Why are my cat's paws painful, red, swollen, and have black crust?

I’m so sorry Pebbles is so painful! The paw looks as though it has had some sort of trauma. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. She may need antibiotics, and definitely some cat safe pain medications. In the meantime placing her feet in a bowl of warm water and Epsom salts for 5-10 minutes may decrease some of the swelling and provide some comfort. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I do recommend that she is evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. The reason is that this may be a local infection site which can be painful and cause her discomfort. Another possibility is a traumatic injury which may need further care or even a tumor. They would be able to determine what is going exactly and treat accordingly. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to an infection or a traumatic injury for example. It is difficult to know without being able to examine her. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to start antibiotics if needed. Good luck and have a good night!

Casplan's swollen and cracked paws are very concerning and he needs to be examined by the veterinarian today. Swollen paws can be related to a blockage in the lymphatic or venous systems, an autoimmune disease, something like a rubber bandage around the leg, low plasma protein or a significant blood pressure problem. All of these conditions need to be addressed quickly. The veterinarian will get a better idea of the cause after a physical exam. Best of luck.

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to an infection such as one caused by a fungus though it could be bacterial and it is just not possible to know just based on a description. Usually these infections are not transmitted to humans unless it is ringworm and it does not sound like that so I would not be too concerned about that. I highly recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Just like you indicated, this could be due to a foreign body getting stuck in the digit though other things like a deep infection or even a growth cannot be ruled out. It could even be secondary to her licking at it. For this reason, it is important to rule those out. I recommend a visit to your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and treat accordingly. Good luck and have a great day!