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Sudden cat limping can happen to all breeds of felines at any stage of their lives. This condition is commonly caused by foreign debris trapped in between the cat’s toes. Injuries or a sprain are also potential catalysts.
Not all cases of cat limping are serious. When is lameness in felines a genuine cause for concern? We will take a look at the various causes of cat limping and what you need to do in each case mentioned.
5 Non-Emergency Causes of Cat Limping
Minor Cat Limping Cause #1: Obesity
If the cat is overweight, she may have some difficulty walking. The extra weight will add pressure on the pet’s joints and, in the long term, can lead to joint pain.
Minor Cat Limping Cause #2: Ingrown or Torn Toenails
Ingrown toenails are difficult to spot in longhaired felines. As such, checking for this condition should be part of the grooming process. Trim your cat’s nails every 2–3 months if she does not spend a lot of time outdoors. Ingrown is a common problem with senior indoor cats.
Minor Cat Limping Cause #3: Plant-Triggered Injuries
Cactus thorns, grass awns, tiny twigs, and other outdoor components may have gotten stuck in between or in your pet’s toes. These can cause much discomfort if not dislodged immediately.
Minor Cat Limping Cause #4: Fight-Induced Injuries
Some felines may sustain open wounds on their paws after a catfight, which could explain the limping. Brawls are expected amongst cats that have not been neutered or spayed yet, as well as cats that can access outdoor areas.
Minor Cat Limping Cause #5: Minor Paw Pad Irritation or Abrasions
Cat limping may happen if your pet sustains an injury whilst walking across a hot surface, stove, hot gravel, or pavement. Grit-covered roads pose the same risks too.
5 Serious Causes of Cat Limping
Concerning Cat Limping Cause #1: Health Disorders Associated With Ageing
Senior cats are prone to various joint disorders, such as arthritis and other conditions that tend to develop with age.
Hip dysplasia and patellar luxation usually develop in the late stages of a cat’s life. Both can also trigger arthritis, which leads to cat limping.
Concerning Cat Limping Cause #2: Infections
Infected wounds, calicivirus, abscesses, and Lyme disease can bring about cat lameness.
Concerning Cat Limping Cause #3: Serious Injuries
If your cat’s leg is broken, it can lead her to walk with a limp. Many types of injuries could cause this condition, such as torn muscles or cartilage, ruptured ligaments, or broken bones.
Nasty insect bites on the legs can also bring about hobbling.
Concerning Cat Limping Cause #4: Cancer
Tumours, lymphoma, and injection-site sarcoma are some of the cancers that may cause cat limping.
Concerning Cat Limping Cause #5: Neurological Diseases
Degenerative diseases like lumbosacral disease and spinal diseases can make a cat move stiffly. This can result in a faltering walk.
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How to Check Cat Limping
If your pet is noticeably limping, observe her further. It helps you identify a probable cause and determine whether you should do a physical examination.
These are the questions you should ask yourself when evaluating your cat’s walk:
- Which leg is held at an odd angle? Is it the front, right, left, or back leg?
- Does she take great care to keep the affected foot off the ground?
- Does your pet “carry” the impaired leg whilst walking? Does she stand on it when she stops moving?
- Does she walk on the limping leg but stumbles as she does so?
- What is your cat’s stride? Is it shorter than usual?
- When did you first observe her walking oddly?
- Was the lameness gradual or sudden?
- Is the limping consistent throughout the day or tend to be worse only at specific times? Does the impairment manifest after exercising, in the evening, or only in the morning?
After taking note of your cat’s behaviour, decide whether to examine the affected part. If your pet is obviously in pain, you must not handle her.
If she does not stand or walk on the affected leg, she is more likely to be seriously injured. As such, you should not touch it even though there is no clear sign of injury.
However, you can check the footpad with a torch for foreign bodies or minor injuries. When checking your cat, ask someone to assist you.
Begin with the footpad and toes. Check for splinters, thorns, awns, punctures, cuts, and toenail injuries. If you must touch, make sure to run your fingers on the affected area gently. Your cat will pull her limb back when you touch a painful area.
From her foot, move up her leg and gently feel whether there are swollen spots. If something seems unusual, check the normal leg for comparison. Note your observations.
What You Should Do If Your Cat Is Limping?
In some cases, the cause of the cat limping is obvious. If this is the case, what do you do next?
For Non-Emergency Causes of Cat Limping:
Minor issues that cause cat limping usually do not require a visit to the animal clinic. You may follow these steps:
- Keep your cat confined in a room with low surfaces or a crate. Limiting her access to heights prevents worsening limping.
- If the cat limping is due to a thorn, gently pull the thorn out with tweezers. Once done, carefully sanitise the injured area to prevent infection. Do this by washing it with a mild antibacterial soap and water.
- If the footpads are injured or the toenails are broken, clean the affected area first. If there are foreign objects, remove them before cleaning.
Dipping the injured paw in water can soften it and make the extraction easier. Clean it with mild soap and water or a disinfectant. If there is bleeding, cover the area with a gauze pad or cloth and put some pressure on it.The bleeding should cease in 10–15 minutes. Otherwise, take her to the vet.
- If an abscess is present in the affected limb, administer warm compresses to the spot. If it ruptures, bring your cat to the vet. Your pet will need antibiotic treatment in this case.
- If there is swelling due to a bruise or sprain, ice the affected area twice a day for 15 minutes. In minor cases, the limping should subside in 1–2 days. However, if there is no improvement after 48 hours, you must call your vet.
For Serious Cases of Cat Limping:
Set an appointment with a vet immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment. Any delays could lead to the worsening of her condition.
Sometimes, determining the cause of cat limping can be challenging as symptoms could mirror other injuries. If you are unsure whether or not it is brought on by a minor or serious issue, it would be best to take your cat to the vet for limping.
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FAQs About Cat Limping
1. Can a Cat Limping Heal on Its Own?
Some cat limping can heal on its own within 24 hours. If this does not happen to your cat, make an appointment with the vet for a check-up to know the source of the condition.
2. Why Is My Cat Limping But Not Crying?
Just because your cat is limping but not crying does not mean she feels fine. Felines tend to have- high pain tolerance as a way to hide their weakness.
They do not want to let nearby predators know that they are injured to avoid being preyed upon. Although domestic cats are safe indoors, this behaviour is a natural feline instinct.
For this reason, do not ignore your cat’s limp. Observe her condition, narrow down potential causes, and seek veterinary treatment when necessary.
3. How Long Will a Cat Limp With a Sprain?
A cat with a sprain will walk with a limp for about 2 weeks or more. If the swelling on the affected limb is severe, have a veterinarian treat it to avoid complications.
4. Do Cats Limp for Attention?
Some cats learn to limp for attention. However, when your furry friend is limping, do not immediately assume that she is faking it. The best way to go about things is to get her checked by the vet to rule out any possible causes.
If they declare that your cat is free from injuries or ailments, then her limping might be done to get your sympathy. Ignoring this behaviour will minimise its occurrence.
Conclusion
A cat limping could be due to a wide variety of reasons. Some causes are mild whilst others are severely concerning.
Examining your feline friend’s limp at home can help you decide whether she needs vet treatment. If you are unsure if her condition is serious or not, taking her to the animal clinic for diagnosis is a better choice than doing nothing.
Vet bills are no joke. They can skyrocket depending on the severity of your pet’s condition. Thus, as early as now, start thinking about getting insurance for her.
