Any ideas? Cat not putting any weight on right front paw :(

[rooksby]

Our cat was limping a bit when we got home tonight. He went for a kip then we noticed he was reluctant to put the right front paw down. There is no sign of any injury to him, the pads of his paw are pink and warm and he let me feel his shoulder, leg and paw with no complaints, but he isn't splaying his toes when I touch the pads on that paw and now he won't put any weight on that foot whatsoever and is hopping on three legs.

He has been his normal self, eating, playing etc but now he's miaowing a bit and flicking his tail as though he is in discomfort. Still doesn't care if I prod him though...

The vets have a nurse on duty 24 hours but the phone is engaged just now, any ideas? I will ring them again in a few minutes.

In case it helps, he's about 6, ordinary moggy and loves being outside, but isn't especially adventurous or athletic. He goes on next door's garage roof but that's about the extent of his climbing. Also his fur is mostly white so any blood etc is generally esay to spot if he's been beaten up by a tough cat.

Well, it could turn out to be broken I think as cats have an extremely high pain threshold so can bear some weight and hobble about with broken limbs.

My cat behaved like this once though and it turned out to be an abscess under the skin due to a fight wound that had got infected (he has had tons of those but they are usually visible in the fur). Antibiotics and nurofen do the trick if that's the case.

Good luck and I hope he is feeling better v soon!

We had this, went to the vet and it cost £60 . It was a sprain, we got given some painkillers.

I would wait a few days and see how the cat is. The vet checked ours for a broken leg by squeezing the leg from top to bottom and said as the cat hadn't flinched it wasn't broken.

Thanks for the replies!

I am a (human) nurse and gave his leg/paw a good squeeze, it feels okay and he has full movement in his shoulder. He didn't even flinch or stop purring so am pretty sure it's not broken, but will watch him carefully.

Just spoken to vet on the phone, she said to keep an eye and if he is no better tomorrow to take him up to local surgery for a quick exam and some pain relief. Thinks he probably has just landed awkwardly and twisted/jarred his paw and is resting the tendons, hence the not splaying his toes.

Will see how he gets on and keep him in for a couple of days to recuperate, he is currently asleep on two pillows by a nice hot radiator!

Strangely enough my ginger moggy is limping today and I've just got back from the vets. Looks like he's been fighting...again! Antibiotics and an Anti-Inflammatory and 26 quid worse off hopefully that'll do the trick usually has in the past. Hope yours is feeling better soon