Ask Dr Claire

Cats paw swollen after going outside, she’s limping and licking at it but not in any pain 

A swollen paw hurts – cats are just really good at hiding pain – it’s essential for their survival.

A very common issue in cats causing swollen paws are abscesses secondary to cat fight wounds. Other causes include burrs, foreign bodies such as grass seeds in their skin, cracks in their pads, tear their nails, or injury to the bones within the paw.

A hands-on examination from your local vet would be a great place to start. Working out whether it’s infection or a structural issue will dictate his best treatment plan.

If you’d like to chat in person, you can get a vet on a live video call or start a chat to discuss in more detail.

We’re on stand-by to help!

Chat soon,

Dr Claire