My cat’s paw pads are red and swollen but it eats and drinks normally; no visible injury, what should I do?

Swollen red paw pads can have several causes. First, a foreign object lodged in the pad: remove it, disinfect with iodine, apply pet anti-inflammatory ointment and give oral antibiotics. Second, interdigital dermatitis from long hair or damp ground: clear the hair between toes and pads, disinfect with iodine, then apply ointment and oral medicine.

Third is licking dermatitis, which needs limiting over-licking. In all cases use an Elizabethan collar to stop licking the paws or medicine. Since appearance alone cannot confirm the cause, have a vet do a skin exam and scrape to diagnose and treat correctly.