Why Does My Cat Bite His Paws?
Cats are biters, lickers and scratchers and some of this behavior is part of being a cat. The challenge is being able to sort the normal behavior from the actions that are cause for concern. Biting his paws is one of the things your cat could be doing that may cause concern.
Is it normal for cats to bite their paws? It depends on why your cat is biting his paws. Cats are fastidious cleaners. The paw biting is your cat cleaning between her toes and around her claws. This cleaning can be quite noisy, but it is normal behavior for your cat.
In most cases, there is no reason for concern. This biting is your cat doing what cats do…cleaning and grooming. But there could be medical or behavioral reasons that your cat could be biting as well.
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Biting as a Way of Grooming
You may notice that your cat will bite his paws as well as other parts of his body when he grooms himself. This is his way of removing loose hair, dead skin and parasites. The biting is your cat’s best way of getting down to his skin when he is bathing himself.
When it comes to his paws, not only does biting help your cat get the areas between his toes but he gives himself a manicure. Your cat’s claws grow in layers and the outside layer will eventually become worn and frayed. Your cat will pull at this outer layer to get it off allowing the new sharp claw to be exposed.
Almost all cats will use their teeth as part of the grooming process. It is nothing to be concerned about as long as your cat does not have parasites. A cat with fleas will bite more frequently and more aggressively than a cat that is carrying out routine body grooming.
Biting Because of Medical Conditions
While cleaning and grooming are the most common reasons that a cat may bite his paws, there are less common medical reasons your cat may be chewing on his paws.
Ringworm – Ringworm is a fungal infection and cats can get it. It affects the superficial layer of the skin, hair, and nails. Just the name sounds bad, but this condition is not actually from a worm. It is caused by a family of fungi called dermatophytes. Ringworm may not be easy to actually see. Some cats may get thick patches of skin with hair loss. Sometimes ringworm may include an infection of the claws. This discomfort may cause your cat to bite his paws and claws.
Pemphigus – This is the most common autoimmune disease found in cats. It involves ulceration of the skin and crusting of the skin. Some additional common signs of this disease are pustules, shallow ulcers, redness, and itching of the skin. Footpad overgrowth and cracking can occur. A cat’s nipples and nails can also be affected. Bacterial infection, pain and itchy skin can occur when a cat has pemphigus causing your cat to bite a lick his paws excessively.
Brittle and Thick Nails – Cats can have brittle and thick nails for a number of reasons. This can happen to cats as they age, but other reasons for this condition can be bacterial infections, cancerous tumors and high levels of growth hormones. Cutting a cat’s claws close to the quick can also cause them to be prone to infection causing biting and licking of the paws.
Your Cat’s Biting Could Be Behavioral
A certain amount of chewing is normal and is healthy for your cat. And the line can be blurred between what is excessive and what is normal. If you have a cat that is a worrier, she may bite and lick her paws more than normal. This is not healthy and the best way to help your cat is to try to eliminate the source of the stress. Here are some tips for helping your cat live a healthier less stressful life.
1. Keep your cat on a schedule – Cats are creatures of habit and keeping their routine the same helps them avoid stress. Schedule regular feedings for your cat and play times at the same time each day.
2. Reduce Stress – Whether you are human or pet, stress can be a real killer. Never yell at pets as this can lead to fear and anxiety. If you are in a multiple-pet home, take note of how they interact. They may need to be separated from each and reintroduced. You may also want to neuter male cats to limit aggression. You should have one litter box for each cat plus an additional box to avoid stress in a multi-cat household. Make sure you have the supplies (bowls, toys, etc.) so each cat can have their own if they don’t play well together. Stress can easily be brought on by other cats in the house even if they are litter mates.
3. Provide Mental Stimulation – Just like people, cats need to be stimulated. These activities help keep them calm and occupied. Shelves at different levels, interactive toys and cat trees all make great items to keep your cat occupied and happy. Boxes and paper bags can also make a fun and inexpensive play item.
Providing a happy and healthy home for your cat is a big step in keeping them calm and stress-free. And a stress-free cat will be less likely to bite and lick excessively.
Calming Aids for Cats
If your cat bites and chews due to stress and anxiety, a calming aid may be a solution that will work for you. The nice thing about calming aids is they come in a number of forms. Your cat can take them orally, in the form of a treat or it can be a diffuser, a wipe or a collar. There are also sprays that can be used.
CBD Products – These products are derived from the oil in the cannabis plant. CBD can have a number of benefits in both humans and pets with treatment of anxiety being one of these benefits. CBD products for cats are readily available in cat treats.
Pheromone Products – Pheromones are a type of chemical communication between members of a species. They are similar to hormones and they are often used to manage marking, spraying, and aggression in cats.
Pheromones can be a great product for calming anxiety. If your cat has problems with going to the vet or traveling, you may want to try a pheromone product. They are available in sprays, diffusers, wipes and collars. Pheromone products can be a quick and easy fix to temporary stress-related biting, chewing or licking.
Calming Chews – These are chews (treats) you can give your cat that will do just that…calm them down. A calmer cat should exhibit fewer stress-related behaviors. There a number of brands of calming chews that contain a blend of Thiamine, C3 (Colostrum Calming Complex), and L-Theanine. Relieve your cat’s anxiety with calming chews for cats.
Final Thoughts on Biting Paws
The majority of the time that a cat bites its paws, it is to clean and get rid of shredded nails. When it is normal behavior, your cat will eventually finish grooming and go to sleep as cats do.
If your cat’s feet look sore or have missing fur, a trip to the vet might be necessary. Your vet is always going to be your best resource for keeping your cat happy and healthy.