Kitten with Swollen Joints on All 4 Legs

A friend recently called me about a litter of three kittens that showed up at their country home, probably around 8-9 weeks old. They are very friendly, obviously dump offs. Two of them are very healthy, active. All three are clean, no ear mites, no fleas, no goopy eyes/noses. But the one, a calico, is VERY underweight, very bony. Her joints are very swollen in all four legs. I originally thought it was only her two rear legs, but I was wrong, it's all four.

She has a hard time walking, her back is hunched. Her spine is very sharp. She is SOOOOOO friendly. She has a purrmotor like you wouldn't believe. I was worried about her ability to escape predators and traffic. So, I went and picked her up. I have her here, in my bathroom. I'm such a sucker. A stupid, royally screwed, sucker.

She goes to the vet tomorrow. I wanted to take her in tonight but I had a 6:00 appointment I couldn't reschedule, and they aren't open this late. So I will take it in first thing in the morning.

Anyway, it's drivin' me crazy wondering what would effect all four legs like that, with no visible injuries, like a hit by a car, animal attack, bug bite..... or anything. Does anyone have any suggestions, experiences, thoughts? I have secluded her from my personal cats, for her sake and in case she is carrying something contagious.

I hope to know more tomorrow, but figured in the meantime, I could hop around the internet and see if I could find anything out myself. Anyone?

The only thing that pops into mind for a kitten that age with inflamed joints is Limping Kitten Syndrome. I've had cats with it before -- in fact, 2 of the 4 I have now had it as kittens, and they've all made full recoveries. Think of it as the cat flu. I found a link and am posting it so that you can compare the symptoms: http://www.fabcats.org/owners/cat_fl..._syndrome.html

Bless you for helping out this little fur baby. I'm a sucker too: it's how I ended up with 4 kitties instead of 1.

Very interesting, thank you for the link..... (fellow sucker. This kitty makes #6 for us. But thats temporary....she is not staying Get her healthy, and then adopted.)

I've been searching and searching on 'cat swollen legs' etc. and I get a LOT of broken leg type results. I don't think this is the case since it effects all 4. My husband suggested Lyme Disease, which scares the bejeezus out of me, because I have a very unreasonable fear of bugs and the thought of possibly bringing a tick into the house has me doing tick checks and am phantom itching. I looked her over, but I found nothing.

She seems to be doing "ok" but maybe slightly more unstable and sore than she was when I went and picked her up. To the vet bright and early tomorrow.

I hate going into the vets office without at least some clue as to what is going on. I know they're the one with the degree, but I don't like going on blind faith when it comes to the health and lives of an animal. Hopefully they can give me some definitive answers.

Hmm... "This cat is totally not staying. I'm getting it healthy and then finding it a new home..." Boy that sounds familiar. That's what was SUPPOSED to happen with Ginger and Smudge. But now they're both velcro'd to my heart.

Now I have re-homed several over the last 2 years -- the mom of Smudge, Ginger and Cuddles was Loudmouth, and one of the neighbors took her and moved to Texas. Now, the other 12 kittens that Loudmouth had with me before I got her spayed I managed to find homes for.

But those 3... I swear. The thought of finding them new homes now puts holes in my heart. My temporary kitties have become permanent.

I know what you mean about needing to know something BEFORE you get to the vet. I can't count the number of times that my "diagnosis" has been not only right, but something a vet has had to look up. Especially with Prissy. We know our kitties better than the vet does, and we know their normal behavior as well as when they're acting like something's just not right. But this is a stray kitty, and as much as you want to figure this out you don't know anything about her history or normal behavior. You and the vet are honestly right about the same page on this one.

That said, I'm headed to bed. for little kitty, and best of luck. Keep me posted?

I read that you can heat a towel/blanket in the dryer and wrap the kitty in it to help with sore bones, specifically for arthritis but it may comfort her if you suspect shes hurting. Good luck! For the little one!

Well the vet seems to feel that her joints are filled with infection. He compared it to an umbilical infection seen in calves, where the infection settles in the joints even after the original umbilical is healed. So he has put her on antibiotic and now we 'wait and see'.

