Expert: Becky - 7/21/2006

Question
hi, i am an owner of a domestic shorthair cat. Lately Boots, my cat, has been constantly licking his back two paws until they bleed.  He is going to the vet in a few days but i would like to know if there is anything i can do to help him before he goes. please help me.
thank you

Answer
Hi Leigh Ann,
I have never heard of a cat doing this.  I wonder if there is some kind of bite or sting that is causing this?  Or, maybe some kind of fungus.  There is a product called "Bitter Apple" that you can spray on his paws to keep him from licking.  If he does, he gets a real bitter taste and it usually keeps dogs and cats from doing that.  However, if you are going to take him t a Vet in a few days you may want to see what he/she says.  He will probably put him on meds and might do a skin scraping to see if it is fungal.  Until then, maybe you could distract him by putting a little bit of margerine or butter on his FRONT paws to lick off. This is good for hairballs and maybe it will distract him from licking his back paws.

Good luck and God bless,
Becky