What's this black thing on my Persian cat's paw after nail trim?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Khufu. You've done the right thing by cleaning his nail, and if it isn't bothering, keep an eye on him for now. If you see him licking it a lot, limping, or signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, pus), have him seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

It looks like your cat’s toenail has been sheared off, probably from an injury, fight or being hit by a car. My best recommendation is to take your car to the vet where they will be able to fully clean the area around the nail, trim the nails if necessary, and give your cat an antibiotic and pain medication if needed. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

It sounds like you are doing everything right and Makaveli's paw does not look infected. You have also done the right thing by stopping the cleaning, as it needs to heal. Keep cleaning it after he uses the litter box, just gently, and keep the cone on him for now. I hope this helps!

Some cats will get this around their nail bed. It's a buildup of skin cells, dust and dirt. If he will let you, you can clean the nail by soaking his foot in warm water and using a soft brush to remove the gunk. If the nail bed is reddened and inflamed, it's a good idea to get him seen by your vet as he may need antibiotics to help him clear it up.

As long as it is not painful , swollen and/or does not have a purulent discharge (pus), there is no need to put an antibiotic on the wound. Of the paw swells or the toe, or if he starts to limp or bother the wound , you should take Stylo to a vet for an exam. Do not soak the paw, as this may damage the new cells that grow to heal the wound.

You can use epsom salt and soak the paws in a solution of water and epsom salt (2 tbsp to 1 gallon roughly) and soak for 15 minutes twice daily. A better balm to use on cracked pads and skin is a product called Bio Balm by Dermoscent. You can get this online easily and it works quite effectively. If the skin around his nails becomes swollen or begins to discharge pus, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine the area for further treatment.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would suspect that this could be from another cat, some other animal or a puncture wound from a sharp object. It sounds as though the lesion is infected with your description. I would recommend soaking the foot in a mixture of betadine and water until you have a light brown solution. Soak the foot with this solution twice daily for 10 minutes at a time. If the foot does not improve, I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at this so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.