Do you have a cat that limps? The causes can be many – and lameness in cats can occur to varying degrees. Sometimes the cause is obvious – for example, if the cat has a visible bite or wound. Other times it can be more difficult to determine exactly why your cat is limping – for example, if there is a fracture or joint disease. We explain some of the most common reasons why your cat limps – and what you as the owner should do.
Table of contents
My cat limps - is it serious?
The answer here can be both yes and no – and whether the lameness is serious depends entirely on the cause. The reason why the cat starts limping is usually pain from the musculoskeletal system. The pain can come from soft tissue such as joints, tendons or muscles – for example after a bite from a fight, a stab wound or osteoarthritis. It can also be pain from the skeleton – for example as a result of a broken bone. There can also be neurological causes such as prolapse or circulatory causes (blood clots). In other words, there are many disorders and problems that can be associated with lameness – and to varying degrees of severity. The cat's age, race and gender are important factors that influence the risk of the various disorders.
How to treat a limping cat
If you have a cat that is limping, it is time for a visit to the vet. Considering that the causes can be many and potentially serious, it is important to thoroughly examine your kitty. Try to keep it calm until you have an appointment with the vet. This means that it should be kept indoors – while avoiding active play, stairs and jumping up and down from heights.
As a cat owner, it is a good idea to be observant of your cat's movement patterns – so that you can detect lameness as early as possible. Sometimes it can be perceived by us humans as an acute event – when in reality it comes as a result of an underlying cause over time. Therefore, it is important that you take your cat to the vet as soon as you notice that it is limping – both to save your cat unnecessary pain and to prevent, for example, joint diseases leading to permanent damage.
Lameness as a result of joint disease
Older cats are more susceptible to calcifications in the joints – or osteoarthritis. This condition can make it painful to move, and it is therefore important to make the correct diagnosis at the veterinarian in order to determine the best treatment. Considering that cats are basically predators, they will instinctively do their best to hide the fact that they are in pain or injured. Some signs that your kitty is in pain may be that she or he moves less, is irritable and unsociable or loses her appetite. The sooner you discover the disease – the sooner you can facilitate and improve the quality of life of your senior cat.
Preparation for veterinary visits
We recommend taking all cats that are limping to the vet. It is often desirable to take an X-ray in the event of lameness, and it may be necessary to give the cat a sedative. Therefore, the cat is welcome to come to the examination fasting. Please contact +47 33 13 98 40 or post@a-vet.no if you have any questions. For urgent inquiries outside of our opening hours, we recommend contacting the nearest 24-hour veterinary clinic.
