Mooch is limping

2 days ago I noticed Mooch was holding her left front paw up when sitting.  I've been keeping an eye on her and she's still doing it some, and I just saw her limping when she walked.  She never lets me touch her legs much anyway; but I don't see swelling or anything.  I ran my hand over her leg and the paw pads and didn't feel anything obvious. 

She is still jumping up on the couch and things with me.  She was just stretching herself up against the door frame to the room she wanted to get into.  She's also jumped in the tub and things like that.  But because cats hide pain I'm afraid to take that as a good sign.  She is 5 1/2 years old now.

Any ideas?  My dog once sprained her paw and the vet just had us take it easy with her for a week.  Should I give it another day or two (my vet does have Saturday hours) or call the vet and see what they say?  She hasn't been on top of the cat tree; but that's been Noodles' domain lately.  Also during the day when my almost 2 year old is up; she normally hides or keeps out of the way. 

Normally Mooch and Noodles aren't allowed in our bedroom because DH is allergic; but I just let Mooch in there and shut the door so she can have some peace.

Can you take a look at the claws and pads?  Maybe she snagged a claw on something and tore it? 

Mooch has been declawed.  I've gotten a few glimpses of her paw pad and it looks fine as far as I can tell.  She's a tuxedo and her pads are both pink and black so it might be hard to see something on the black part.  I've never been able to mess with her feet.  She hates when we trim the back claws.

hi . I would have the vet check out her front paws, it is possible for one of the nails/claws to try to grow back over the years and maybe this is causing some pain now. Just a thought and since she won't let you have a close look at each digit, then a vet should check is out. It could very well be a mild sprain too.

Thanks for your replies.  She was still favoring it this morning but not as bad.  I am going to just give her a little while longer and keep a close eye today.  I know there isn't much to do for a sprain; but I don't want her to be suffering silently either.  Poor girl.  She is hanging out under the tree right now; hiding from DD.

I bet she looks SO cute under that tree !!!!! What a gift, she is :nod: Hope she recover's quickly

Thank you! I hate when one of my babies is sick or hurting, the furless or furry kind!  Poor girl hasn't had much of a chance to come out today.  It's making it hard to see how she is doing.

Ok tonight I managed to get a really good look at Mooch's paw and there is something stuck to one of the toe pads.  I can't tell for sure what it is.  My first thought was litter; but it could just be litter colored from the litter box.  Whatever it is; it's hard.  She wasn't crazy about me (and DH) playing with her paw; but she didn't pull away either. 

Forgot to add; she's been trying to get me to play tonight.  Bringing me her milky rings and things.  Now she's in the chair behind me, curled up and snoring.  Love my Moochie!

MoochNNoodles said:

Ok tonight I managed to get a really good look at Mooch's paw and there is something stuck to one of the toe pads.

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Ah, beat me to it, I was about to recommend just getting a REALLY close look as with all the fur its easy to overlook something as simple as a wood splinter.    Vet trips are expensive and also quite stressful to the cats IMO, so should be minimized when not necessary.  

Did you get it off with some clean tweezers? 

Wesley was limping once too, and I believe it was just a sprain from a fall as these two sometimes chase each other quite dangerously and he's very bold in the height he's willing to jump down from when excited (moth in the house, etc).   Checked it really close palpating the area all over carefully and checked range of motion and what not, watched his behavior which was still chipper, and cleared up in two days.

I wasn't able to get it off last night.  She was "done" with me.  I was afraid to just pull at it then too because I don't know what it is.  I might have to just let the vet take care of it.  I think both girls are due for updated rabies vaccs anyway.  I need to pull our their recs and check.  I haven't been home all day today and I think it's best I don't try unless DH is home with me to help anyway.  I don't want to make anything worse.  But yeah the vet visits are expensive.  Esp to be told something you already know; but then they are the professionals so it can't hurt to go really. 

Poor DH.  I forgot to tell him yesterday that I DIDN'T call the vet's to take her in.  He just so happened to make a delivery there yesterday and there was a big black tuxedo like Mooch laying on a table still under anesthesia.  Oops!

OH no kidding - poor DH ...... More vibes tonight for your Mooch - hope whatever is in that pad works it's way out on it's own, which could be possible. Just make sure an infection doesn't set in. Good luck and hopefully you can get to the vet this week then for the rabies shot's.