How to Improve Your Cat's Dry Paws

When it comes to your cat's paw pads, it's common to wonder what's normal and what's unusual. The most common concern for cat owners is paw dryness.

The short answer: Cat paws should be generally dry, but not to the point of being rough or cracked. If your cat's paws are overly dry, this article offers potential causes and solutions. 

"This topical hemp paw balm for cats has worked wonders for pets with dry paws and noses."

This article discusses the following issues:

• What causes your cat's paw pads to crack?

• Essential care tips for your cat's cracked paw pads

• CBD Balm for your cat's paw pads

Essential Care for Dry Cat Paws

Let's take a look at some of the things you can do to help moisturize and protect your feline friend's paws. The following tips aren't too difficult, so it shouldn't be hard to implement them into your cat's life.

Care Options for Cracked or Dry Paws

There are a couple of things you can do to help your cat's paws recover; topical remedies, and cleaning practices that can support recovery. Let's look at a few easy options for you to use at home.

1. Coconut Oil for Moisturizing

Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer that may potentially help heal dry cat paw pads.

How to Use Coconut Oil for Your Cat's Paws:

Apply coconut oil gently to affected areas, allowing the oil to absorb into the skin before your cat licks it off. Do this once or twice daily until you see the desired effect. It may take a few days for effects to show.

2. Olive Oil

Similarly, olive oil may also help moisturize cracked paws with moisture and potentially alleviate cracked paws. It also contains vitamin E which can help with irritation discomfort.

How to Use It:

Apply a small amount to your finger and rub it gently onto your cats paws. Continue this once or twice daily; you should see whether or not it will help your cat within the first few days of use.

3. Shea Butter

Shea butter is another effective natural remedy for maintaining paw softness. Its rich moisturizing properties may help remedy painful paw cracks and prevent further damage.

How to Use It:

When applying any moisturizer, gently massage it into the paw pads to ensure proper absorption and to stimulate blood flow.

4. Essential Oils only Under Veterinary Guidance

Essential oils can be beneficial when used under veterinary guidance.

Make sure to use pet-safe essential oils because some essential oils such as Wintergreen oil, Peppermint oil, Pine oil, and Eucalyptus are not safe for cats.

Cleaning Your Cat’s Cracked Paw Pad

Establish a regular cleaning routine using a soft cloth to gently clean your cat's paws. This helps remove dirt and debris while allowing you to check for any developing issues. Use warm water and avoid harsh soaps that could irritate their sensitive paw pads.

Prevent Future Cat Paw Dryness

To help prevent cracked paws on your cat, here are some measures you should consider:

• Regularly maintain your cat’s paws

• Try to provide a conducive environment for your cat’s paws

1. Regular Paw Maintenance Routines

Maintaining healthy paws requires consistent attention and care. A routine paw inspection should be part of your regular pet care schedule.

How to Inspect Your Cat's Paws

During these inspections, carefully examine your cat's paw pads for any signs of dryness, cracking, or injury.

• Pay close attention to the spaces between their toes, as foreign objects can often become lodged in these areas.
• Use a damp cloth to gently wipe their paws, particularly after they've been walking on dirty surfaces or using the litter box.

This simple practice helps remove potentially harmful substances and allows you to check for any developing issues with their paw pads.

Nail Care is Another Important Aspect of Paw Care

• Keep your cat's nails trimmed and in good shape to prevent them from catching on surfaces or growing into the paw pads.
• Regular trimming also reduces the risk of injury and helps maintain proper paw alignment when walking.

Keeping Your Home Environment Safe for Paws

Creating a safe environment is crucial for preventing cracked paws. Protect your cat from exposure to hot or cold surfaces by limiting their access to extreme temperatures.

• During warmer months, avoid letting them walk on scorching pavement, and in winter, protect them from icy conditions that can damage their paw pads.
• Maintaining appropriate humidity levels in your home can significantly impact paw health. Dry air can contribute to dry paws and cracked paw pads.
• Consider using a humidifier during dry seasons or when running heating systems to help maintain paw softness and prevent painful cracks.
• Provide safe walking surfaces throughout your home. Avoid rough surfaces that could damage paw pads, and ensure your cat has access to appropriate scratching posts and climbing surfaces that help maintain natural paw conditioning.

Paw Monitoring and Progress Assessment

Regular monitoring is essential for tracking healing progress. Check for signs of improvement or deterioration in your cat’s paw pad condition.

• Watch for signs of pain or discomfort, such as limping, excessive licking, or reluctance to walk on certain surfaces.
• Pay attention to potential infection indicators, including redness, swelling, or discharge.
• Keep track of healing progress by documenting changes in paw pad condition and responding promptly to any concerning developments.

What Causes Cracked Paws on Cats?

