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The pads on a cat's paws are always present and do not raise questions among owners, as they are perceived as a palm. Most often, pad 7 is of interest, which is located as if on the wrist, if we consider the pet’s paw as a human hand. Such a pad does not come into contact with the ground when walking, but is indispensable during jumps and sharp turns during active running. This unusual pad, separated from the toes, is the main protection of the joint located underneath it from injury, even if the cat jumps from a considerable height.
General characteristics [edit | edit code ]
The main feature of a paw is the presence of soft, leathery structures called pads. The central one is larger and heart-shaped, it is attached to the metacarpus (in the case of the front legs) or to the metatarsus (on the hind legs). The rest of the pads are on the fingers, usually there are four of them, but there are also five in bears and six in giant pandas. Typically, the paw pads are covered with thick, hairless skin to resist wear and tear due to walking. But the red panda's pads are covered with hair, which helps in cold climates.
Hygiene pads
Most cats are their own excellent groomers, because they have the best tool for grooming - paws with wonderful pads. The cat washes areas that are difficult for the tongue to reach - behind the ears, under the cheekbones, neck and muzzle - with its paws: licks it several times, and then rubs the place that it wants to tidy up.
To be the most beautiful in the world - that’s why a kitten needs pads on its paws, a clean cat simply needs them! By the way, washing is one of the first skills that cat babies acquire: they begin grooming themselves with their paws even before four weeks!
Paws in nature [edit | edit code ]
Usually paws are the feet of representatives of bears, dogs, cats, mustelids and rodents. The limbs of primates are also paws, but they are traditionally [ source not specified 103 days
] are called arms (front legs) and legs (hind legs).
Cats are graceful and attractive creatures. Many people love them and can name many details that make cats incredibly beautiful. And, of course, the soft paws of these amazing creatures, namely the pads located on them, play an important role. The latter are a unique tool actively used by cats for survival.
Thermoregulation pads
You won't find a cat with sweaty armpits anywhere! And not because cats don’t sweat—every living creature needs a thermoregulation mechanism. They just sweat through their paw pads. Those who have visited the veterinarian with their pet have probably noticed small paw prints on the examination table.
This means that the tailed friend has experienced not the most pleasant moments in his life. However, cats do not only sweat during times of stress. On hot days, this “cooling system” helps avoid overheating.
Why do cats need pads on their paws?
There are several theories about why cats need pads on their paws. Most of them are confirmed by scientists, which proves the importance of these parts of the body. First of all, the pads make the animal’s step softer and more silent, as they hide the claws and absorb sounds. This is one of the reasons why cats are excellent hunters. They can easily sneak up on mice or birds and take them by surprise.
Cats usually have 18 toes: five on the front paws and four on the back paws, but there are exceptions.
Don't forget about the high sensitivity of cat's paws. These animals have a large number of nerve endings in their pads. Thanks to them, cute fluffies better feel the texture of the surface on which they move. In addition, the pads allow cats to detect the slightest vibrations, which means they are able to sense the movement of prey and other animals without even seeing them.
It should be remembered that the pads are very sensitive and can easily be damaged at very high and low temperatures
Between the pads of a cat's paws there are sweat glands that actively participate in the process of thermoregulation and prevent the pet from overheating. An animal may sweat both during hot weather and during periods when it is frightened. Surely many owners have noticed the wet marks that remain from their pet’s paws on the veterinarian’s table during an examination.
The color of the pads often depends on the coat color of the animal.
In addition to sweat, a cat's front and back paws are capable of secreting special pheromones that the animal uses as marks. Thus, when your pet sharpens its claws, it not only leaves scratches, but also adds a special smell to them that other cats can smell. Usually, with the help of such marks, the pet shows other animals that this territory belongs to it.
There are scent glands on both the hind and front paws.
The skin on the paw pads is quite thick. Thanks to this, cats manage to avoid minor mechanical damage, such as scratches. Of course, this does not mean that the animal can easily walk on sharp thorns. But dry grass, branches and sharp pebbles definitely won’t be able to damage your pet’s paws when walking or jumping from a considerable height.
The paw pads act as shock absorbers and soften the landing of the animal from a great height
Cats groom themselves using the pads of their front paws. With their help, they clean the fur in places where they cannot reach with their tongue. For example, you can often observe this picture when a cat licks its paw and then washes its head and ears.
