Why are my 5-month-old kitten's paw pads dry, flaky, and cracked?

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.

I am sorry to hear about your kitty! I would recommend an examination by a veterinarian for this issue. Some of his symptoms are consistent with a condition called "pillow foot" in cats, or Plasma Cell Pododermatitis. You can read more about this condition, its symptoms and treatment at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952090 . The treatment is a prescription medication which require a prescription from your vet.

Ideally a cat's paw pads should be smooth. If they are cracked, it could be because they were exposed to harsher conditions (which I would expect if Toothless was outside for 4 weeks). Paw pads should return to being smooth with better conditions and a good diet. If the cracked areas are bleeding, Toothless is licking them, they are swollen or he is limping on them, then I would recommend having your veterinarian examine him. Otherwise, hopefully they will heal on their own. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

peeling paw pads can indicate a diet not high enough in fatty acids, allergies or something more severe like an autoimmune condition. I recommend to play it safe and have Gracey examined by the veterinarian to look into a medical condition. If the vet thinks this is likely related to nutrition, you can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can also wash her in a moisturizing type shampoo for cats though you will them want to keep her from licking the paws (which means she will need to wear an elizabethan collar). Don't use any lotions or creams because she will lick them and they are not meant to be consumed. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It is hard to tell by the picture. I would recommend taking him to a vet to have it looked at since it smells. Odor can be a sign of infection and need antibiotics. It is also possible he has pillow feet This is were the paw pads tear and bleed.

The area looks red and swollen and I'm concerned the area may be infected. It could there is a foreign body in there causing the infection, Mochi may have injured herself, or it could be a growth but not too likely in a kitten her age. Without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. You need to have her seen by a vet to have this diagnosed and treated. I'd see if you can take her into a vet this weekend, or Monday. Best of luck.

The picture is not very clear, but I see some crustiness and possibly some hair loss. I worry about ringworm (a skin fungus) with that type of lesion, because this is also a very common location for ringworm in kittens. It could also be some other infection or due to a scratch or bite. It is not normal though and to determine the cause, you would have to bring her into the vet for an exam. They can take a sample (if needed) and look at it under the microscope to find out what it is. For now, it's best to consider it contagious, because ringworm can be transmitted from cats to people. This is usually self-limiting (will go away on its own), but may need treatment if you start to see more lesions. You can wash it once a day with medicated shampoo labeled for cats (can be found at the pet store). This will help if it is an infection.