How to Treat a Wounded Cat Pad

It's not unusual for a cat to get wounds on their foot pads. A cat's pad consists of tough skin, but an adventurous feline can find numerous ways to hurt its pad. If your cat is limping and favoring a foot, check its pads for an injury. Shallow wounds or burns can be taken care of at home. Give your cat prompt first aid - it can help you avoid a costly trip to the veterinarian.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Flush the pad of the foot with warm water. Keep rinsing until the pad is clean. Check to see if there are any foreign objects stuck in the pad. If there is an object in the pad, gently remove it with tweezers.

2. Soak the foot in a shallow dish of hydrogen peroxide for 30 seconds. Peroxide will help protect the pad from becoming infected.

3. Apply aloe vera gel to the entire pad. A study conducted by S. Subramanian and his colleges in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Madras determined that the use of aloe vera gel can significantly reduce the healing time when applied topically to a wound.

4. Bandage the foot with a gauze pad and medical tape. Cut an appropriate-sized piece off the gauze pad, apply it to the wounded area and wrap it loosely with tape. Tape the gauze pad on so it doesn't fall off, but keep it loose enough so it won't restrict the cat's circulation.

5. Treat the wounded pad with aloe vera each night. Replace the gauze pad every two days. Repeat the steps until the pad is healed and the cat is no longer favoring one paw.

Tips & Warnings

• If there is a deep cut on the cat's pad or if there is excessive bleeding that won't stop, immediately contact the veterinarian.

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