My cat has a kitten and he is a little over a month old, but he is already trying to use his paws to wash himself. Such attempts to put oneself in order look quite funny.
Use cat pads to clean the neck, chin, muzzle and area behind the ears.
And, of course, the pads perform an aesthetic function. They are beautiful and pleasant to the touch. You can find a lot of interesting photographs where the emphasis is placed specifically on the pink, dark gray or spotted paws of pets. Although it is unlikely that the cats themselves are very concerned about the beauty of their paws, they clearly have nothing against human admiration for them.
Pads to survive
Our beloved cats tiptoe through life. And the point is not in the beauty and grace of such a gait - people with mustaches hardly think about this. Simply walking and running on your toes increases the chances of a successful hunt - thus the swing becomes longer and the speed is higher.
In addition, the pads work as sound absorbers - it’s not without reason that they say: she walked in quietly, like a cat. The pads soften both the sound of a jump and the sound of a step, which is especially important when hunting. A cat that sneaks around on tiptoe is very difficult for potential prey to notice!
The small paw pads contain a large number of nerve endings that help assess temperature and surface texture, as well as sense unevenness, which helps maintain balance.
Also, these nerve endings very sensitively pick up the slightest vibration - this is what is associated with the ability of cats, and many other animals, to “predict” earthquakes. There is nothing mystical here; cats begin to show anxiety several hours before the first tremors, as they sense the slight vibration of the soil that precedes it.
Symptoms of the disease
A healthy cat's paw pads are pink, smooth and normally dry. At the first stage, the paws increase slightly in size, which does not cause concern to the animal. Next, the affected areas become wet and cyanosis appears.
Pododermatitis is poorly visible in black cats. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the hair around the affected areas falls out, and the paw pads themselves peel off after running your finger over them.
Over time, the damaged areas acquire a purple tint, which turns into red spots. They swell, burst and expose ulcers. Wounds on the paw pads bleed profusely . This causes severe pain to the pet.
This period is dangerous because infection (especially fungal) can easily penetrate the wounds. All this is fraught with complications and a sharp drop in the animal’s immunity. A sure sign of secondary infection is a fetid, purulent odor from your pet’s paws.
In this case, the cat licks damaged areas, bites hair or skin, which promotes the unhindered spread of microorganisms throughout the body.
ATTENTION! Restless itching and lameness are characteristic of the last stages of pododermatitis, when no treatment was taken and the sore was discovered too late.
Associated symptoms include: inflammation of the lymph nodes, swelling of the back of the nose. Advanced pododermatitis leads to such serious diseases as amyloidosis (protein metabolism disorder) and glomerulonephritis (kidney damage).
Competent diagnosis will allow you to exclude other diseases . For example, eosinophilic granuloma or pemphigus foliaceus.
Treatment
Treatment begins only after the exact reason why the cat began to walk poorly has been identified. Incorrect treatment can lead to rapid deterioration of the condition, and sometimes even death.
Therapy in different cases is carried out in the following areas:
- Spinal injuries
. Home treatment is allowed only in cases of minor injuries: ointments and gels are prescribed, physiotherapy and massages have a good effect. Sometimes acupuncture is prescribed. In more severe cases, treatment is carried out in a hospital using surgical interventions. - Myelitis
. In parallel with therapy aimed at the main cause of symptoms, measures are taken to prevent bedsores. The pet needs to be turned over often, and in addition, massage the hind legs using warming oils or ointments (for example, camphor oil). - Thromboembolism
. If the sensitivity of the hind limbs is at least somewhat preserved, their function can be restored. For this purpose, physiotherapy is prescribed and anticoagulants are given. - Avitaminosis.
It is highly treatable if the changes have not yet become irreparable. It is important to follow the correct diet suitable for the breed and age group. Vitamin supplements may be needed. - Dysplasia
. Fixing the limbs helps to reduce the load. Taking chondroprotectors helps a lot, and in later stages anti-inflammatory injections are often used. - Kidney failure
. After restoring the water-salt balance, it is important to follow a special diet.
