Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 2/8/2007

Question
My cat had huge static issues, so I gave her a bath and used human shampoo and conditioner.  Her coat looks great and she seems okay, but a couple of hours later I noticed some redness at the edges of her paw pads.  Her pads look plump and they are very soft.(?from the conditioner?)  Just wondering if I have unwittingly poisoned my cat and if discolouration of the paw pads could be a symptom of ingested poison?

Answer
Some animals are very sensitive to components of shampoos.  Some cats can be senstive to animal proteins used in shampoos and conditioners.  If you ask your vet for a hypoallergenic shampoo, this is one without extraneous proteins.  If the cat does well with that type of shampoo, then it is something in the shampoo or conditioner causing it.