A cat’s pads are essential to them because it’s what allows them to evacuate heat and to be able to move easily, but sometimes a cat has one or more black pads. So if you have a cat that has a black pad, stay with me, in this article, I’ll explain why and above all how to react to it so that it can regain its normal color.
Cat that has a black pad: The causes and their solutions
If your cat has a black pad, here are the causes, how to recognize them and above all how to act to solve the problem in depth.
A fungal infection
Affecting especially cats that have access to the outside, a fungal infection is recognized by scaling of the skin, which may suggest a dryness in the pad . Different types of fungus can cause it and only the veterinarian can provide the right treatment for your cat.
While waiting for the visit to the veterinarian, keep your cat at home so that he is no longer in contact with the fungi in question. You can also put protective socks on him to protect him as much as possible even indoors.
A burn
Burns are very common on the pads because they are very sensitive to temperatures, for example if your cat went to the cold and then warmed up near the radiator, his pads must have been very sensitive to it and your cat can burn himself the pads when there is a strong temperature difference.
Here too, make sure your cat stays indoors in a temperate environment and make sure that he can receive care based on cat balm, for example, which will relieve the burn. If it changes, you will have to go to the veterinarian.
A lack of vitamins and minerals
A nutritional deficiency can also lead to a black pad in cats, so if your cat only eats kibble, remember that a third of its food should come from wet food.
You can take cat food supplements if necessary, but I advise you to go to the veterinarian who can direct you to the right supplements or dietary changes.
An allergy
Your cat may have an allergy to the pellets in his litter, if you have changed it, this is probably the cause of the problem so be sure to give him pellets that will not cause allergies and avoid low models of range.
Dried blood
Try scratching the pad to see if it is dried blood, in which case the bleeding is probably from a claw that will need to be washed and disinfected with a disinfectant suitable for the cat’s body.
Improper washing
If you wash your cat with products for humans, it is normal that your cat suffers from it and you will absolutely have to stop and make sure to clean it with products adapted to the skin of the cat and dedicated to it. Indeed, the pH of your cat’s skin is different from ours.
Pododermatitis
If your cat has pododermatitis, his paw pad will be swollen , the cause of this disease is an immune deficiency which the veterinarian can precisely determine this deficiency to provide an appropriate treatment (antibiotic or corticosteroid in most cases).
An age-related disease
Age brings its own set of illnesses, such as kidney problems, so if your cat is over 12, take him to the vet so he can receive proper treatment. The change in color of the cat’s pads which turn black is probably linked to an important pathology and it is vital to keep this under control.
A matter of race
Some breeds have black pads naturally and to find out if yours has it, look at pictures of him when he was younger to see if it was always the case, as it may be his pigment. natural.
Cat that has a black paw pad: The final word
If your cat has a black pad, be sure to find the cause to be able to act better, but in case of doubt or unfavorable evolution, in necrosis for example, I advise you to make it go to the veterinarian.