Why is there strange stuff stuck between my cat's paw pads?

Poor Ebony! It sounds like his paws may be injured, and he is likely in pain, so I would have him seen by a vet who can check him and treat accordingly. A vet can prescribe pain medication that is appropriate for him, as pain medication for humans can be toxic to cats. They can also clean the area to help reduce the risk of infection and check him for other injuries he may have ended up with after escaping.

Unless that is something Fa-Fa stepped in and is stuck in her fur (you may try to clean this off), that could be maggots. If this is not something that is simply stuck to her fur, I recommend to take her in to see her veterinarian today. Maggots will infect a wound and can cause serious damage. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It sounds like there may be a foreign body in her paw which should be removed. Your kitty may have stepped into something. Thry to wrap him into a towel so he cannot bite you and check his paw carefully. If you can find something stuck in it you can carefully try to remove it. If he really fights you or screams or appears in a lot of pain you should take him to a pet ER for an exam and hopefully they can find the problem.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be serious and he should be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. They would be able to evaluate this further and determine what would be the safest way to get it off. How to get it off depends on the chemicals of the product which they would know with you providing that information and also based on the extent of the damage. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This depends on the extent of it. However, you can consider doing it with a wet towel or just using a towel after wetting the paws to get rid of it. This should work well. Best of luck!

It is possible that James has a small wound in between his toes or affecting one of his nails. It can sometimes be quite difficult to find a wound due the fur and often uncooperative nature of cats. It is also possible that James had a wound that has since closed, but there is dried blood residue on his fur that becomes more apparent when in the moist environment of the sink. If James begins favoring a paw or licking at a particular area, I would recommend that he is seen by a veterinarian. I would also monitor closely for any signs of other discharge or swelling associated with any of his paws.

There is a disease call "plasma cell pododermatitis" that affects the footpads of cats, making them swell and sometimes crack. It's poorly understood, but believed to be an autoimmune disease. Treatment usually consists of a specific antibiotic (doxycycline) which somehow regulates the immune system (again, we don't understand why) and drugs to suppress the immune system (prednisolone or cyclosporine). Sometimes we have to bandage the feet temporarily to help with the pain and to aid healing. Soldier may also need pain medication for a time until he is more comfortable. Your vet should be able to diagnose this condition and start treatment. Good luck.