Your cat’s paw pads are naturally meant to be tough, but some unfavorable conditions can cause them to crack. As a pet owner, you need to know what these conditions are so as to manage them better, they include:

• Weather and Temperature

• Skin Health and Medical Conditions

• Nutrition

• Grooming

1. Weather and Temperature

Hot Outdoor Surfaces

Most homes have cement pavements which may get very hot during warm months. Your cat has to frequently use these sun-heated pavements when they are on their usual walks, which can cause your cat’s paw pads to crack and potentially burn.

Your cat’s paw pads are tough but the frequent exposure reduces their strength.

Cold Outdoor Surfaces

Hot pavements are not the only ones to watch out for, as cold surfaces also pose a risk to your cat’s paw pad. Ice, snow, and freezing temperatures during winter seasons can cause your cat’s paw pads to become brittle and easily susceptible to cracking.

It’s the cold surfaces and dry air combination which creates a perfect storm for your cat's paw pads to start cracking.

Dry Air

The presence of dry air, particularly common during warmer months or in heated indoor environments, can significantly impact paw softness. In low-humidity conditions, human skin can become dry and may start to crack, your cat’s paw pads can suffer the same effects.

Your indoor heating systems often reduce air moisture levels and contribute to dry paw pads which can crack easily.

Rough or Rocky Ground

Rocky ground and rough surfaces are also a threat to your cat’s paw health. When cats use these tough terrains, their paw pads endure increased friction and pressure.

Over time, this constant exposure to rough surfaces can wear down the natural protective layers of the paw pads, leading to cracked paws and potential injury.

2. Skin Health and Medical Conditions

Your cat's overall skin health is important in maintaining healthy paws. You should understand that various underlying health issues can manifest in paw pad problems.

Systemic conditions that affect your cat’s skin health often impact the paw pads first due to their constant use and exposure to environmental stressors.

Infection and inflammation are common health issues that can affect your cat's paw pads. When your cat develops infections in their paws, it may lead to swelling and discomfort.

Signs of Health Conditions Manifesting in Your Cat's Paws

These conditions may cause the cat to try and relieve itself of the pain by excessively licking their paws, which may cause more problems. Signs that your cat’s paw pads are infected are when:

• Their paw pads appear red

• Their paw pads are warm when touched

• There's discharge from their paw pads

• They are limping

• They are excessively licking their paws

3. Nutrition Deficiencies

Your cat's diet plays a vital role in maintaining healthy paws. An inadequate cat's diet that lacks essential nutrients can affect their overall skin health, including the condition of their paw pads.

For example, insufficient intake of essential fatty acids can lead to dry, brittle paw pads that can easily crack.

Dehydration

Dehydration represents another significant nutritional concern affecting paw health. When your cat doesn't consume enough water, it can lead to dry paws and overall skin dryness.

4. Grooming

You should also watch your cats' grooming habits. When irritants come into contact with their paws, cats may respond by excessively licking the affected areas.

While this is a natural cleaning response, excessive licking can lead to further irritation and damage to the paw pads.

Stress-Induced Grooming

Stress-induced over-grooming represents a serious behavioral issue that can affect paw health. If your cat is experiencing anxiety or environmental stress, they may focus their grooming behavior excessively on their paws which leads to raw, damaged paw pads.

This behavior calls for attention to both the immediate paw pad issues and the underlying stress causes.

Foreign Objects & Grooming

Foreign objects stuck between toes can also trigger excessive grooming responses. Your cat may persistently lick and bite at their paws when they feel something trapped between their toes and in an attempt to do so, they damage their paw pads.

As you have noticed, licking their paws is a common remedy they use to alleviate most of their discomfort, always watch out for this and calmly chime in to try and help them.

CBD Balm for Your Cat's Paw Pads

As an additional remedy to your kitty’s paw pads, consider CBD balm which may potentially provide relief to your cat. Many pet owners are turning to CBD balm as an alternative solution for their cat's paw pad problems, but why? Let’s look at some of CBD's potential benefits:

CBD Potential Benefits for Cats

CBD balm has gained attention for its potential therapeutic properties in helping to care for various paw conditions.

Support for Painful Paws

For cats suffering from painful cracks in their paw pads, CBD's natural anti-inflammatory properties may provide significant relief. When properly applied to cracked paws, CBD balm can help manage discomfort and support the healing process of damaged tissue.

Support for Outdoor Cat Paws

CBD can be especially helpful for outdoor cats who frequently encounter rough surfaces or indoor cats dealing with litter box-related irritation. The relief can help maintain paw softness and prevent further damage to sensitive paw tissues.

Moisturization & Skin Health

Several studies show that CBD may support skin health in cats. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in maintaining healthy skin barrier function. For cats with dry paw pads or ongoing skin health issues affecting their paws, CBD balm may help maintain your cat's moisture levels.

References

1. Learn more about CBD's Potential Therapeutic Benefits for Your Cat

2. Learn more about essential fatty acid's benefit for cats with cracked paw pads

3. Learn more about the effects of cats excessively licking their paw pads

4. Learn more about cat's paws infections

5. Learn more about the potential benefits of essential oils in treating cat's paws and skin-related issues