Cat is limping, should I take her to the vets?

[BriocheDoree]

Cat is limping since last week. Limp comes and goes and is more obviously stiff after she has been napping. Otherwise she is eating/sleeping/using litter tray and seems OK, but is currently reluctant to go outside (we're in ground floor flat so she has to jump out of the window to get out. I wonder if she has bashed her leg on the window safety bars). Have checked her paws and can't see anything. Leg is not swollen. Am reluctant to take her to the vet if vet will just say that it is strained / bashed and to let her rest it, but am also loath to leave her if she's really in pain. Am also reeling after 250 euro vet bill for other cat last week (and I've only had these cats about a month ). Can anyone else advise?

[waitingforgodot]

I would get it checked out in case its a bite thats gone septic. Rather be safe than sorry.

[Jux]

Have you copped a feel all the way up the leg and around the joints etc? Is there anywhere along it which clearly gives her pain when you touch it? Have you examined it closely, I mean parted the fur up and down the leg and around the joints? How old is the cat?

I had a cat which went missing for 3 days; eventually came back with very sad leg, stiff and obviously sore. I took her to the PDSA, who couldn't find anything wrong and thought she might have been kicked. The answer was to let her rest it as much as poss (huh? she's a cat, she'll do what she damn well pleases!).

If she's an old cat it could be a touch of arthritis - weather's getting colder/wetter. They don't like it, you know

[thesunshinesbrightly]

My cat was limping on right paw,then left paw, then back paws and she was fine, it just seems she hurt them trying to be superwoman, but i wouldnt really worry, if you cant see anything in her paw just put some sudocream on, and see she how she goes, obviously if it doesnt go away then take her too the vet.

[beautifulgirls]

DONT put sudocreme on - the cat will lick it off and it is not good to put these things on when you know nothing about the toxicity of such things to cats.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Take her. If it has gone on for a while I would go. It's so sad when they are hurt

[thesunshinesbrightly]

My vet told me too do that, must be a crap vet