Cat limping: causes, what to check and when to see a vet

A limp tells you something hurts. Cats are good at hiding pain, so by the time you notice it, the problem may have been there a while. This guide covers the common causes, what you can safely look at, and how fast to act. If you’re unsure, our should I go to the vet check can help you decide.

Why is my cat limping?

Merck Veterinary Manual lists lameness as the most common sign across joint disorders, and as a sign of fractures, bone infection, bone tumors and other bone problems. In other words, the limp is the clue and a vet exam finds the cause. Common ones include:

Other causes your vet may look for include a torn knee ligament, a kneecap that slips out of place and bone tumors. Treatment depends entirely on the cause, which is why guessing at home does not help.

Cat favoring a leg: signs you might miss

Not every limp is a clear hop. International Cat Care says cats restrict their activity to avoid using sore joints, so the only sign may be a change in behavior. A cat favoring a leg may:

• Jump up or down less, or stop using a favorite windowsill
• Move stiffly, especially after resting, or take stairs slowly
• Groom less, or lick one spot over and over
• Have accidents outside the litter box if climbing in hurts
• Be grumpier or quieter than usual when handled

Our guide to a cat that is hiding explains why a withdrawn cat may be in pain. The is my cat in pain tool can help you spot subtler signs.

Cat limping front leg or back leg: does it matter?

It helps your vet to know which leg, but the urgency doesn’t depend on it, except in one case. A cat limping on a front leg is usually dealing with a problem in that paw, wrist, elbow or shoulder. Back-leg limping has the same causes, but a sudden loss of both back legs is different and may point to a blood clot.

Merck describes a blood clot in the aorta as causing paralysis and pain in the back legs with cold limbs, and says many cats with these clots die or do not regain full use of the hind limbs. This is an emergency. Go to an emergency vet now, phone ahead, and handle your cat gently.

What if my cat won’t put weight on a leg?

A cat that won’t put weight on a leg, or holds it up, needs to be seen the same day. Merck advises prompt veterinary care for any suspected fracture, an open wound near a bone or a sudden inability to bear weight. Fractures usually cause lameness, pain and swelling, and common causes include falls, fights and car accidents.

Until you get there:

• Keep your cat in a carrier or a small, quiet room
• Don’t let them climb, jump or run
• Don’t try to straighten or splint the leg
• Phone the clinic so they can prepare for you

How do I check a limping cat safely?

Cats in pain can bite or scratch even when they love you, so go slowly. Stop if your cat tenses, hisses or pulls away.

1. Watch your cat walk from a distance. Note which leg and whether it started suddenly.
2. Look at the leg without touching it. Is it swollen, bent oddly or held differently?
3. If your cat allows it, look gently at the paw for a cut, a torn claw or something stuck in it.
4. Check for a small scab, lump or wet spot. Merck notes that cat bites are usually small puncture wounds that often get infected, so a tiny wound can hide a much bigger problem.
5. Take a short phone video of the limp. Vets find it very useful.

Do not squeeze, bend or stretch the leg to see if it hurts. If your cat will not let you look, that is a good reason to book a visit.

When should I take a limping cat to the vet?

Our when to see a vet guide has more on choosing between these. If a limp comes with lethargy, see why a cat is lethargic.

What will the vet do?

Your vet will ask how the limp started, then examine the leg and joints. Merck says X-rays show the type and extent of a fracture and confirm dislocations. For arthritis, International Cat Care says vets diagnose mainly from examination and the history of signs at home, and may take X-rays to confirm. For a suspected muscle tear, VCA says vets may also use blood tests, ultrasound, CT or MRI.

Treatment depends on the cause. Merck describes splints or casts for some incomplete fractures in young, healthy cats, and plates, screws, wires or pins for others. Open fractures need antibiotics, and pain relief is given as needed. A bite wound is usually treated as an abscess, with cleaning, antibiotics and drainage. Joint problems may need pain relief, weight control and sometimes surgery. For costs, see our guide to a vet visit and the emergency vet.

What should I never do for a limping cat?

• Never give human painkillers. Ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen (paracetamol) are dangerous for cats. International Cat Care says the only medication to give is what your vet prescribes.
• Don’t force movement. Don’t stretch or exercise a sore leg to test it.
• Don’t ignore a “small” limp. Cats hide pain, so a mild limp can still be a fracture, a tear or an infection.
• Don’t wait on sudden back-leg weakness. Go now.

What does recovery look like?

Recovery depends on the cause, so follow your vet’s plan. For many injuries it includes rest, with limited jumping and no running. VCA notes that for a muscle tear, rest comes first, followed by light, controlled exercise, and warns that complete inactivity can cause permanent muscle contracture. Merck says follow-up after a fracture includes X-rays and checkups to monitor healing, and that the outlook is usually good, depending on the injury and the surgery.

Ask your vet exactly how strict the rest should be, for how long, and when to come back. For a cat with arthritis, see arthritis in cats for long-term comfort and home changes. Call your vet if the limp gets worse, your cat stops eating, or a wound swells or oozes.

Written by the CatsMed Team from the sources above. This guide isn’t reviewed by a veterinarian and isn’t a substitute for one. See how we research.