4 Tips To Maintain Your Cat’s Paws

Footcare is an essential part of a pet’s grooming routine. 

When it comes to cats, their paws go through a lot of wear and tear. They wander a lot which makes their paws dirty with sand and other dust particles. Hence, pet parents need to pay extra attention to cleaning their pets’ paws regularly. It helps them to be healthy and strong. 

This does not mean you have to splurge on your kitty’s manicure and pedicure. Follow an effective foot care regimen to avoid unhygienic diseases like blisters and swellings, etc. 

Many online vet consultations also emphasize the importance of maintaining a good foot care routine for cats to help them walk freely and prevent infections. 

This article aims to highlight some of the best ways suggested by veterinarians to clean cats’ paws efficiently.  Read on to get better insights on the same.

Beneficial tips to maintain your cat’s paws

• Cleanse your kitty’s paws thoroughly

One of the most important parts of maintaining the healthy paws of your feline friend is to keep them clean. Start with checking for litter or debris between their paws. Then, consider wiping their paws with a damp cloth or cleaning wipes. 

Today, various pet stores offer a variety of cat cleaning wipes to suit the needs of the users. You can also shop for the best products from some reliable brands like Supertails. They have different products to explore.

Make no mistake in performing this step, as your cat can get sick from licking toxic substances stuck on their paw pads. 

• Inspect their paws for injuries

While cleaning their paws, closely look for any scrapes or injuries. If you notice small wounds, wash the paws with gentle cat shampoo. Furthermore, use tweezers to remove splinters. 

For acute injuries, seek immediate medical help from a trusted vet to examine the condition of your cat’s paw pads. The doctor will do the required tests and provide you with the best possible solutions to take optimum care of your pet. Make sure you avoid delaying the medical process. 

• Provide ample opportunities to scratch

It is no secret that cats love to scratch different objects and furniture in their spare time. They do so for different reasons. Sometimes to sharpen their claws, mark their territory, and exercise. If you want to protect your furniture, consider adding different surfaces for your cat to enjoy scratching as much as they want. These can be store-bought or you can make your own using some old objects. 

• Pay attention to their nails

Trim your cat’s nails every few weeks to keep their claws short and reduce scratching. Use superb quality nail trimmers to cut the nails easily. Begin the process by calming your pet and making them sit comfortably as you don’t want them to be fearful or cause any trouble while having their nails trimmed. Now, squeeze their paws gently to expose the paw and cut the nails. 

Never expect to complete nail trimming in one sitting. It will take a few sessions to cut them all. If you feel your cat is reluctant or intolerable, consult a vet or professional pet groomer to do the task efficiently. 

Along with these, trim the hair between the claws and watch for infections, limping or signs of pillow foot. 

Many pet parents think of declawing their cats to simply manage their foot care hygiene. However, this is actually the amputation of the last bone of each of the kitty’s toes. In humans, this would be similar to removing the first joint of each finger and toe. So, do not practise it with your kitty. Rather follow the points covered in the write-up to beneficially achieve healthy paws for your pet.