CAT BITING PAWS AND MAKING THEM RED RAW

[mongoose]

My 13 year old cat Poppy has started to suffer with possible arthritis, about a year ago she started to really bite and lick her paws to the point that she was making them so sore, there was no hair left and we have now been to the vets 3 times about it, they weren't sure if it was stress but she is a very happy cat. She is eating, sleeping, playing (when she can be bothered) lol. She is used to other cats as my neighbour has a few and they all have their moments but they are all the same age so know each other for years. The vet gave her an injection of steroids each time and it works for a while, it seems to occur in the spring and through the summer so wondering if it's a possible allergy? Does anyone else's cat suffer with arthritis and does anyone recommend anything to help. I have ordered some seraquin and yumove tablets in case it is arthritis, we have Feliway around the house too but I am wondering what to do next for her

[Lilith]

Hi Mongoose, does the vet say that this paw-biting is a symptom of arthritis?

I had an arthritic cat who became very 'doddery'; he was slow, didn't like to jump up and down, found squatting in his tray uncomfortable and would often get out before he'd finished, and eventually became faecally incontinent (although the latter could have been down to simple old age.) He was on the painkiller Metacam most of the time. He didn't lick or bite the affected joints; in fact he slowed down on his grooming - a case of economising on movement I'd guess.

I don't pretend to be an expert btw; I can only speak from my own experience. I've known cats who 'plucked' while grooming; the first was a Siamese girl who plucked her back half-bald; this was considered a hormonal problem and it cleared up after she was spayed. Another is my neutered girl Molly, aged 4, who occasionally plucks a tiny patch either on forepaw or back leg, but not enough to cause baldness. She's a very manic girl who would like a bigger house and garden or to be able to roam; I'm letting her down in this respect but unfortunately this is a lousy area for cats and she's safer under supervision.

It's interesting that Poppy gets worse during spring and summer; do you live in an area where she could come into contact with such as harvest-mites and similar biting bugs or, as you've said, anything she could be allergic to? I'm wondering if this could be more of an allergy/eczema, especially in view of the steroid treatment. The trouble with steroids is that, long-term, they seem to stop working, as you've found out. I've known of very good results with homeopathy; a couple of people on here are beginning to suss that out, and there are homeopathic vets; if you could find one in your area this could be a way forward - and some vets I believe do use complementary therapies.

My personal view would be that Poppy's problem isn't necessarily caused by arthritis and I'd be reluctant to give her Seraquin etc. unless this was actually the case - but that is only my personal view; I'm not qualified!

I'm sorry I can't suggest anything more helpful but hope that there will be other people with more knowledge than me along soon. All the very best with Poppy and hope you find a solution to this very distressing condition.

[meriad]

The vet gave her an injection of steroids each time and it works for a while, it seems to occur in the spring and through the summer so wondering if it's a possible allergy?

Have you tried giving your cat Piriton? It's safe for cats and if this is an allergy (which it does sound like to me) then that should help, equally Feliway and Seraquin won't make a bit of difference.

The fact that the steroid injection helped also points towards allergy to me so I'd go down that route with your vet