Cat owners - when to go to the vet

[fluff48]

Hi fellow cat owners.

When we came in tonight Our 18mth old cat is limping. She was fine this morning and hasn’t been out today. We are not sure if she has hurt herself while playing with her sister.

She Limps when walking and wasn’t able to get comfy when trying to sleep although she is settled now.

She still jumps off the bed etc. She let us touch the limb so I’m not sure if it’s some issue with her paw pads.

Should we leave her to see how she gets on tonight then take her to the vet tomorrow night if no improvement? I don’t want to stress her with the vet if she just needs to rest.

How would you know if a cat was in pain? Is there any signs of pain? Thanks for any advice.

Fluff

[jndt]

One of our cats had a limp last summer. I took him to the vets the same day. No sign of a break etc but the vet gave us painkillers for him as he thought he'd sprained it by landing funny.

Could there be anything in her paw?

[lizzie145]

Cats don't usually show pain. When mine start limping I check for obvious injuries and swelling and if none see how they are the next day.
If all fine great if not off to the vet.

[KC2014]

Will she let you check her paw pads? If nothing obvious I would keep her in overnight and if still limping tomorrow get her checked out.

[PerksP]

We usually leave a limp for 24 hours. Each time it has self-resolved so we haven't had to stress her by putting her in the cat basket and taking her to the vet (which she absolutely hates!)

[fluff48]

Thanks guys. She seemed ok with us touching the actual limp so I think it may be the pads. She has settled down for a nap so I will wait until she wakes then have another look at the pads with a magnifying glass/torch. There seems nothing obvious though.

The two cats are bad for chasing each other around and jumping off the landing to the stairs. I’m not sure if she has maybe landed funny.

Going to head to pets at home to get her some nice fishy food. Poor wee thing. Thanks, fluff

[nadya]

Bless her,my cat dislocated her hip a few weeks ago and the only sign was a limp,she still ate/slept showed no sign of pain,but the limp was very pronounced obviously so we took her straight to the vet.In general though I would agree,24 hours of monitoring her and then reassess.Hope she is fine asap

[redfox5]

My cat always limps when the weather changes drastically, normally from warm to very cold. Think it's a touch of arthritis. I normally just take him to the vets and they prescribe Loxicom. That always sorts him out

[anneeb]

A few years ago our cat had a limp and was crying a fait bit, he hardly meows normally. My OH took him to the vets and he had broken his pelvis in 3 places Apparently it's not a big issue with cats, he recovered very well, we just had to limit his movements around the house, bought him a large cloth cage (he then proved that he was a cat Houdini and learnt how to undo the zips )

[ERICSMUM]

Years ago Eric started limping badly all of a sudden. I checked his paws for cuts, torn claws or something stuck (thorn, bee sting etc).

In the end he was diagnosed with a dislocated kneecap (who ever thinks about cats’ kneecaps !). Surgery fixed it and it’s lasted 15 years so far.