While it's completely normal for your cat to spend a great deal of time grooming themselves, it's important that you recognize if they suddenly began focusing on a specific area. If you notice that your cat has been licking their paws more than usual, it could be a sign that something is wrong. Your cat may be licking their paws due to pain or discomfort, making it a smart idea to visit the vet as soon as possible. If you're unsure of what kinds of problems licking paws can mean, the following are just a few examples of issues that your vet can help with.

Possibility That Your Cat Has a Splinter

If your cat spends time outdoors and has been limping around, there's always the possibility that they've got a splinter. While some splinters can fall out on their own, other splinters can lead to infection if they're not removed and disinfected. When you bring your cat into the vet, they can take a close look at the paws and check if there's anything stuck that needs to be removed. This can help provide you with the peace of mind that nothing is bothering your cat and that potential infection is being warded off.

An Ingrown Nail May Need to Be Removed

While you may be used to grooming your cat's nails on your own, there's always the possibility that they have an ingrown nail. Some cats even have multiple nails, along with their regular ones. This means that it can be beneficial to get a vet to take a look at your cat's nails to see if anything is amiss with their nails and causing potential pain for your cat.

Licking Paws Could Be Related to Anxiety

Some cats could be licking their paws as a result of feeling anxious lately. This may be the case if you've recently moved, adopted a new pet, or your cat simply doesn't feel well lately. Instead of allowing your cat to feel anxious and causing potential harm to their paws from over-grooming, you need to look into whether your vet can prescribe your cat with anxiety treatment. Even something as simple as pheromone plug-ins and medications can help put your cat at ease.

By understanding some of the causes of licking paws, you can figure out what's wrong with your cat and how a visit to the veterinarian can help them. 

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