Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

Cat burned paw on stove, now red. How to treat it without a vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered

Hi, my cat jumped into a mild heated stove and one of his feets got burned a couple days ago. I applied ice fewer time and it seemed to get better but now the redness has shown up. He seems fine but his burn looks really disturbing. I dont have a vet in my town. This is the best help I am relying on for now. Please help

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 26th, 2018

This is a bad burn, but doesn't look too bad and should heal well with treatment over the next couple of weeks. The best thing you can do is flush the wound using a syringe or other dispensing device with cool water for five minutes. This may not be easy, because cats tend to hate water on their paws. I recommend having someone help you with this and wrapping Zorro in a towel to make sure the wound gets flushed well. Below is a link to a demonstration of an eye flush that shows how to restrain her well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDGzdUTUdNI Infection is the biggest concern with burns; so after flushing, it's best to apply an antibacterial cream to the wound. Silver sulfadizine is the best for burns and you may be able to get this at the pharmacy. In order to keep the wound clean, it's best to flush the wound 1-2 times a day and gently wipe away any big crusts - make sure not to scrub the wound, because this can make it worse. Apply the antibacterial cream after each flushing. After that, it's best to bandage the paw, or he may lick the cream, which can be bad for him. Bandaging will also help the wound heal faster. There are some helpful videos on YouTube to help you do this well. You can help keep the bandage on by placing a good (really sticky) tape above and below the bandage. I hope that helps and Zorro gets better soon.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Sponsored