My Cat is Limping.

Hello scaredyandgaga,

 

I have been a foster home for a local cat rescue for about 2 years now.  Our home specializes in kittens with distemper, kittens with severe upper respiratory and mother cat with kittens.  When everyone is finally healthy they start ripping around here like their tails are on fire.  We've seen our fair share of injuries.  Our director has always said watch for 12 hours very closely.  Look for swelling at the site, drooling, increased temperature and rapid breathing.  Any of these things are are trip to the vet.  Expect them to lay around and not be themselves.  I've done ice in a zip-lock back wrapped in a dish towel and layed on the site for no more than 5 minutes at a time.  If its a sprain it will slowly improve.  

 

You mentioned she won't let you check it.  We have used a towel to secure our fosters, just so we can get a look say at the pads of her paw.  Could she have something in it?  

 

Kittens have a way of talking the older cat into engaging in some good ol' fashioned fun! Mostly it's good for them (a little exercise never hurt anyone), but sometimes they go a little beyond their limit.  Separating them won't hurt anything and your 3 year old may appreciate the time to heal.  So, check her through out the night for the things mentioned above.  If she is the same or worse in anyway, try to get her into your regular vet.  Waiting through out the day will only cost you more in the long run if you have to take her to an animal emergency clinic.  Plus, the option to do a pymt plan is NOT available there.  Your kitties vet will be your best bet for that.  Mine has taken half up front and agreed to a post dated check or two to be deposited at an agreed upon time.  It is a tough time for us all financially, but I bet your vet will work with you if it comes down to it.

 

Best to you and please update as to the status of your girl!

Surely is possible they two had some rough play and your 3 yr. old got injured. I have had that from time to time. If you kitty is eating, drinking, using the litter box and otherwise acting normal and the limp does not progress then I would just watch closely. Might be a good idea to separate them for a day or two so she can rest. I would also just call the vet and run it past them - if there is anything else you can do or watch for.

Dear Foster Mama,

 

I have a similar problem with my two year old cat. I noticed that he was limping today on his front right paw. He is still climbing stairs and jumping from the bed. He's walking with a limp and when he sits he holds it up.. I just got my 10month old cat 3 weeks ago and she is finally coming out of her shell.. so i think they were playing in the middle of the night and he landed wrong.. I think the joint that is bothering him would be equivalent to our wrist. I dont want to take him to the vet right now, but will take him if it is still a problem tomorrow or thursday . My question to you is: Should I put ice on my cats leg? Is it good for him? There is no blood. There is nothing stuck in his paw or pads.. its not really that swollen but i can tell its tender when i touch it.. 

 

Thank you.

 

 

he post you are questioning is over a month old, so you may not receive any responses.  Since it has already been over a day, how is he doing today?  Still holding that paw up?  Did you take him to the Vet, or at least give them a call?  As to whether you should ice it or not, that is not really something we can say or not, not knowing your cat or his hiistory.  That is something that your Vet should determine.  Sorry.  Hope he is better today
 

 

Thank you for the reply- yes I just googled "my cat is limping" and that's what came up.. haha

 

Ziggy is doing better. I took him to the vet two days ago and they think he sprained it... They gave him some pain meds and told me to keep him in a room for a week. He is now walking on it with a limp... not holding it up like he was on Tuesday. 

 

I am nervous about my other cat Max, ever since I introduced my a new cat (Tabby) into the home i've had nothing but problems with the cats.. Tabby has adapted well, but i'm sure she's the one who gave Zig a work out to sprain his paw.. Max on the other hand, has become ill... When I took Tabby to her first vet appointment, a week after i adopted her... the vet told me she had tested positive for worms.... now since she was in the house for a week i had to give my other two cats the worm medicine too... I noticed Max  was acting strange after two doses of the medicine and took him to the vet last sunday.. The vet said that he has a fever, and gave him some meds and to stop the worm med. Then, right before I took Zig to the vet on Tuesday night, Max started minorly limping on his back left leg... So i didn't hesitate and brought him along to Ziggy's appointment. At the vet Max wouldn't show that he was limping, but the vet checked and didnt give him anything for it.. He is still not walking right.. he's taking a shorter stride on his back left then his back right... He hasn't been as active since he had obtained the fever and hasn't even gotten up to look at Tabby... so i'm just thinking hes just not active.... But two cats limping in one day? Max was walking on it, not holding his leg up like Zig was.. But max screams at me every time i try to pick him up or shift him if he is sitting on my lap, which is not like him.. 

 

Any thoughts? 

-Kristine

Sounds like Max is definitely in discomfort.  But you already took him in the be checked and the Vet didn't find anything wrong with him?  Did he thoroughly exam that leg, or just kind of ignore it since he wasn't limping at that time?  I'd call the Vet back and explain what he's doing. 

 

It sounds like they all got in some sort of tussle and the two boys got the worse end of it.  Is Tabby a younger, sprier cat?  Are the boys seniors?  I know in my house, my two "teens" completely run over my senior guy, who's arthritic anyway, so he just tries to stay out of the way as best he can, poor guy