How to stop a cat from sleeping with a person
If circumstances arise that do not allow a mustachioed pet to sleep in the owner’s bed, it can be weaned using the following recommendations:
- The owner of a mustache must be patient. The procedure takes 15-20 days.
- Shouting at an animal and showing physical force is strictly prohibited. It won't make him like his new place to sleep.
- It is necessary to create conditions for the cat's sleep that are reminiscent of the master's bed. Buy (make your own) a cat bed and use the owner’s things to fill it. They are saturated with the scent of a loved one, which is very attractive to the pet.
- It is advisable to use elements of training. When a cat comes to the owner's bed, it must be taken to a prepared bed, sit with it, and stroke it. If your pet doesn’t resist, treat her with a treat. Such actions should be taken every time she returns to the bed. Yummy food is needed for pleasant associations with your place. The bed can be sprinkled with catnip oil (to attract the pet's attention).
Pododermatitis using the example of domestic animals
The most common skin problems, for example in rabbits , is of various kinds of ulcers and fistulas on the paws . Their appearance causes considerable suffering to the animal. Most often, this pathology manifests itself on the hind legs, forming wounds and abscesses . In general, it is a soft tissue disease capable of rapidly worsening symptoms, requiring special care for treatment and prevention.
- The inflammatory process on the paws can be divided into groups of its complications:
- Purulent pododermatitis is an inflammation of a wound that has formed and manifests itself due to infection.
- Aseptic (typical for horses) - basically, this form manifests itself when traveling long distances while walking or from bruises, chips, cuts from stones and other foreign objects.
- Laminitis - oddly enough, such pododermatitis is formed from the regulation of the body. It can be caused by improperly selected food or spoiled food.
- Plasmacytic pododermatitis - occurs in cats, manifested by infiltration of plasma cells. The footpads and metatarsal pads are affected.
Duration of the disease
can vary from the first appearance to the chronic form of the disease. It can also spread from one part of the body to another.
.
Another reason for the appearance of an infection may be failure to maintain proper animal hygiene
. The world around us is teeming with pathogenic microorganisms, so wet cleaning should be done a couple of times a week.
Pododermatitis - symptoms
Let's look at the symptoms for different types of pododermatitis:
- Aseptic pododermatitis - the animal tries to limit the movement of the affected limb, thereby trying to relieve the weight load when walking, in other words, the pet begins to limp. When examining the painful area, a red-yellow spotty color is revealed, this appearance is given by the result of rupture of blood vessels and clots of escaping blood.
- Purulent pododermatitis - when examining ulcerative areas, it is very painful to feel, and also manifests itself in an increase in the animal’s temperature. Sometimes detachments of the affected areas appear; the limb is bent all the time to avoid stress.
- Laminitis – accompanied by complete suppression of behavior. The animal has difficulty moving, trembling, sweating, and rapid breathing appear. The painful area has a swollen appearance.
- Plasmacytic pododermatitis does not manifest itself in painful sensations; the swelling may appear purple. They remain soft or moderately elastic to the touch. Spontaneous remission is sometimes observed.
Pododermatitis using the example of domestic animals
The most common skin problems, for example in rabbits , is of various kinds of ulcers and fistulas on the paws . Their appearance causes considerable suffering to the animal. Most often, this pathology manifests itself on the hind legs, forming wounds and abscesses . In general, it is a soft tissue disease capable of rapidly worsening symptoms, requiring special care for treatment and prevention.
- The inflammatory process on the paws can be divided into groups of its complications:
Duration of the disease
can vary from the first appearance to the chronic form of the disease. It can also spread from one part of the body to another.
.
Another reason for the appearance of an infection may be failure to maintain proper animal hygiene
. The world around us is teeming with pathogenic microorganisms, so wet cleaning should be done a couple of times a week.
Matching pads
Did you know that every cat's paw pads are the same color as their fur? Black cats have black hair, gray cats have gray hair, red cats have salmon hair, and white cats have pink hair. Interestingly, spotted cats often have spots on their pads, and black and white cats often have pads of both black and pink, sometimes alternating with each other, like on a chessboard. An abyss of charm, and that’s all!
Do you think the color of your cat’s pads does not fit into these “rules”? Well, anything can happen - we are waiting for your comments and photo evidence.
Svetlana Mosolova