She's as sweet as they come. Such a trooper. She is 'served' her food and water wherever I find her at feeding time, so she doesn't have to get up and walk too much, but even in her uncomfortable, painful state, she STILL makes the effort to get up, walk to the litterbox, gets in, and even tries to cover when she's done. She's such a wonderful little kitten. I'm really pulling for her.

it's good to have an idea what's going on! I'm sure that the ANtibio's will have her frisky again in no time. for the little sweetheart.

Kitty is not making any improvement. If anything, I believe it is worse. She is at the vets right now for xrays and I will pick her up this afternoon. I'm hoping to get some pain meds for her. Vet feels that if she makes any recovery at all, she may have some joint freeze in her back legs. He feels this would not be painful, but would restrict movement in her legs, making her walk 'wierd'.

How do you all feel about this?

Doc is thinking in terms of adoptability. I am thinking in terms of pain and suffering. I want to fight for her, but I don't want her to suffer for it.

Anyone have any experience with this type of thing? Joint freezing?

There is a little jewelry store in Nashville, and the couple that owns the store have had several kitties there that are either theirs, being babysat, or are up for adoption. One of the boys I met there I've written of before. He had a hip dysplasia problem and was bowlegged. he walked funny but was the sweetest thing ever. Another time, she had a kitty there with a wheelchair! The cat had something wrong with her back legs, which looked whole but stiff. Perhaps it was a spinal injury, or broken hips or legs that never healed well. She had a sling that strapped around her with a wheel on each side so that she could pull herself with her front legs. She was a very special kitty.

Cats can deal with so many things. If she recovers from this but has stiffened back legs, she can still adapt and survive without any problem. I understand wanting her to live without pain, but it could be that she won't have any pain, only limited mobility, and adjustments can be made for that. If she improves and her pain is reduced as she recovers, then she's going to be a special needs girl with a whole lot of love to give. But if she only worsens over time, it is going to be your decision when the time comes to give her peace.

for this special girl, and good luck.

If she recovers from this but has stiffened back legs, she can still adapt and survive without any problem. I understand wanting her to live without pain, but it could be that she won't have any pain, only limited mobility, and adjustments can be made for that. If she improves and her pain is reduced as she recovers, then she's going to be a special needs girl with a whole lot of love to give. But if she only worsens over time, it is going to be your decision when the time comes to give her peace.

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THIS is exactly my thoughts. I'm glad as an outsider lookin in, you feel the same way. I try to keep an even balance of what is best for the animal, without attaching too many of my own personal feelings. It's hard (impossible?) not to completely fall in love and become emotionally involved with cases like this.

crazybird said:

THIS is exactly my thoughts. I'm glad as an outsider lookin in, you feel the same way. I try to keep an even balance of what is best for the animal, without attaching too many of my own personal feelings. It's hard (impossible?) not to completely fall in love and become emotionally involved with cases like this.

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I am years late for this conversation, but what happened with kitty? I am going through something similar. Left front elbow joint knotted up in 12 day old kitten who had a damaged umbilical cord at birth and doc thought it may be that same bacteria causing such a thing in calves. He's been on antibiotics for a week and has had it lanced several times, but it does not drain now, it's hard form outside and dense cottage cheesy texture inside. We are waiting on results of a culture now. He is otherwise healthy and tenacious.

I am a human doctor, not a vet, but human polyarthritis is not uncommon, due to auto-immune disease.

I understand that a similar feline auto-immune polyarthritis can also occur.
Geoffrey

I would love to find out what the Dx was ...

I am the founder of a cat/kitten rescue.
Aug 2017 ... 3 week old female... huge opening right hip...
Looked like an abscess that ruptured---but you could nearly see the bone.
X ray at that time showed no broken bone.

2 months later - xray showed infection had eaten into her joint and bone.
Discussed amputation as a possibility in future.

She and I fell in love and I decided to add her to my family.

May - 2018 Starting to limp.... took her in for xray of hip last week.
hind leg is about half the size it should be... no joint... Limping is due to permanent damage.... amputation is still a possibility.... but right now she is active.

2 days later we are back at the vet as she wont place weight on her front left paw. X ray of limb shows elbow joint is deteriorated and bone mass is darkening. we xrayed every joint.... they are all doing the same thing.... deteriorating.

Complete blood panel looked great. Sent urinalysis off yesterday to test for fungal?????

She is very healthy at 6lbs 4oz.... beautiful healthy coat - and appetite. No weight loss at all.