kitty with puffy paw pad

[JKC27]

My orange kitty Tucker (he'll be 1 yr old next Thursday!) has a quite puffy pad on his one front paw. Normallly he has the pale pink colour. On this one though it is substantially bigger and basically looks like it is bruised. It doesn't seem to be bothering him at all, as he is running around normally on it, and jumping up and down from things. Cuddly as usual, playfull, all normal otherwise.

Should I give it a couple days, or is there something I can put on it (Polysporin or something)? I have touched it, and lightly squeezed it to see if it hurts him, but it doesn't seem to faze him at all.

Thanks in advance!

[sammiec]

well, well, well look who's back!! I have been wondering about you guys! I hope that Tucker is doing well... pooping alright

As for the paw, he might have something in it. If it's puffy and swollen, but not bothering him he should be fine. The best suggestion would be to bring it up to the vet. I know that it's not really the season, but could he have gotten a bug bite - bee... stepped on a splinter of something broken (glass)?

I hope that everything's alright! Let us know how things go. And keep coming back! We miss the stories of those two critters, Wendel and Tucker!

[JKC27]

sammiec,

Yeah, things are good. I hadn't logged in a looong time. Generally things are super with Wendel. I stopped the lactulose just before Christmas, as he seemed fine, and sure enough he is pooping a-OK. He is actually getting a little chubby, but they are best of friends! They do some wacky things, but hey...they're cats right?! Tucker will be 1 next Thursday in fact.

I have a feeling he probably stepped or jumped on something. I swear I saw a tiny little cut on the same paw a while ago. I just happened to notice it while wrestling with him the other day. Today even, I picked him up and touched it, and even gave it a squeeze, but as I said...didn't faze him one bit. It also kind of appears like the skin is dry. Otherwise though, he is one wacky beast!

I hope to get some new pics of the 2 dudes and post them up. You'd be surprised how dark Wendel has gotten. Has more of a tabby look now on his sides, but still the exotic looking 1/2 siamese, blue eyes, etc on his face.

Sorry, for being away, but I was reading, just not much to post. Also, it is hard sometimes when my only daytime access is thru the pc's at work.

[Kittios]

Hello,
About 2 years ago (maybe even longer) I took in my male cat to the vet because I noticed his front paw was puffy and looked funny to me. I went to my regular vet and had a biopsy done on his paw. I was told that it is a tumor and that it might come to me having to amputate his paw. I was in horror. I was terrified by the idea. She sent me to an oncologist at the Animal Medical Center (the greatest place for animals). After they reviewed the slides again, they knew with certainty that it was pododermatitis. During the time between going into the regular vet and going to see the specialists, his other front paw puffed up too. I didn't know what to make of it so I researched it myself on the internet. Apparently, it's not as rare as I thought it would be.
After the oncologist determined that it was not at all a tumor, I started seeing a dermatologist who is taking pretty good care of the paws. My kitty actually developed this in three of his paws, although the third one isn't as inflamed as the two front ones. They stay mushy and that doesn't ever go away, but as long as you have a good vet treating it, it can be maintained / controlled. If you don't take care of it though, it can become ulcerated and even bleed. It's important to find a good dermatologist. It doesn't seem to bother him.

If you'd like to ask me any other questions, you can email me at vze39zsw@verizon.net

Hope this helps.