Why does my cat have painful, hard spikes on his paw pads?

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I have seen some cats develop long horny type growths on their paw pads. Possible causes are: papilloma or squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease), both caused by papillomavirus. Excision or treatment with imiquimod, retioid cream, or salicylic acid should be effective. If it doesn't bother Spooky, it most likely won't hurt to leave it alone (unless it becomes more malignant in behavior). It could also be benign hyperkertinized growths. They may need to be managed with sanding dows and or clipping regularly. You can also try Kerasol which is OTC or Snout Soother by American Dog co to help keep them soft. You can apply this 1-2 times daily. It may be best to have your Vet see the area first! Good luck

This looks like a cutaneous horn which is a keratin growth from the paw pad. I would consider having this removed and having the growth sent for histopathology as it could be benign or caused by cancerous process.

These are skin hyperkeratosis (thickening of the stratum corneum of the epidermis/most superficial skin layer). A check up and possibly a sample of it can be taken to confirm diagnosis. They can be mildly painful and possibly grow even more than now. Surgical excision is usually resolutive but not strictly necessary. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Yes, I recommend you take him to a vet. There is something that cats on their feet called hyperkeratinization (keratin/cutaneous horns) but this does not look exactly like that; the lesions are usually thin and look like horns. So that fact that the left one is so flat and round is a bit concerning.

This could be a keratinized horn or keratinized cyst. They can be painful and rarely associated with a viral infection. Oscar should get this checked out by his veterinarian who may be able to remove it, check the area for infection and discuss the possiblity of it coming back with you.

Without pictures and without examining Smudgle, it is difficult to say for sure what the cause is. This could be hyperkeratosis / calus formation, which is benign but can be uncomfortable for some animals. I would recommend having them looked at by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made.

There is a disease call "plasma cell pododermatitis" that affects the footpads of cats, making them swell and sometimes crack. It's poorly understood, but believed to be an autoimmune disease. Treatment usually consists of a specific antibiotic (doxycycline) which somehow regulates the immune system (again, we don't understand why) and drugs to suppress the immune system (prednisolone or cyclosporine). Sometimes we have to bandage the feet temporarily to help with the pain and to aid healing. Soldier may also need pain medication for a time until he is more comfortable. Your vet should be able to diagnose this condition and start treatment. Good luck.