Cats are incredibly resilient. Because of this, they often act fairly normal when they are in pain. This is what makes it so confusing when you notice your cat is limping but still full of energy.
If your most pressing question is âWhy is my cat limping?â yet your cat still has the zoomies, donât worry! Itâs not uncommon â and today, weâre discussing why your cat might be doing this.
Understanding Limping in Cats
While a sore leg or swollen ankle is enough to render us couch potatoes, a painful paw isnât often enough to stop a cat from doing their daily activities. Contrary to popular belief, though, cats donât have a higher pain tolerance than any other animal â nope! They are simply experts at masking how much pain theyâre actually in. Cats can be in an incredible amount of pain but still jump and run around the house like normal. This strange nuance in cat behavior stems from their natural survival instincts, which tell them to âact normalâ in order to avoid looking weak to predators.
Common Causes of Limping in Cats
Minor Injuries and Sprains
Paw sprains are one of the most common ways that cats develop a limp. When a sprain is caused by trauma, itâs usually because your cat has fallen or landed funny when jumping. In some cases, rest is enough for cats to recover from sprains. Be patient with your kitty and let them have some downtime.
Paw Pad Injuries and Foreign Objects
Cats can experience a host of different issues with their paw pads. Unfortunately, this includes cuts, bruises, and foreign objects getting stuck. These issues cause discomfort and pain that seems to come and go, since they can be dependent on your catsâ movements.
To check your catâs pads for injuries, gently hold the paw in your hand and flip it over to reveal the pad. Thoroughly examine the area for redness, cuts, swelling, and foreign objects.
Joint Pain/Arthritis
Problems that affect the joints, such as arthritis, can cause feline limping. In many cases, the pain from joint issues isnât enough to keep cats from being active, but will cause significant additional pain afterward.
According to experts at PetMD, early signs of arthritis â in both young, seemingly healthy cats, and aging cats â include:
Changes in posture
A more unkempt appearance
Eliminating outside of litter box
Sleep changes
Decreased energy
Claw or Nail Issues
Problems with the nails can also cause limping. For example, if your catâs toenail has overgrown and is pressing into the pad of their foot, it can cause pain and result in a limp. Broken and infected claws can also cause severe discomfort.
Soft Tissue Injuries vs. Fractures
Soft tissue injuries and fractures can both cause limping.Â
Soft tissue injuries are usually mild and refer to injuries in tissues, ligaments, and muscles.Â
Fractures are broken bones, and typically require more extensive care.
One of the best ways to determine if your catâs issue is a fracture or a soft tissue problem is observing whether or not they can put weight on the area. Fractures will not be weight-bearing.
Neurological Issues and Nerve Damage
Although you wouldnât think that damage to the brain or nervous system would affect the legs of a cat, it can. In fact, neurological damage can result in a number of different problems that have limping as a symptom.
Herniated discs, spinal cord injuries, infections that affect the nervous system, and nerve damage from trauma can result in limping.
Signs of possible neurological damage include dragging, weakness, and a sudden loss of coordination.
When Should You Become Concerned?
If you notice your cat limping, be sure to take note of when it starts. Monitor the limping for 24 hours and watch for changes. If it gets worse or doesnât improve, it could be time to call your veterinarian.
Additionally, if your cat develops any new redness or swelling, or starts to act aggressive, the vet should be contacted.
How to Help Your Limping Cat at Home
âMy cat is limping but still running and jumpingâ is a concern common among cat owners. It can usually be treated at home with some TLC, but can sometimes require veterinary attention. If youâre still in the âtreating it at homeâ stage, there are a few things you can try.
Fostering a Restful Environment
Give your cat plenty of opportunity to rest at home, by doing your best to limit their movements and activity levels. Temporarily put away items that could foster climbing or jumping, such as tall cat scratching posts with multiple levels, cat climbing walls, and toys like balls that your cat likes to chase.
Provide soft, clean bedding for your cat to snuggle up in. This will not only keep them comfortable and make it more likely that they will stay laying down, but will also bring relief to painful areas. Water and food bowls should be kept in places that are easy for them to access without too much strain.
Managing Pain and Discomfort
While making sure that your feline friend has a comfy place to sleep, youâll also want to help them manage their pain. No one likes to be in pain, after all!
You might be tempted to give your cat OTC pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), but itâs recommended by VCA Animal Hospitals not to. OTC human medications are known to be poisonous to cats.
Instead, offer your cat safe alternatives. Consider placing an ice pack on the area for 15 minutes twice a day to reduce inflammation or performing a gentle massage after calling your veterinarian.
When to Take Your Cat to the Vet
As we said above, a limp that lasts for more than 24 hours or seems to get worse, warrants a visit to the vet. Swelling, redness, and behavioral changes are also signs that your cat may need professional medical help.
At your appointment, the veterinarian may take an X-ray to check for broken bones and do blood work. Treatments can include medications like pet-safe anti-inflammatories, therapy, and in severe cases, surgery.
Preventing Future Limping Issues
Although it can be hard to determine the cause of limping, there are ways to minimize the chances of limping issues in the future.
To prevent limping, keep your catâs nails trimmed and in good condition and perform regular paw checks. In these checks, be sure to inspect your catâs paw pads, too!
If possible, provide your cat with something soft to land on when they jump. This preventative can be as simple as putting a soft cat bed on the floor in front of the 3-story cat scratching post that Fuzzy likes to climb on and jump off of.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your cat has a slight limp but no obvious injury, how long do you wait before going to the veterinarian?
Monitor the limping for 24 hours. If it does not improve within that period, consider going to the veterinarian.
My kitten put paw on finger and then pulled away quickly. Is she in pain?
Itâs possible that your kitten could be in pain. Pulling away quickly when touched can be a reaction to a painful feeling.
What does it mean when cats are limping but still purring and want attention from humans?
This means that your cat wants love. It also indicates that your cat could be in pain, so be sure to check their legs and paws thoroughly for injury.
Do cats get injured when they jump off something?
Yes. Cats have unbelievable balance and tend to jump gracefully, but can still get hurt if they land the wrong way.
How to tell if a cat is in pain?
You can tell if a cat is in pain by watching for symptoms such as weight loss, behavioral changes, decreased energy levels, and hiding.
Why is my cat limping but not showing any other symptoms?
A cat that is limping but not showing any other signs of pain could still be in pain. They may not be showing typical symptoms because they are trying to hide their pain from you.
Why is my cat limping back leg?
Limping on the back leg can be due to injuries from jumping and/or falling.
