Cat still in pain almost 5 days after vaccine ??

My 14 month cat got her booster shot at the vet 4 days ago. She went through the sleepy, grumpy cycle like my other cats before her. Now she's past that, but it still hurts her when I touch her rear leg  ( where she had the shot ) even if just caressing her. I don't feel any lump. Called the vet, and the technician said it is normal. It's been almost 5 days, and I don't remember any of my other cats symptoms  lasting that long after vaccination.

Anybody experience same thing with your cat after 5 days ?

@Zeiter how's it going now?

Thanks for asking Mani. She's more active, but still I can't touch her on that spot. I feel some swelling ( compared to the rear left foot ), and she'll meow if I touch her there. She's not limping, she runs, jumps, etc... just sensitive area. it's been 9 days today since shot. Called the vet yesterday, he said it is normal and sometimes it could last for few weeks. Called the breeder where I got her, and she disagrees and said never had anything last more than 3 or 4 days. Can't go and lecture the vet, so a little confused. She never stopped eating after the shot, but till this day, she does not have that appetite like before. She used to jump all over me when preparing her food, sand he used to lick the plate clean, now she leaves the little pieces ( she eats canned food ), and no jumping, just going quietly to the plate like it's a duty. She's the only cat among my 4 that has never been sick, no vomiting, excellent health, and very easy to feed, eats anything. But now, that's not the case.

It's not something I've come across.  Is it worth consulting another vet, or would you prefer to just wait and see?

I'll wait one more week and take it from there as the cat is eating and playing .

Let us know how she's going.

Well I'm glad to say that it took 12 days after the shot for swelling to disappear, and no more pain. As of this morning, I can touch her at that spot without any meowing or anything. Never thought it could last 12 days. As for the food, still not 100 % appetite, but almost there. I don't think I'll ever vaccinate her again  as she's strictly indoor cat, and I won't do the shots also for my other cats. They're all strictly indoor cats. They've had their booster at a little over a year of age, and that's it for me.

Not sure what the laws are in your area but here if your cat bites someone and they go to hospital you need proof of vaccinations or they take your cat away for a week for observation.

Something like that happened once with one of mine. One-time situation, fine every other time. I got the impression that maybe the injection went where it shouldn't - aggravated muscle or bone or something. Maybe 5-7 days, not twelve, but sounds pretty similar. We just cuddled her a lot until she was feeling better. I probably should have taken her in, but it was local to the injection site and she seemed to be responding in a normal way given her leg was bothering her (eating a bit less, lying down more, etc).

If you've never had that problem before, you probably won't (necessarily) see it again. This one cat obviously should be closely watched but I think skipping them altogether for all the cats is a bit drastic.

And I'd switch vets if you're seriously concerned, and explain to them when you go next that this is something that happened.

I would go to another vet I wouldn't wait. But I get nervous if anything happens to my cats. They r still kittens but everytime I go into my vet he talks with me then explains everything then does wut he says. I don't know I would just b nervous I would get another vet.

chrisszy said:

I would go to another vet I wouldn't wait. But I get nervous if anything happens to my cats. They r still kittens but everytime I go into my vet he talks with me then explains everything then does wut he says. I don't know I would just b nervous I would get another vet.

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Yeah, the vet seemed a little too casual for me. That would make me more uneasy, I don't like feeling as though they think I'm totally overreacting, especially considering I've had other cats and have a baseline for 'normal'.

Wait and see is fine if it doesn't look like an emergency, but bringing them in is also fine. It's your 'baby'.

My regular vet which I've known for over 20 years does not do shots anymore. He's now assigned  at more important cases. The vet who gave the shot  at the same clinic was very very young, and I think he got the training at Bestbuy as he was more interested in selling me all kinds of other possible shots, suggesting other products and tests, etc...

I gave mine half a baby aspirin after the second day of screaming and not eating. And it did wonders. You can only give it every other day but he was back to being my sweety after it.

Do not give aspirin or ibuprofen to cats. It can put them into kidney failure or kill them. NSAiDs are very dangerous for both cats and dogs but especially cats. Only do so if you have consulted with the vet.