My cat has sudden hard spots on her paw pads. Should I be concerned?

This could be due to a hyperkeratosis of the pads. Hyperkeratosis is a thickening of the skin which can occur in cats and dogs when too much keratin, or the fibrous proteins that comprise the outer layer of skin, is produced. This leads to excessive skin, which becomes hard, thickened, dried out, and callous-like. Usually is completely benign and no further action is needed.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It certainly could be a benign keratin accumulation on the paw pad, which should not cause discomfort for Zoe. It could also be a focal inflammatory reaction if she stepped on a sharp object. I would monitor it for now, and if you notice any changes to the bump or if it begins to irritate Zoe I would have it evaluated by her veterinarian. It is very rare to see malignant types of masses/growths in young kittens, so I would not suspect this is the case.

I don't see any obvious abnormalities in the picture, but I would have to examine it in-person to appreciate the problem you are concerned about. Callouses will normally form on the pad, so this may be a normal change. The pad can also have changes with injuries or a condition called pododermatitis. Below is a link to more information about pads problems and explains what to watch for. https://www.petcoach.co/article/cracked-paw-pads-and-other-foot-problems-in-cats-explained/ I hope that helps and all is well with Riley.

These are skin hyperkeratosis (thickening of the stratum corneum of the epidermis/most superficial skin layer). A check up and possibly a sample of it can be taken to confirm diagnosis. They can be mildly painful and possibly grow even more than now. Surgical excision is usually resolutive but not strictly necessary. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Based on your photos, this looks like pigmented areas of the paw pad, which can be normal in some cats. If the areas are not raised or painful then this is likely the case. If, however, the colored areas are a different texture/raised or seem painful/sensitive then a veterinary exam is recommended.

Those could be healing injuries to the paw pad or it could be related to how she walks. Make sure your pet is not licking them as this can make it worse. Certainly you can have your pet examined by the veterinarian and this will likely get your answer at the fastest. Otherwise you should check the feet every day. If they are not significantly improving within a week time, have your pup examined. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I have seen some cats develop long horny type growths on their paw pads. Possible causes are: papilloma or squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease), both caused by papillomavirus. Excision or treatment with imiquimod, retioid cream, or salicylic acid should be effective. If it doesn't bother Spooky, it most likely won't hurt to leave it alone (unless it becomes more malignant in behavior). It could also be benign hyperkertinized growths. They may need to be managed with sanding dows and or clipping regularly. You can also try Kerasol which is OTC or Snout Soother by American Dog co to help keep them soft. You can apply this 1-2 times daily. It may be best to have your Vet see the area first! Good luck