White under paw!

Question
I was playing with my kitten today and like usual i was cheaking him to make sure everything was ok. i looked under his paw and saw that instead of a pink under paw it was white!

1. Is this commen?
2. Is my kitten sick?
3. Should i take him to the vet?

Thankyou so much i need to know ASAP please this is a emergency!

-Jennifer

Answer
Jennifer,

I would suggest that your kitten sees a vet just to be sure that there is no parasite burden. I have met cats who are naturally white in the pads. A more reliable indicator of color is their mucous membranes. To look at mucous membranes you will pick your kitten up and lift their top lip. They should have a nice pink tongue and their mouths should not be pale or cold. If they are pink and warm then you are okay although some kittens and cats have dark colored mucous membranes. The tongue should be nice and pink and warm. If your kittens tongue looks pale and is cold you should immediately rush to the nearest open vet clinic as your kitten is likely anemic and the underlying cause needs to be established. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me again.