The term 'bottoms of paws' refers to the soft, padded area on the underside of an animal's paw. This area is made up of thick, cushiony skin and fur that helps protect the animal's feet from injury and provides traction when walking. The crossword solution for this term is 'PADS, ' which is an acronym for 'Protective Animal Digit Support.' Pads are essential for animals to be able to walk and run without pain or discomfort.