Horned paws/paw pad callus

Just curious...

Has anyone here dealt with their kitties paws having calluses?

A few months ago, Gordy stepped in wet litter with both back paws and this bean ended up having to assist in removing a lot of dried, caked in litter from his little toe beans. I noticed then when I was doing it that his paw pads were looking dry, but I figured it was just from the litter incident .

Now days, I noticed Gordy hasnt been cleaning his back paws as thoroughly as he use to. So I have been checking them out every week to make sure they are clean enough.

Last night I was looking at them, and I noticed at the top of his toe pads, he has calluses. They are flat, but a little discolored. They also peel up. He doesn't seem bothered by them, but I got curious enough to check out doctor Google.

From what it seems like is (a) he either has very dry paws that I need to get moisture back into, or (b) a weird condition called horned paw.

I'll try and snag a picture of it later... his patience for me looking at his feet is thing right now. Lol

Anyone seen it before on their kitty?

 

I have a cat with horned paws. Some of his paw pads have the callused look. A couple actually have the "horns". It's called a "Cutaneous horn". I thought they looked like extra claws. My vet just clipped it off with nail clippers, so that's what I do, too. Do check with the vet to be sure that's what it is before trying that yourself!

 

Here's as good of pictures as I'll manage. There aren't any that are forming horns yet, but the hardest part of the calluses is the top part that faces the claws. (These are 2 different toes)


Im also going to give him a bath this weekend. Its been awhile and i think those back claws really need the extra assistance for the moment.

I guess I am lucky that he is use to having his paws handled since we've trimmed them since he was a wee kitten.

 

So it doesn't seem to bother your kitty?
I'm going to have it looked at next time we go to the vet. Just another item added to the list lol

 

In looking at your photos, it's just that little white callus thing, right? I don't clip the ones that look like that. Because there are a variety of causes for this condition, it's good you are planning on showing it to the vet on the next visit.

And Erik is only bothered by it when I start looking at his claws, which makes him nervous. When one in particular gets very long and I clip it off when I trim his nails, but I don't do anything with the small ones. It's made of keratin, which is what nails are made of. His long one looks kind of like this - the real nail is on top, almost pointing to the horn.

 

Thanks @Maggies Mom Debby for the extra info! I'll keep my eye on it and see if anything getting bigger. For your kitty, after the callus is trimmed, does it grow back quickly?

I know its not a thing to necessarily panic about, but now I am paranoid LOL

At G's age, some of "old age" things are beginning. I was told last year he has beginning stage glucoma (or maybe cataracts.... I can't remember) and i believe he has a touch of arthritis setting in too. Poor fellow - like he doesnt have enough things to deal with.

 

Erik’s has had the horned paws all his life. They do grow back, but I’ve never really tracked how fast.

 

Years ago I had a very elderly cat that would develop calluses like these. She also had a couple of claws that became very thick and curved back too close to the pad. They were hard to clip properly and she wasn’t agreeable to having her paws handled.