pick up your cat. Pet your cat to make it feel comfortable. Then carefully wrap your cat in a towel, leaving the paw or paws with the debris outside of the towel. Be careful to not wrap the towel too tightly or it could injure the cat.[3]
- If your cat does not like being held, you should grab a friend or family member to help you.
- Wrapping the cat in a towel will help prevent you from being scratched by the cat.
- You can also calm the cat with a treat.
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3Wipe your cat’s paw gently. Using the damp washcloth, gently wipe your cat’s paw or paws. If you are cleaning debris from multiple paws, wipe them one at a time. Gently rub between the pads of your cat’s paws to remove debris like cat litter, gravel, or food. Once you clean a paw, place it back inside the towel.[4]
- If you are cleaning front and back paws, clean the front paws first. Then gently slide the bottom of the towel up so that you can clean the back paws one at a time.
- You can also use your fingers to gently dislodge debris, such as kitty litter, from the cat's paw.
- If there is a splinter in the cat's paw, you should avoid this step until after the splinter or other sharp object is removed.
- It is also okay to scruff your cat while they are on a surface. However, never pick a cat up by the scruff. To scruff a cat, grab the skin on the back of their neck and hold it firmly.
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4Use tweezers to remove sharp objects. Once you have gently cleaned your cat’s paws with a damp washcloth, check to see if there is a splinter or other debris, like glass, lodged in the paw. If you find a splinter or other material lodged in the paw, use the tweezers to gently grasp the splinter. Then slide the splinter out of the cat’s paw at the same angle it entered the skin.[5]
- Exercise caution when removing the splinter.
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5Apply antiseptic. If you remove a splinter or other material lodged in the cat’s paw, you should apply a pet-friendly antiseptic to the area after removing the debris. You should also apply the antiseptic to any scrapes or injuries you locate on the cat’s paws. In general, you should put a few drops on a cotton ball and use the cotton ball to apply the antiseptic.[6]
- If the debris is stuck on, you may even want to soak the cat’s paw in warm water with a little soap added to it. Try filling a bathtub a few inches with warm water and a little soap and have your cat stand in the water for a few minutes so the paw can soak. You will probably need to hold onto their scruff to keep them there for a few minutes.
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6Make an appointment with your vet. If you find a large splinter, shard of glass, or similar debris lodged in your cat’s paw, you should contact your vet immediately. Large pieces of debris can cause significant puncture wounds that will need to be treated by a veterinary professional. You should also see the vet if you notice blood, pus, or unusual odors in your cat’s paws.[7]
Keeping Your Cat’s Paws Free from Debris
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1Clean your cat’s feet daily. Each day you should gently wipe your cat’s paws with a damp washcloth. As you wipe, keep an eye out for debris that might be stuck in the paw. You should also watch out for debris that is caught in the hair between the paw pads.[8]
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2Use a litter mat. Litter is a common type of debris that can get stuck in your cat’s paws. One way to minimize the chance of this happening is to use a litter mat. Choose a litter mat that has angled ridges that are engineered to pull litter out of a cat’s paw. Place the litter mat outside of the litter box so that your cat will have to walk across it when they exit the litter box.[9]
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3Trim long paw hair. Some longhaired cats have excessive hair that grows on their paws and between their toes. This can create an environment for unwanted debris. If your cat has long hair sprouting in between its toes, gently trim it with a small pair of rounded scissors.[10]
Warnings
- If your cat has gotten into something toxic, then they will need immediate veterinary care. Signs may include shaking or trembling, vomiting, diarrhea, or not eating. Remove the debris or material from your cat’s paw and then take them to the vet right away.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ https://www.cuteness.com/article/clean-cats-paw
- ↑ http://beingstray.com/human-medicines-that-work-for-pets/
- ↑ http://www.petful.com/pet-health/administering-cat-medicine/
- ↑ https://www.cuteness.com/article/clean-cats-paw
- ↑ http://www.cat-world.com.au/Cat-Health-Collection/splinters-in-cats.html
- ↑ https://www.scahealth.com/scah/browse/cat-products-cat-critical-care-products-cat-antiseptics-and-disinfectants/_/N-1bepxi4;jsessionid=lF9rugDdZBYHjMbsv31ZfGseubeJ_4LMgwQgnBkM2mnbC8hygL9e!-97074204!1487866036445?No=0&Nr=AND(product.siteId%3AscahSite%2COR(product.catalogId%3AscahCatalog)%2Cproduct.webDisplayFlag%3A1%2Cproduct.suppressDisplayFlag%3A0)&Nrpp=32
- ↑ http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/cat-grooming-tips
- ↑ http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/cat-grooming-tips
- ↑ http://cattime.com/cat-facts/health/10709-how-dirty-are-your-cats-paws
About This Article
If there's large debris stuck in your cat's paw, like glass or a large splinter, take your cat to the vet so they can treat it. However, if the debris is small, you should be able to remove it at home. First, wrap it in a towel with its injured paw left out, so it can be comfortable and stationary while you work. Then, gently wipe its paw with a washcloth to remove any dirt or debris on its pads. If there’s anything sharp, like a splinter or piece of glass in its pads, use tweezers to carefully remove it. When everything is out, use a cotton ball to apply a few drops of antiseptic to the area so it doesn’t get infected. If there’s anything you aren’t able to remove, make sure to visit the vet for help. To learn how to keep your cat’s paws free from debris, read more from our Veterinary co-author.
