my cat doesn't want to walk

My 1 yr old car recently started limping. Now she acts perfectly normal except that she doesn't want to walk. She had a little fight with the neighbor's cat a couple days ago, so it might be that she got bit a little on the paw - the neighbor's cat is declared, so she couldn't he scratched. However, I feeling up her leg and applying gentle pressure, and about at the knee she tried to bite me. My parents don't want to pay for the vet and we're going on vacation in 2 days. Please help!:frown2:

If she fought with a declawed cat she could well have been bitten as that is how they defend themselves. A cat bite is a serious thing and can often lead to an abscess. I would strongly suggest you persuade your parents to take her to the vet. You don't say how old you are but I am sure you need to ask them again. What will happen to her when you are away? Is there someone good going to look after her? I would make sure they have authority to take her to the vet if she gets worse.

Our neighbor takes care of the cat while we're gone--weirdly enough, the one who owns the cat who bit ours. Not that it makes a difference. She has had many cats, currently only one. I think if it was serious enough she might take the cat to the vet.
I looked at both of her paws and I couldn't see anything. When I felt up her other leg, she tried to bite me when my hand was a little closer to the paw.
I think maybe if it doesn't get any better soon my parents would be willing to take her to the vet, but since we are leaving tomorrow, any perscription would be more for our neighbor to do.
She does walk, but only when she needs to and then short distances before she lays down again.
Because of the limp, she flops on her side when she tries to jump down from something, even a bed. Does that suggest something more serious?
Also, should I try to look more closely at her front legs and paws? They're not swollen last I checked but they could be now--it's been overnight.

Minor (major?) Udate: I went to feed her her soft food, and she tripped and stumbled down the stairs. She landed at the bottom on her side. She quickly got up, but I don't think doing that will help her heal faster. Should we try to keep her in an enclosed space to avoid that kind of thing?

You REALLY need to get her to a Vet! Cats generally don't trip and fall down stairs!

The question is, will my parents have the time too? We are going away for a week tomorrow, and we need the whole day to pack! I don't know where we'll find the time.

It is difficult to see a bite wound, and sometimes the infection goes inwards so there is no swelling till later. One way you might tell something is wrong is to hold both paws and feel if one is hotter than the other - heat shows ans infection. She does need a vet, though, if she has to wait a week she could be very sick by the time you get back, and she is obviously in pain.

This could also be a broken bone.  Can the neighbor take the cat to the vet?  She needs to see a vet today.

That's the weird part. When she's laying down she's perfectly fine. She can wash herself just fine too. It's just that she doesn't want to walk a lot, and when she does, her back is slightly hunched and she doesn't walk far.

Ok felt up and down both her legs and didn't feel anything. I also learned from my brother that his very destructive friend threw her down fairly hard on a concrete floor and another friend accidentally dropped her. All a little bit before I accidentally opened the door on her

peony said:

That's the weird part. When she's laying down she's perfectly fine. She can wash herself just fine too. It's just that she doesn't want to walk a lot, and when she does, her back is slightly hunched and she doesn't walk far.

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Cats hide pain incredibly well.  Its a protective measure so predators don't realize that they have now become prey.  I recused a kitten like that once.  Two broken legs, broken back, broken pelvis, and pneumonia.  Purred like crazy and laid in my arms as if he was comfortable.  I assure you he wasn't.

Your cat needs a vet, and you need to call the police on your brother's friend.  Actually, from the sound of it, the police need to talk to your brother too.

Even though it's bad timing, my mom decided to make an appointment with the vet.

If she doesn't want to walk, it sounds like she's in pain. Animals won't randomly fall down the stairs or decide they're too lazy to move - for them, these signs are a physical problem. Maybe her knee slipped out of place, maybe she has a bite wound, maybe a bone is out of place, etc. These are all painful things that shouldn't wait a week to be seen.

Why are these people allowed near your cat? No one should be throwing cats down or dropping them. With that new information, I would say she certainly needs a vet. Even if her bones are fine, impact from being dropped or thrown (this is a very important key word!! it means there was inherent force!), her organs could be damaged. I don't know why we're making excuses, and I hate to be brash, but your cat needs medical attention and to be kept safe from people and cats who have any intent to cause her harm.

peony said:

Even though it's bad timing, my mom decided to make an appointment with the vet.

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Good.  Even if all you do is drop the cat off and leave town, please get her to a vet.  And please tell mom about what brother said.

My brother's friend has always been destructive, but he's never mistreated Peony before. And why my brother?

I had read that cats hide pain well. I had also heard that they also purr to comfort themselves by purring when they're in pain

And my mom was there when my brother told us what happened.

peony said:

My brother's friend has always been destructive, but he's never mistreated Peony before. And why my brother?

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Why do I feel your brother needs to speak to the police?  To tell them what he saw these other boys do to your cat.  Many criminals that hurt other people started with animals first. 

OK...

Only one boy intentionally hurt her. The other one accidentally dropped her.