To be worried about my cats limp

[Waitbytheriver]

I have posted in the litter tray but I never seem to get a response on there so I’m really hoping that someone on here has previously had a cat with this and can let me know their experience (or maybe there’s some vets or vet nurses?)

Cat has had a limp for 7 days now. She’s been thoroughly examined and had an xray which hasn’t shown anything. She’s on gabapentin and meloxaid, but day 7 and her limp is still just as bad as day 1. She is confined to one room and I’m trying to make her rest but there’s been no improvement whatsoever. Vets are stumped, they just keep saying to carry on resting because the X-rays dont show anything.

Has anyone’s cat had a sprain before? How long did it take to get better? I am really worried because I feel like if it was a simple sprain, after a week I would at least see SOME improvement??

Ok if no licking then it won't be derma/stuff stuck.

But she can't bear weight on it? If the weight bearing seems to be increasing I'd say it's getting better. And it doesn't seem sore to you touching it?

The shoulder/hiss thing makes me think it could be the source of it. Can she still jump/climb etc?

I hope she's better soon x

She can weight bear, she has always been able to, just with a prominent limp. She is still jumping (even though I’m trying to make her rest as much as I can). She holds her foot off the floor when she’s sat down so I’m not sure if it’s her shoulder.. holding her foot off the floor makes me feel like it’s her paw but she lets me touch it and press it etc

From your updates I'd give it a bit longer. She is weight bearing and using the leg in a variety of ways. Muscle pain can take a while to improve if she's pulled something.

This happened with my cat last year, very similar story to you but it didn’t improve and after going back and forth to vets (also had X-rays which apparently showed nothing) I asked for a referral to animal hospital, we went and had an examination and CT scan but the vet there could already see something different on the X-ray. The CT showed a joint issue and it was already arthritic (my cat was 2.5) he had a total hip replacement in December and is still on crate rest now but expected to make full recovery. If your cats limp doesn’t improve in the next 6 weeks I’d push for a referral to a specialist

Hmmm. It is a bit mysterious. It seems like she's not in pain or impeded too much though which is good x

Thank you for this! I have another appointment for her next Friday, it will only have been 2 weeks by then but I will see what they suggest if she is still limping. If it carries on and my vets don’t know the answer, I will ask for this, thank you. I’m glad your cat is going to be ok 💕

Sure shes not putting it on? some cats do it for sympathy.

When my cat had a limp (on a back leg) it was caused by an abscess on his hip. Will she let you feel the whole leg?

Yes she will let me feel her whole leg. It’s been a few weeks now and the limp is still no better. We are back for more X-rays of a different area on Friday. First thing in the morning her limp always much better but as soon as she has gotten up and eaten and walked around a bit, it comes back exactly the same. I’m still restricting her but I can’t stop her walking completely