Have you noticed that your cat is limping but you can't see anything, no visible injury, suddenly you wonder if your cat has a broken paw or a sprain?
To help you, here is some useful information for:
- understand why your cat is limping,
- find out if it's a fracture or a sprain,
- to know if it is serious or not,
- and how to relieve or treat a limping cat?
Why is my cat limping?
It is complicated to answer this question because to find out precisely you have to have your cat examined by his veterinarian and sometimes even an X-ray. But, there are a few clues that can help you understand why your cat is limping even if you can't see anything apparent.
To do this, you must observe your cat and distinguish certain signs in his behavior and on his body:
My cat is limping but I can't see anything
If your cat limps but you can't see anything, no trace of cuts, wounds on his paw or notch on the pads, so we are sure that your cat is not limping due to an injury.
Apart from injuries, your cat may limp from a broken paw, sprain, ligament problem, or from an attack of osteoarthritis. This is what we will see below.
My cat limps but puts his paw down
You might think who puts his paw is that he is not really in pain but think again: A cat is extremely resistant to pain and it happens that some cats, despite a strong pain, manage to put their paw on the ground in limping.
This is often the case with cats with osteoarthritis especially elderly cats or overweight cats. Indeed, just like humans, cats can suffer from this disease which results from the wear and tear of joint cartilages. Usually, it is only during an osteoarthritis attack that the cat begins to limp. It is therefore very often periodic unless your cat is very old and his osteoarthritis is severe or chronic.
My cat is limping and no longer resting his paw
If your cat is limping and no longer pushes its paw at all, you shouldn't wait and take your cat to a vet right away. Indeed, if he can no longer put his paw down, it is because the pain is so strong that he cannot bear it. It is often a symptom of a broken or sprained leg.
Yes, but then, how do you know if the cat has a broken paw (fracture) or a sprain (stretching of the ligaments)?
How do I know if my cat has a sprain?
Symptoms of a sprained cat paw
Symptoms of a sprain in a cat are more or less the same as those of a fracture (see below).
But, if your cat lets himself touch his paw and if, when you touch it, he doesn't have a violent reaction, doesn't meow in pain, it's probably a sprain. This is because the pain of a sprain is less severe than the pain of a broken bone.
How to treat a cat who limps due to a sprain?
If the sprain is not too serious, and your cat does not seem to be in too much pain, there is not necessarily a need for intervention or special treatment. Here are some tips for treating a lebere sprain on a cat's paw:
- Put ice cream on his paw. Indeed, the ice will relieve his pain, lower his internal inflammation and reduce swelling.
- Bandage his paw at the level of swelling. By wrapping the area that is causing him pain with an elastic bandage, his stretched ligaments will be better supported and maintained to return to their former positions. If you are having difficulty administering this care to your cat, find out: How to care for an aggressive cat?
- Let your cat rest. Isolate him in a quiet room so that he is not tempted to go outside to hunt, to play or to chase after a horny pussy...
Sprain cat paw how long?
It will all depend on the severity of the sprain. If your cat has a mild sprain, she may feel better after 2 to 3 weeks. But if it is a more severe sprain, it will take more than a month for your cat to be able to use his paw again.
How do I know if my cat has a broken paw?
Symptoms of a broken leg?
High level of pain is one of the main symptoms of a broken paw in a cat. Here is what, generally, characterizes a cat with a broken paw :
- The cat is limping and has great difficulty walking;
- He does not put his paw on the ground at all;
- The cat howls, meows or moans in pain;
- He does not let his paw touch and may react violently if you try to move it;
- Its paw may be deformed;
- He may have swelling on his paw at the fracture.
But since these symptoms can also be those of a severe sprain, only a physical examination with an X-ray can confirm the diagnosis.
How to treat a cat who limps due to a fracture?
The vet will tell you how to treat your cat's broken paw. Indeed, the choice of treatment will depend on the severity and type of the fracture from which your cat is suffering. Depending on the case, he may offer you a plaster cast, a splint or a surgical intervention (placement of plates, pins, screws, etc.).
Cat paw broken how long?
It all depends on the severity of the fracture and the number of broken bones. For a simple and minor fracture, the leg can be treated in 1 month but for a heavy fracture, it will take several months.
Does your cat limp with its front paw? In this case, find out how to treat your limping cat?