My cat has a paw pad callous, but it doesn't bother her. Is it normal?

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 posting the pictures. The hyperkeratosis in the pictures looks very normal in presentation to me. It is rare that hyperkeratosis causes any problems, but if You feel at any time that it is becoming excessive or causing any discomfort then I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

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.

Without pictures and without examining Smudgle, it is difficult to say for sure what the cause is. This could be hyperkeratosis / calus formation, which is benign but can be uncomfortable for some animals. I would recommend having them looked at by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made.

The large central pad seems slightly bigger, maybe due to an injury. Other than that from the photo it looks normal. If she having pain or lameness then take her in for a veterinary exam and treatment. I expect the swelling to resolve in a few days if there was a mild injury. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Moon Cake.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. The spots you are seeing on the bottom of the feet could be secondary to callus formation or previous blister formation from friction or heat when running or coming in contact with hot surfaces. If she goes hiking a lot and walks through gravel, sometimes callus formation can cause these spots to show up. There are pad diseases that will cause discoloration of the pad, however this does not look concerning to me at this point in time. If the feet become swollen or you notice any wounds in between the toes that I would bring this to the attention of a veterinarian and have it examined. Further testing can be performed on this such as obtaining a biopsy of the paw pad. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns. I'm also available via consultation if needed

It’s difficult to see exactly what that is in the photo. I would try to pull it out if it’s moveable. You can also soak the paw in warm water with epsoms salt or an antibacterial solution. As long as she’s not lame I’m not overly concerned about it. Some cats get a callus on their pads, and some have an extra underdeveloped toenail, either of which could be her issue. If she becomes lame or this is painful then please take her in for an exam. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Lucy.