Why is my 7-month-old kitten obsessively licking his front paw?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to know exactly what is needed without an examination though this does sound severe enough that it warrants an evaluation by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check if further surgery is needed or possibly treat for a likely infection and most importantly start Selina on medications for pain as this is likely painful. In the meantime, you may use an e-collar to prevent licking. Good luck and have a great day!

This is commonly due either to akin problem or to ostheoarthritis (OA) affecting the hips and back legs joints. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antiinflammatory medications may be needed for OA. 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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hey there, Sorry to see about Kovu licking himself obsessively. I can see that he has really made his skin very inflamed. A somewhat common problem in cats called Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex (EGC) comes to mind when I see this photo, specifically because the middles and backs of his hind legs are affected. If this is the cause, it likely has nothing to do with his seizure disorder or phenobarbital. These lesions can easily develop secondary bacterial infections though, which may require antibiotics. Tackling EGC often involves a bit of trial and error to figure out what works best for each cat. Some cats only ever break out once or twice in their lives, and some cats need to have a special hypoallergenic diet, consistent flea control, and allergy medications throughout their whole lives. It is generally something that can be managed well once it is under control. Here is a link for more information about EGC: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951528 I'd recommend getting Kovu into his veterinarian in the next 48 hours to have him examined and his itchiness addressed. They can talk to you more about their clinical findings with Kovu and what diagnostics are needed and what treatment is best for him. I hope this helps. Thanks for using PetCoach.

It may be a contact allergy to something in the environment. I suggest you put an E-collar on him to stop the licking and apply this spray to the affected area. If after a week it is not better then take him to your vet for an exam. ( https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Cute-Comfy-Cone-Water-Resistant/dp/B01M9I7NGK/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=cat+soft+e+collar&qid=1580747169&sr=8-2 ) ( https://www.amazon.com/Vetericyn-Plus-Feline-Wound-Skin/dp/B01M28PQLR/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=vetericyn+cat&qid=1580747200&sr=8-8 )

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Excessive licking can be related to skin infection between the toes, skin inflammation or an allergy. A visit at your local vets is recommended to make the definite diagnosis and to start treatment for Koda. In the meantime, try and stop Koda from licking the paws as he will likely make the skin more inflamed. Using a head collar or bandage the paws (and change the bandage daily) may be necessary.

Sometimes this type of behavior can be a soothing/comforting behavior. Pets will do this when they are in a very comfortable place. To be safe, examine her paws frequently. Look around the nail base, and in between the toes and the pads. If you see any redness, scabbing or brown or yellow discharge, this generally indicates an infection and she should be checked by her veterinarian. I hope you found this helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.