swollen paw pads-cat

Question
my cats paw pads are swollen, reddish purple, & peeling. they seem to be very sensitive when i touch them, & there about 3xs bigger than my other cats pads. could this be allergy related or something more serious?

Answer
This could be something that the cat is getting into on some surface.  SOmetimes chemicals on the yars or concrete can cause that type of reaction.  It could also be from wounds.  I would recommend having your vet check the paws to see if there are pus pockets or just swellings.