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My cat burned his paw on the stove. What should I do to help it heal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

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

My cat jumped on my stove after I used it and his paw is burned. I did run cold water on it. Is there anything else I need to do to help it heal?

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4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on December 15th, 2018

Ouch! Running cold water on it was smart. Ideally, he should be seen by your vet since the burn looks like it goes through the pad. This could lead to infection. If this is not possible now, keep the area clean and dry. Use an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent licking. A dab of aloe vera gel can be applied a few times daily. Keep the e-collar on so he doesn't ingest the aloe vera. You may want to use shredded paper towels in the litterbox until the paw heals. Monitor for lameness, lethargy, swelling, discharge or odor. These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian.

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    Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 30th, 2017

    Hello, sorry to hear about Winter. If you did not witness him stepping on the stove I would air on the safe side and have his paws looked at. This may very well be what you're suspecting which if so, is likely very painful and should me cleaned and wrapped to keep his pads protected. He may also need pain medications to get him through this event. However if you would like to monitor at home, I would check him for any bleeding, swelling, redness, discharge or foul smells which may indicate a complication with his foot. Complications may include an infection, inadequate healing, bleeding, pain and discomfort, and the potential to miss a more severe lesion. I would recommend to have him checked by a veterinarian to at least clean and wrap his foot if need be. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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    Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 30th, 2019

    I'm glad that you immediately put a cool, wet cloth onto Tim's paws after his burns. At this point, you should take Tim to a vet tonight for evaluation. Burn injuries are extremely painful and Tim likely requires prescription pain medications. Additionally, once the skin barrier is damaged, there is an increased risk of infection, so antibiotics may be needed. Depending on the degree of the burn, Tim may require special bandages. He should also wear an e-collar (cone) until these injuries have fully healed, as any licking of the wounds will delay healing. Also prepare to use alternates for his normal litter while his paws heal. Shredded paper or Yesterday's News litter make a good substitute that won't get stuck in his paw pads. I hope this helps and that he feels better soon!

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    5Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Marlow Ball, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 6th, 2018

    I am sorry your cat has an injury. I would recommend a visit to the vet for pain meds and maybe a soothing topical medication. An e-collar can also help (but may make your cat a video viral sensation as they do protest). We are trained to take pain seriously in our pets and there really are not ANY safe over the counter pain meds for cats. Hope that helps!

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