My 4-month-old cat's paw is swollen and painful. What to do?

There is a good chance she could have an abscess. It needs to be opened and drained and then put on antibiotics for the infection. They can also give her some pain medications to help. If it is not an abscess then they may recommend doing an X-ray and make sure she didn’t break something. So I would have her looked at by tour vet. Hope she feels better soon

Since he goes outside, he could also have an abscess/infection in his paw or he may have an injury. He should definitely be examined by a vet to determine the exact cause. He may need an antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory to treat. Your vet can also take an x-ray, if needed, to help diagnose. There isn't much you can do at home until we know the exact cause of the swelling. Hope he feels better soon.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ouch! Poor Marcel! I would take Marcel to the Vet. If he is otherwise ok, you can wait until the Vet opens. He needs that nail trimmed all the way back, otherwise it is a source of pain. If the toe is swollen the Vet may also provide antibiotics and pain medications for a few days. If he is licking the paw, which is common, try to get an E-collar to stop the licking. He may have to continue to wear it until the tow swelling has improved. Ultimately Marcel will be fine! I hope this helps and I wish Marcel a speedy recovery!

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sorry your cat is having this issue. He may not be in overt pain but he is definitely uncomfortable if he is licking the foot and not wanting to put much weight on it. It is not likely to be a sprain/strain as those don't usually swell up. The foot is either fractured (broken) or there is an infection in the foot. Sometimes the infection enters through a broken nail or a break in the skin of the foot somewhere. Until you can get him to the vet in the morning I suggest you soak the foot for 5-10 minutes in warm epsom salt water (if he will let you). You can do this every few hours. If he won't let you then just leave it alone until the vet can look at it. I don't think it is an emergency. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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!

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.

Unfortunately there are no OTC medications for this issue that would be safe to give Boots. The swelling could be caused by many things, including a small fracture, muscle strain, puncture wound, infection, insect bite reaction, problems with lymphatic flow, etc. Check her skin and between her pads for any punctures, wounds, or bruises. You can try gentle massage to help move any fluid present and an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel for 15 minutes at a time. If the swelling doesn't go down soon, she should be checked out by a vet.