Help - Piston is limping

So as a lot of you know yesterday was Pistons yearly and he got a three year rabies shot.   He is now limping but he wasn't limping yesterday.   I have called the vet but they told me to make sure he is eating and drinking (He is doing both and he is getting lots of love).  I just wanted to ask opinions if this was the way to go or should i rush him to the emergency vet.  He was really going at the carrier yesterday too though so he might just be sore.   I don't know and I am in a state.   I have been crying and i baked him more chicken.  Please Help.

@gothikitten ...I hope your Piston is doing better.

I'm also thinking that the rabies shot may have just made his leg sore, like when us humans have to get a flu shot in the arm.

One of the members, here, mentioned that her cat also was limping on his leg for a while, after an injection, but that everything turned out fine.

The injection may just have caused some inflammation in the leg.

When my cats got their yearly rabies injection, they ended up with some small type of bumps at the site of entry...that felt like small 'pea sized' hard spots, and I was also very worried.

But my cats were not limping, and so I just kept an eye, or feel, on the spots, and asked the vet when I saw him again. He said that sometimes, reactions to injections were normal, depending upon where the injection was, and how the muscle or skin reacted.

I was told to make sure to ask the vets if they are using the 'non-adjuvanted' vaccines.

There is a good article from here: http://consciouscat.net/2014/09/15/new-3-year-non-adjuvanted-rabies-vaccine-cats-now-available/

mentioning that the injection may cause some soreness.

"Some vets report a slightly higher incidence of injection site soreness and malaise for 24-48 hours following the injection as compared to the 1-year product."

As long as Piston is eating and drinking, and using his litterbox, he should recover well from the rabies shot.

I would only take him in, if the limping got worse, and if he could not put any weight on the leg.

I do hope Piston feels better, tomorrow. And that will make you feel better, too.

@cat nap, I must seem like the world's most overprotective mother. He is eating, drinking and using the litterbox just fine. I am just worried because he is my baby and i hate seeing him sore. He does seem to be getting back to his normal level of activity which makes me happy. He has started following me around the house again a couple of hours ago. I am giving him his regular food and purified water. Now, he is only slightly favoring the back leg. Hopefully Tuesday all soreness will be gone.

@gothikitten...It does sound like he is doing better. Yay.

And no, you don't seem like the 'world's most overprotective mother'... ...You just sound like all us usual folks, here on the Cat Site.

I think when it comes to our cats not feeling their best, we all are overprotective, and worry.

It is hard, because we can only take educated guesses, call our vets, take our vet's advice and wait and see.

The 'wait and see' is the hardest part.

Roll on Tuesday, and that your Piston is back to his usual self.

Then you'll feel ten times better. We all do, and then look back, and think...'how come we worried so much'. It must be like you said, in that we just don't like seeing them sore, hurt, sick or in pain.

I hope you both have a good night.  

(But it's still good that you reported the symptoms to your regular vet...just so they take note of it, and write it down, for future reference.

It may also help other cats, too, if the reactions are similar.)

I called my vet this morning and took Piston in.  He was sore due to the injection but he is home again and running and playing like the baby he is.  He still wants to sleep a little more than usual but the vet says it should go away by tomorrow or the next day.  I would rather be a bit broker and wrong than have money and be worried.  So Piston is good.  She also gave me and yes she gave it to me for free, some catnip to spray in his carrier.  So today, I am putting one of his favorite toys in and keeping the carrier open.  He will have 365 days to get used to it.

Thabk you everyone for your words of encouragement and advice. This morning i woke up to a very happy boy who gave me kisses and lots of love. He is in the window watching bird tv after a play session so he is no longer limping or in pain. Thank you so much for helping me through this.

@gothikitten...this is great news. So glad that Piston is back to his usual self.

And so cute that he is 'watching bird tv'.  That is such a cute way to say it.

Also good that you took Piston back in to see the vet, because I totally agree with you...better to spend and have less worry. Some vets do not charge for 'rechecks' or charge half...but it must depend upon the vet place, or what is involved.

I was a little curious, though, about that 'catnip spray'....Can you post again, if it works, to attract Piston to his carrier. (I thought some cats get slightly hyper,and attracted to catnip...while others get sleepy on catnip...so I'm just wondering how Piston will react.)

Some members did mention 'feliway spray' for calming a cat, before using a carrier. Spraying it on the carrier. I've never used it, so don't really know.

And I did read that covering the carrier in a towel, light blanket or t-shirt might help to calm a cat while he's in the carrier. (I did see a person do this at my vet's office, in the waiting room...so it might work.)

Like you said, Piston will have a lot of time to get used to his carrier...so you can try all sorts of food, treats, cat beds, or toys to get him more comfortable. Keeping it always open, like you said, is a good idea, too.