My sister-in-law just found out that her dog has the same problem.She took the dog to get her nails cut and they spotted the problem.The pads on on her paws are rough and cracked.They told her to keep putting cream on them to lubricate the pads.Make sure its non perfume.If it dont clear up I would suggest bringing the little one to the vet,for this can turn into a serious problem.Since cats lick themselves more often I suggest you bandage them overnight to ensure your kitty is getting some treatment.Hope this is a bit of help to you.

Felix.