Cat limping

So my cat is super energetic and every once in awhile when he plays rough I notice that he limps on his back leg. He doesn't cry and he still plays and eats and everything normally. Sometimes he will even run while limping. I called the vet and made him an appointment a few weeks ago and then that day he was totally fun and running around like crazy. I don't know if this is normal or something I should be worried about. I would hate to spend a fortune at the vet for them to tell me that he's fine as he seems to be but I also don't want whatever it is to get worSe if it's not treated.

Has anyone ever experienced something like this with their fur baby? Any suggestions? Thanks!

How old is your cat?

hexiesfriend said:

How old is your cat?

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He's not even a year old yet. He'll be a year at the end of November .. He's big tho. He part Maine coon

That's normal kitten behavior and the later ramifications. They run around like crazy and occasionally overdo it and regret it. If the limp last more than a day I would start worrying.

hexiesfriend said:

That's normal kitten behavior and the later ramifications. They run around like crazy and occasionally overdo it and regret it. If the limp last more than a day I would start worrying.

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Oh it never lasts more then a day which is why I always cancel the vet appointments. Lol! Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll just wait lol

I am not sure if this this the right forum so admin, please feel free to move this post.

I was just wondering about the Maine Coon cat breed. I got a kitten in January and was told he was half Maine Coon. Which I do believe but I was just wondering how big, on average, do they get?

I have an appointment with the vet for him on Monday because he has been limping and the vet reminded me over the phone to make sure I am keeping his weight down. He will be a year at the end of November and he already weighs about 10lbs. Is that normal or too big?  I don't know whats normal for Maine Coon cats and he is growing very fast. And I do not over feed him at all. I am afraid of what the vet is going to say on Monday in regards to his weight.

Here is a recent picture. Keep in mind he has A LOT of fur

update: i called the vet and told him what was going on. He said it definitely was not an emergency since he's playing and running and jumping still but would like to see him anyways because it could make things worse in which case he would need surgery. Which i would like to prevent if i could. I made him an appointment for monday morning to see whats going on.

I would just have the vet check the knee joint and hip joint by exam I wouldn't spend money on any expensive X-rays for a kitten that periodically limps after over playing if your cat has not pain upon physical exam.

Yes thats the plan. He told me over the phone that a lot of the time he can just feel the leg and see whats wrong with it. I noticed that its been almost 2 days and he has still been limping. He runs a lot and playing and jumps still but when he stands still, he wont put any pressure on his hurt leg. Thats why my vet suggested he should check it out so it doesnt get worse. He said it sounds like a knee thing. He also said a lot of other things but that they are rare in kittens.

My other concern is that hes half Maine Coon and I was reading up on Maine Coons and it says because they get to be so big, sometimes they have hip dysplasia .. so i am wondering if that could be a factor. He is 10 months old and weights about 10 lbs

Purebred Maine Coons can get up to the 20-25 pound range without being overweight. It's hard to tell what is going to be normal for your kitty, especially if you don't know what else he has in him.

This position perhaps not the best to  decide possible owerweight, but he doenst seems fat on that pic.  As you say, he is longhaired and has the genetic possibilites to get naturally large.

A diet mainly on wet food is usually the easiest way to keep them in shape, plus lotsa of exercise.  

I hope he will get OK with the limping, that being nothing serious.

Was he properly  vaccinated? with the FCRV)? "core" vaccine?

  The quite common calici-virus may make the limp - typical may be, they limp at first on leg, several days later on the another...

And it goes over after some time...

Anyways, good and proper you are going in for a vet check up.

His limping has been off and on, on the same back left leg for a month or so. The vet said over the phone that whatever it is is not an emergency as he is walking and running and playing normally but to definitely bring him it to get checked cause whatever it is he does not want it to get worse and then need surgery.

As far as his vaccines, he has been vaccinated when he was 8 weeks old and I got him fixed and his rabies at 12 weeks.

I am wondering if its just because he is a bigger cat and growing fast and he plays rough so he keeps hurting himself. or maybe a hip displaysia type thing which is common in maine coon cats.

Here is an article that give information, including size, about the Maine Coon cat. http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-maine-coon-cat Your cat reminds me so much of my Speedboat. Speedboat was a large cat, about sixteen pounds when he was in his prime health. He had no fat on him, but was just a big cat. Because he had urinary issues, the vet thought his weight needed to be controlled so he ate a prescription cat food from Hills up until the end of his life. At that time, I just fed him what he would eat. I hope your cat will be okay.

Some say hip dysplasia is more prominent in Main Coons because of their size, but I personally believe there is more to it than that. HD is genetically inherited and both parents either have to have the condition or carry the trait. Reputable Maine Coon breeders test for the gene.

