Cats have very sensitive paws. Because of this, it's important to take good care of them. In this article, we will go over a few tips to help you keep your cat's paws healthy. 

It's important to know that factors such as the cold, snow, and high temperatures can be detrimental to your cat's paws. In order for cats to get around comfortably, they need to have healthy paws. 

Take care of your cat's paw pads

Regular grooming sessions

Because cats have fragile paw pads, it's important to make efforts to keep them healthy on a regular basis. Keep an eye on the condition that your cat's paws are in, especially if your cat has access to the outdoors. If you check your cat's paws regularly, you will be able to react quickly if your cat has any issues related to their paws. 

Protect you cat's paw pads from the snow

In the winter, cats are exposed to several external discomforts such as the cold, frost, snow, and salt on the streets. To prevent your cat from getting hurt, make sure to inspect your cat's paw pads and wipe them every time that they come back from an outing.

In order to keep your cat's paw pads safe in the cold, consider giving your cat some socks.

Keep your cat's paw pads hydrated

The paw pads of cats are sensitive to both the cold and the heat. When the temperatures rise, it's possible for cats to have different types of injuries such as burns, bleeding, or cracks.

For this reason, it is important to hydrate your cat's paw pads, both in the summer and in the winter. You can do this by putting vaseline or olive oil on your cat's paw pads one to three times per week.

Take care of your cat's claws

Trimming your cat's claws is important. This is especially the case if they spend their days indoors. This is because indoor cats have less opportunities to wear down their claws than outside cats. To trim your cat's claws, use a nail clipper designed specifically for cats. These types of nail clippers are more adapted to cats than an ordinary nail clipper or nail clipper for dogs. You can trim your cat's claws every 10 to 15 days.

To trim your cat's claws, all you have to do is cut the tip. Make sure to not trim off more than the tip. The central part, which is whitish or pinkish, contains nerves that can cause your cat a lot of pain if you cut it.

Not only does trimming your cat's claws regularly prevent certain types of injuries and pain, but it also allows your cat to get around more comfortably.

In addition, to keep your cat's claws at a healthy length, you can also consider placing one or more scratching posts around your house. This will allow your cat to wear down their claws naturally, all while enjoying themselves and having fun.

Take care of your cat's paws

Wipe your cat's paws

It's also important to wipe your cat's paws. Doing this regularly will allow you to get rid of dangerous substances that your cat can ingest when they groom themselves. You can wipe their paws daily with a damp towel.

When you wipe your cat's paws, make sure to also keep an eye on their condition. If you do this, you will be able to see if your cat has any injuries (cuts, splinters, etc.) and be able to help them quickly.

Trim the longer hairs

The hair located near or between your cat's toes can be bothersome for your cat. In some cases, these hairs can prevent your cat from walking normally and cause your cat discomfort. If your cat seems to be bothered by these hairs, you can shorten them with round scissors. Using round scissors will prevent your cat from getting hurt.

Take good care of your cat's injuries

To avoid infections, it's important to react quickly when your cat has an injury on their paw. Some injuries such as superficial cuts, scratches, or splinters do not require a vet consultation.

If your cat has a small cut or scratch, you can start by cleaning the injured paw with a damp napkin and soapy water. This will help get rid of any dirt. Then, you can use an antiseptic solution on your cat's injury. You can repeat this process several times until your cat's injury heals completely.

If your cat has a splinter stuck in their paw, you can start by cleaning the zone to get rid of any dirt. You can then pull out the splinter with disinfected tweezers. Once you succeed in taking out the splinter, you can disinfect the injury with a compress soaked in antiseptic product. If you cannot take out the splinter, it is best to make an appointment with the vet. 

If your cat has a serious injury such as excessive bleeding or serious burns, it is best to contact a vet as soon as possible.

We hope that you feel more knowledgeable about your cat's paws! 

You might also enjoy reading this article: Is your cat right-handed or left-handed?

Source : Lemonde.fr

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