Updated September 25, 2026. Fact-checked against veterinary sources; review by a licensed veterinarian is in progress. See our editorial policy.
Quick answer: Paronychia is inflammation or infection of the skin around a cat’s claw (the nail fold). It causes swelling, redness, discharge, and licking or limping. It’s often bacterial or fungal, but it can also be a sign of allergies, an immune disease, diabetes, a viral infection such as FeLV or FIV, or, especially in older cats with several affected toes, cancer. Most cases need a vet exam and several weeks of prescribed treatment. Home care helps but doesn’t replace it.
Signs to watch for
- Swollen, red, or warm skin around one or more claws
- Pus, a crusty or brown waxy discharge, or a bad smell
- Excessive licking or chewing at the paw
- Limping or reluctance to jump
- Deformed, loose, or missing claws
Common causes
- Bacterial infection, often after a torn claw, a cut, or a bite.
- Yeast (Malassezia) or ringworm (dermatophytes), fungal infections that can affect several claws.
- Allergies: itchy cats lick and chew their paws, which lets infection in.
- Pemphigus foliaceus: an immune disease that often causes thick, cheesy discharge around multiple claws plus crusts on the face or ears.
- Underlying illness that weakens the immune system, such as diabetes, FeLV, or FIV.
- Cancer: in older cats, a tumor in the lungs can spread to the toes (“lung-digit syndrome”), and squamous cell carcinoma can start in a nail bed. Several swollen toes on different feet in a senior cat is a red flag.
When to see a vet
See your vet if a toe stays swollen more than a day or two, has pus, or your cat is limping. Go promptly if more than one toe is affected, your cat is older, has lost weight, is breathing differently, or seems unwell.
How vets diagnose it
Your vet may take a sample of the discharge to look at under the microscope (cytology), send a bacterial or fungal culture, and test for FeLV and FIV. X-rays of the toes and chest, bloodwork, or a biopsy may be needed if the vet suspects bone involvement, immune disease, or cancer.
Treatment
- Antibiotics by mouth, often for several weeks, ideally chosen based on a culture.
- Antifungal medication for yeast or ringworm.
- Medicated soaks or topical treatments prescribed by your vet.
- Immune-suppressing medication for pemphigus.
- Surgery, sometimes including removing the affected toe, for severe bone infection or tumors.
- Treating the underlying cause, such as allergies or diabetes, to prevent it coming back.
Safe home care (with your vet’s guidance)
- Soaks: if your vet recommends it, soak the paw in lukewarm water or a dilute antiseptic solution they prescribe, such as chlorhexidine, then pat completely dry.
- Stop the licking: use a cone (e-collar) or soft recovery collar so your cat can’t lick off medication or reinfect the toe.
- Clean litter: scoop often. Your vet may suggest a paper-based litter while the toe heals, since clay litter can stick in wounds.
- Finish the full course of medication, even if the toe looks better.
- Keep claws trimmed to reduce tears and snags.
What to avoid
- Tea tree oil and other essential oils: toxic to cats, even in small amounts on the skin.
- Human creams with pain relievers, zinc, or steroids, which cats will lick off.
- Repeated hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol: they damage healthy tissue and slow healing.
- Squeezing, lancing, or cutting around the nail yourself.
- Leftover antibiotics from another pet or person.
Frequently asked questions
Is paronychia contagious?
Bacterial paronychia usually isn’t. Ringworm, a fungal cause, is contagious to other pets and people, so ask your vet about testing if several pets or family members have skin lesions.
How long does it take to heal?
Many bacterial or yeast cases need 3–6 weeks of treatment. Immune-related cases may need long-term management.
Can I treat it at home without a vet?
Keeping the paw clean helps, but most cases need prescription medication, and some have a serious underlying cause. A vet exam is the safest first step.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Diseases of the claws and claw folds (paronychia) in small animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Pemphigus in cats
- Goldfinch N, Argyle DJ. Feline lung-digit syndrome: unusual metastatic patterns of primary lung tumours in cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2012
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Essential oils and cats
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for care from your own veterinarian. Learn about The Pet Vet and our editorial policy.