Dry, itchy paws are a major problem for pets in the winter. What’s the best way to help your cat’s paws stay moisturized?

Dry, scaly feet? Oh, you know them well. You find yourself using a PedEgg and copious amounts of Jergen’s lotion just to keep from peeling during the winter.

It’s a rough life (no pun intended). It’s much the same for your cat, but before you go buying a paw-sized exfoliator, give these methods a try.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil can be applied to your cat’s dry paws as a moisturizer. You don’t need a lot, just enough to spread over the affected areas. Coconut oil absorbs into the skin quite quickly, but you don’t need to worry if your cat licks or swallows some of it. It can also be used to freshen breath and treat hairballs.

Chewy.com sells an organic coconut oil supplement for dogs (it can also be used for cats), but I prefer to just make a quick trip to Walmart and visit their organics section. You can find 15 fl oz of Nutiva Coconut Oil for around $14 right now.

As long as you don’t overdo it, coconut oil is safe for your cat. However, ingesting too much can result in diarrhea and vomiting. Apply a thin layer to your cat’s paws twice a day, taking care to wipe off any excess that doesn’t absorb into the skin.

Bag Balm

Bag balm was originally created to soothe the chapped udders of hardworking dairy cows. Since then, bag balm has expanded its market base to critters outside of the farm like cats and dogs.

I haven’t personally used it for my cats, but after I did a little digging, I found a couple worrisome ingredients that are in pretty much every bag balm:

• 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate
• Petrolatum

According to Livestrong.com, the first ingredient has a chemical rating of 5 out of 10, with 0 being harmless and 10 being hazardous to your health. The second, petrolatum, is around 2 on the scale. That being said, it can still be toxic to a human’s organs if consumed. I can’t imagine it’s much different for cats.

Although the overall risk to your cat is fairly minimal, be aware that there are risks. Apply the recommended amount and wipe off any excess; this will make it less likely that your cat will consume toxic amounts.

Keep Your Cat Hydrated

Proper hydration is essential for cats. It keeps their organs working as they should, and they’re less likely to develop urinary tract infections. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get cats to drink water.

What I’ve found has helped me is the Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain. It got my cats Misha and Tippy to drink more water, and their UTIs cleared up in no time.

If your cats absolutely, paw-sitively won’t drink water, put them on a diet of mostly wet food. Most canned foods are packed with moisture to naturally hydrate finicky cats. Many pet food brands have a skin and coat formula that targets dry skin, redness and irritation caused by your cat’s environment.

When Dry, Itchy Paws Can’t Be Helped

Sometimes the symptoms just won’t go away, no matter what you try. If you find that your cat’s paws aren’t responding to any kind of treatment, or if they’re responding negatively, make an appointment with your veterinarian.

Chronic skin conditions will most likely need prescribed medications. Always check with your vet if you think your cat is having a poor reaction to any treatment. Your cat may be allergic or sensitive to certain ingredients. If at all possible, keep your cat indoors to avoid further irritation to dry, itchy paws.

How are you beating the winter chill with your pets? Have dry paws been a problem for your little ones? Give us a shout in the comments and let us know! We love to hear from you.

Save