An infected cat paw typically shows some combination of swelling, redness, warmth, and discharge. The exact appearance depends on the type of infection, but the paw will look noticeably different from normal, often puffy or misshapen, with skin that appears pink, red, or even purple. In many cases you’ll also see crusting, oozing, or raw patches where the skin has broken down.
Swelling and Color Changes
The most obvious sign is swelling. An infected paw may look enlarged compared to the others, and the skin or paw pad can range from bright pink to deep violet-purple depending on how inflamed it is. In bacterial infections, the area around a wound or puncture often turns red and feels hot to the touch. The swelling can be firm or soft and fluid-filled, almost like a water balloon under the skin.
If the infection is in the paw pad itself, you may notice the pad looks “pillowy” and softer than normal, with white streaks running across the surface. This is a condition called plasma cell pododermatitis, sometimes called pillow foot. The pads gradually become puffy and take on a purple or violet tone. In roughly 20 to 35% of these cases, the pads bleed or develop open sores.
Discharge and Drainage
Pus or fluid draining from the paw is a strong indicator of infection. The discharge can be thick and white, yellowish, greenish, or brown depending on the cause. A bacterial abscess, common in cats who fight or get bitten, often produces thick, foul-smelling liquid when it ruptures. Before it ruptures, you’ll see a firm, painful lump that gradually softens as pus accumulates inside.
Fungal infections look somewhat different. Rather than a single pocket of pus, fungal paw infections tend to produce nodules, small lumps under the skin that may drain through narrow tracts. These nodules can appear on the toes, between the pads, or further up the leg. They grow slowly and may ulcerate over time, leaving raw, open surfaces.
Nail Bed Infections
When infection involves the base of the claw, the tissue around the nail becomes inflamed, swollen, and sometimes crusty. This is called paronychia. You may notice brown or waxy buildup around the nail bed, or a milky or blood-tinged discharge oozing from where the claw meets the skin. The claws themselves can become thickened, discolored, or misshapen. In severe cases, the nail grows abnormally or curls into the surrounding skin, making the infection worse. Hair loss and ulceration around individual toes are also common.
How Infections Progress
Bacterial paw infections from bite wounds or punctures can develop fast. Bites from other cats introduce bacteria deep into the tissue, and symptoms often appear within about 12 hours. You might initially see just a small puncture mark, easy to miss under fur. Within a day, the area can become swollen, warm, and painful, progressing into a full abscess if untreated.
Fungal infections and immune-related conditions like pillow foot develop more gradually, over weeks or months. You may first notice your cat favoring that paw or being less willing to jump before you spot any visible changes on the paw itself.
Behavioral Clues to Watch For
Cats are good at hiding pain, so you may notice behavioral changes before you get a clear look at the paw. A cat with an infected paw often limps, becomes less active, or stops jumping onto surfaces it normally uses. Excessive licking or chewing at one paw is a reliable sign that something is wrong. Some cats become withdrawn or irritable and may hiss or pull away when you try to touch the affected foot.
Signs the Infection Is Serious
A localized infection confined to the paw is painful but manageable. The situation becomes dangerous when bacteria enter the bloodstream and the infection goes systemic. Warning signs include significant swelling that keeps growing, foul-smelling discharge, extreme sensitivity to touch, and a cat that feels unusually warm, especially around the ears and paws.
If your cat refuses to eat or drink for more than 12 hours, becomes extremely lethargic, has pale gums, breathes rapidly, or collapses, the infection may have spread beyond the paw. These signs point to a possible blood infection that requires immediate veterinary care. A cat that stops eating, hides constantly, or becomes aggressive when approached is also likely dealing with worsening pain or spreading infection.
Telling Bacterial and Fungal Infections Apart
Bacterial infections tend to come on quickly after a wound, with redness, heat, pus, and a foul smell. The area around the wound often looks like spreading redness under the skin. Abscesses are the most common form: a firm, painful lump that eventually softens and may burst on its own.
Fungal infections are slower and look different. Instead of a single hot, red area, you’re more likely to see multiple small nodules or bumps that feel either firm or soft. These can appear on the toes, between the pads, or up the leg. They may eventually break open and drain, but the drainage tends to come through small tracts rather than one large opening. The overall progression is weeks to months rather than hours to days.
Pillow foot looks different from both. It typically affects multiple paw pads at once, making them swollen, spongy, and purple with pale striations across the surface. There’s no puncture wound or obvious entry point because the condition is driven by the immune system rather than an outside pathogen.