Maine Coons are also not the only breed who gets HD. It can occur in virtually any breed and is usually found in larger breeds or overweight cats because they bear more weight. Other factors can contribute to the development of HD regardless of size, age or breed.

A kitten as young as 6 months can begin to show signs of hip dysplasia by intermittent limping, being less active - less running and especially jumping - as before, including refusal to walk at all and, of course, showing signs of pain (Keep in mind that cat's are very good at hiding pain, so don't always assume that they are not hurting!).

Because hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip joint, the only way to accurately determine if that is the cause of your cat's limping, an x-ray should be done (it's best to several views from different angles so it's not missed). Sometimes, if you have a REALLY GOOD and experienced vet, s/he might be able to detect or suspect HD by moving the affected leg/hip and feel 'popping' of the joint and/or a malformation, depending on the severity at that point, after which a series of x-rays is recommended. 

My Kricket is a Maine Coon and HD is always in the back off my mind. He will be 18 months in a few weeks and weighs 13.9 pounds and isn't (and never was) as fast, agile or acrobatic as his brother Keeker, who is a DSH, the exact same age and weighs 14.2 pounds. While Keeker loves to climb on the highest perch he can find, Kricket is content on lower furniture and the floor. When playing, he doesn't jump nearly as high or quickly. About 20% of the time, when jumping on a table or window sill, he will lose his balance and drop to the floor. I have never noticed him limping and he does get very physically active with his brother during their episodes of chasing each other and wrestling.

Having been a nurse for over 20 years, I am  constantly observing him and I keep a journal with his medical records of the times I notice his 'clumsiness' (especially noting the weather or if he had been laying over an a/c vent and got cold). I also physically check him by doing range-of-motion on his hind legs while I am grooming him - it's part of his full body massage that he absolutely loves. I watch for tenderness and signs of discomfort and pain, feel for swelling or other abnormalities, and I watch how walks when we are finished.

Some might think I am an 'overly protective' Momma but, if anything, I feel the ROM and massage are beneficial to his overall wellness and it gives me an opportunity to assess him. 

Because he is in excellent health (just had his yearly wellness check), eats well and gets plenty of fluids (from wet food and his water fountain), and doesn't display any signs of pain during his grooming time, I am under the belief that he is just an occasional clutz. 

Should he ever develop HD, I know that it is treatable with medications for pain and inflammation and, eventually, surgery. (Never medicate or treat your cat without advice from your vet!)

I cannot diagnose - nor would I attempt to, but another reason for your cat to be limping could be a result of a severe bruise or a possible pelvic or leg fracture secondary to a jump/fall or collision with a piece of furniture. I often wonder how my boys survive sometimes when I hear them crashing into walls and table legs while running through the house!

Also, never (never!) grab your cat by it's tail! That is the continuation of their spine and pulling a cat's tail can result in spinal cord damage! 

A good motto to live by regarding your cats is: "When in doubt, check them out"!  

In closing, to answer the questions about the size of Maine Coons, not all MC will grow to be gigantic. Average healthy weight for a female is 10 to 15 pounds and males 15 to 25 pounds. They can gain 2 pounds per month during kitten-hood vs the average domestic 1 pound weight gain and can take 3 to 5 years to reach maturity.

Healthy weight is based on their skeletal structure. While Kricket is a decent size, I doubt he will ever reach 25 pounds. Personally, I think anything over 18 to 20 pounds, even for a large breed, is pushing the limit and asking for health issues. 

Here is a picture of Kricket at almost 18 months and 13.9 pounds -

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Thank you for all your great advice!! My Loki is 10months and I'm sure weighs at least 10lbs .. I do not over feed him & he doesn't over eat so I know he can't be overweight.. He's just a big boy!

As far as the HD, we'll find out monday. I do know that he started limping when he jumped down off my kitchen counter. I assumed he just landed wrong and he walked it off & was fine. He happened a few times after that only after a play session. He is a very rough player! Then of course I got more concerned and called my vet. I hope it's nothing that will require surgery!

Update: this morning it looked like it was getting better & then idk what he did but he made it worse & he's been crying and morning all day. Thank god I have his appointment tomorrow morning! I feel so bad that I can't help him!

update #2: The vet did some Xrays.. he has a Luxating Patella.. basically his knee caps on both of his back legs are in the wrong spot. almost like being bow legged. Something he was born with, its genetic. The only way to fix this is surgery which is super expensive and uncommon in cats. normally dogs get this kind of surgery. But where he is not even a year old yet and still has some growing to do, Im thinking that we need to wait. His limping is so off and on and yesterday afternoon he seemed totally fine. The vet told me its certainly not an emergency to get the surgery done so it is ok to wait but surgery should definitely be done otherwise it wont go away on its own and he will just be hurting.

has anyone ever had this issue with their cats?