Kitten Limping/ Stiffness

My 4 month old kitten has been limping with stiffness. I suspect my mild sprain from jumping out of a too a little too high. I can't see any swelling or feeling and warmth. She can bear some weight and walks for short times on it before resorting to limping. Joints move and no indications of a break or dislocation. She remains very active, maybe resting a little more today. Her appetite is good and show no other signs of pain other than the limping. She runs but is showing difficulty in jumping. I plan on having the vet look at her if she is still limping and not progressing when i take her in fro her rabies but want to do qny kind of home nursing interventions until then. Other than icing it, is there anything else i could be doing? Her name is Angel
Kris

Which paw is she limping on? It could be Luxating Patella, which is what Luna has.

My now 8 mo old has done this twice in his lifetime with us, which has been about 6 months now. We were like you, totally baffled by what happened. We put a warm rice sock in his bed with him while he snoozed to help him get more mobile. Just take an old tube sock, fill with dry rice, tie off the top and then nuke in the microwave till warm.

Keep an eye on her. If you notice any swelling or change in mobility, get her to the vet.

Thanks for the replies so far. Angel is limping on her back right leg. She has become a little quieter, slightly uncoordinated and favoring it more. It does look only slightly swollen as compared to the left leg but I believe her activity will only make it worse. Normally, I would take her to the vet right away but am financailly strapped right now and trying to avoid it as long as I can. Earlier she threw up what looked like water with tiny specks of canned food. I have a heating pad I have for my 12 y/o manx wirh arthritis but Angel has been using that and seems to limp less. Well, Bast is crying for food. That's another story.

Angel is doing a bit better. She's putting partial weight on her foot and not hold it up. I think she's on her way to recovery, but not quite there yet. Will keep u all updated.

Angel happened to have an appointment for her boosters and happened to have her leg checked. It turns out it is broken at the femoral plate. Her knne is at the side of he leg. Vet wants to let nature take is course and see if the knee resetst itself if not them surgery. He'll recheck in march. She remains active, but hurts after playing awhile. Trying ice when she lets me and she lays on the heating pad. I am so overwhelmed with vet bills now Im about to have a nervous breakdown. To add insult to injury Ishi bit the crap put of my moms hand and the docotr had to turn him into the police. Hes now quarrentined for 10 days then will have to get current on his rabies. I don't want to 3ven think how much that fine is going to set me back.

Dear Kris,

Please don't have a nervous breakdown! You are doing your very best!

I'm so sorry to hear that your Ishi bit your mother! That's such awful news but it's also very important that he does get his rabies vaccine up-to-date.

It's good that you know what is wrong with your Angel. I hope she recovers fully and does not require surgery come March.

Originally Posted by angelkiss

Normally, I would take her to the vet right away but am financailly strapped right now and trying to avoid it as long as I can.

Click to expand...

You seem like you love all of your animals very much. On the other hand, being in a situation in which you are attempting to hold off vet visits as long as you can for financial reasons can't be good for your state of mind or your babies' comfort...

I do hope you find some way to win through this!
And I wish you the best of luck to maintain your calm and find your solution!

Please take care of yourself!

April

Have you talked to the vet about making payments over time, or looked into Care Credit?

I have care credit and over $1600 charged on it. The biggest charge being Bast's back surgery. That has acutally saved me alot over time.

I'm so sorry to read about Angel, hopefully it will heal without her needing surgery!