How long to heal a muscle?

[simone's mom]

If kitty has a funny gait, I'm assuming she pulled a muscle. There is no pain upon examination, but she is taking it easy. How long til she's her old self?

 

[sandie]

It's not good to assume. There could be something other than a pulled muscle. Cats hide pain very well, it's a built in instinct. If it is a muscle injury, depending on what kind it could take months to heal.

 

[cloud_shade]

We had a cat who suddenly had a leg that would slide out from under him. It didn't bother him, but it never healed properly. I would consult (over the phone initially) with a vet.

 

[jennyr]

If it lasts more than 48 hours without improvement I would go to a vet. Cats heal fast if they are going to naturally (they have to in the wild) and she may have a hidden abscess or something in her paw pad, apart from the possibility of muscle injury.