My new kitten has a scab on his paw and back. Should I worry?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If the digit is not painful, swollen or hot to touch, it means that the wound is not infected. From the pictures you posted the healing process looks good. Please, keep an eye on Nibbbler for the next few days. The scab should fall off soon. Once the scab is off please, send us another question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with the pictures of his foot.

I would not be overly concerned with no pain or change in appetite etc but monitor closely for any additional signs or symptoms which may indicate infection in the wound. Monitor also for any changes in the other nails which would raise queries about possible medical causes for nail loss

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.

Unfortunately, there is no way to share photos on the forum, but you can request a consult with an expert online to share as many photos as you'd like. If there is a scab on it, that means it is healing and I would leave it alone for now. Monitor it, and if it doesn't appear to be healing or if the area appears to be infected (redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, pus), then I would take Monkey into the vet for an exam.

It sounds like Ramona somehow injured herself, most likely a puncture wound, and it stabbed over to try and heal itself. The purplish, black is most likely dried up blood. As long as it isn't bleeding or bothering Ramona, and has no signs of infection (yellow/green discharge, foul odor), then i would let it heal on its own. An occasional cleanse with BetDine diluted 50:50 with warm water and a topical very thin layer of Neosprin (don't allow licking for at least 20 mins after application if you can help it) can aid in healing. However if it looks infected or like a deep wound that won't heal well (within 4-7 days), then its best to have your vet look at it and get it treated (i.e. Antibiotics, wound management).

It could be that Ruby sustained a wound from trauma that has caused the scab, and I would monitor it for now for signs of infection. These signs include redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, and puss. Should any of those signs be seen, I would take Ruby into the vet for antibiotics. I would not put any topical treatment on it. Although quite safe on superficial wounds, cats groom and ingest most of the topical ointment you apply and therefore should be used only under direct veterinary supervision and if there are no other appropriate options. Many human ointments contain multiple other ingredients which are not necessarily safe to be swallowed. Hopefully, it should heal just fine on it's own.

I would get this seen by your vet to be on the safe side. It may be a healing scab but it looks a little suspicious of ringworm, and that can be easily spread to other pets and people in your household. Another possibility is an allergy to plastic if they have plastic bowls for food or water, but those lesions tend to be located on the chin and lips, not to one side. Your vet will do an exam, probably pluck some hairs from that spot for a fungal culture and may examine some of the cells under a microscope to see if they can identify the cause. Based n these results they should be better able to tell you why this happened and how best to treat it.