Quick question - should dcat go to vet?

[basildonbond]

Dcat1 (12 yrs old female, fairly sedate) has been holding up her left front paw slightly when she's sitting and has an almost imperceptible limp when walking - she's let me feel her pads and there doesn't seem to be anything there but got cross with me when I tried to investigate further ... (She can be cantankerous on occasion)

She's purring, eating, drinking and using the cat tray as normal so should I go to the vet today or observe - first noticed this on Sunday

[Frenchfemme]

I would take her just to be sure - cats are very good at hiding pain so she may be suffering more than she is letting on. One of my older cats developed a slight limp and got quite stroppy when I tried to investigate (tortie, so not the most even-tempered at the best of times!) - turned out to be arthritis. It could easily be just a slight strain, but best checked out. Hope she's OK.

[cozietoesie]

I'm maybe not the best person to ask because Seniorboy being an older cat, I tend to take no chances - ie getting him to the vet early if I see a possible problem rather than letting it sink in and develop.

But yes - I probably would. Cats are so good at covering up that those symptoms might be worth a look see. Remind me - does she go outside?

[basildonbond]

she goes out a bit - usually once or twice a day for a very brief potter but doesn't go far (the end of the garden is pushing it territory wise)

will take her just to make sure (feel like I've got the vet on speed dial at the moment ...)

[cozietoesie]

I think that that's best. The holding the paw up would make me think she had a pad or claw problem. (Someone on the board recently had a cat with - if I recall - an ingrowing claw which she hadn't spotted and which had got infected. It was a right palaver.)

[basildonbond]

Back from vet (£100 poorer!)

Not entirely sure what's going on but most likely possibility is puncture wound in the area around her wrist (bit swollen and v sore) so she's had antibiotics and painkiller and we're on a watching brief ...

[cozietoesie]

There you go - it was worth going. (Even though your credit card may be weeping gently in a corner somewhere.) Puncture wounds can be nasty and it sounds as if it was infected.

Did the vet say whether it looked like another cat had maybe bitten her?

[basildonbond]

No obvious bite marks but her fur is so thick it's impossible to see but he's pretty sure it's not arthritis and she was reacting in pain when he was investigating a very small area around her wrist so he says that's the most likely candidate to be causing the problem - just have to keep an eye on her for the next couple of days

[cozietoesie]

So there was no actual wound found. Blimey - I wonder what it is.