My cat had a bad fall yesterday and is now limping

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My cat rolled off a first floor balcony yesterday, about 9ft from from the ground. I couldn’t see if she landed on her feet but afterwards she was holding her paw out and limping. We took her to the vet who checked her over, said she was fine and there was no problem with her paw. The vet said she wasn’t limping at all (we had to wait outside so not present for the appt).

However, since we got home, the cat hasn’t been putting any weight onher paw and is managing to get by on three legs. She’s normally up around 5.30am, racing up and down the stairs and then asking for food from around 6.30. Today she’s still in her basket and hasn’t even asked for food yet. I haven’t seen her walk today to see if her paw is better. I’ll be phoning the vet for painkillers for her I think but wondered if anyone had any more thoughts about her paw? Thank you.

Did they do an X-ray?

Cats will hide pain if their in the vets, surely a vet would realise this?.

I don’t know - we were outside so I don’t know how they checked her. I’m calling them when they open so will check then. I did tell them that she had damaged her paw and showed a picture of the awkward way she was holding it so it was flagged up.

Actually, now that I think about it the receptionist said a nurse will look her over?
The cat is up now and still not putting any weight on her front paw.

Film her and send them the clip

Wonder if it is her shoulder, could have landed awkwardly.

Yes I’ll do that, good idea. Really don’t want her to be in pain.

My cat ended up on painkillers after a fight and fall the way she checked him was grab his leg and pull because he was weight bearing when he got to the vets but he wouldnt at home and was vocal at home so she pulled his legs and he "resisted" that leg so he got painkillers

Fluffycloud, I was worried about her going in by herself - obviously I understand why. She’s quite nervous and only goes out in our back garden and only when I’m there as well. She’s always been quite overwhelmed at the vet’s before, so must have been really stressful for her.

I need to check whether a vet or a nurse saw her, the nurse who brought her out was very young so maybe not that experienced?

My cat has a limp. My vet said they can usually prescribe painkillers over the phone without seeing the patient so hopefully if you phone the vets they will give you a prescription.

My cat needed to have a blood test first so I took her yesterday. I hated that she had to go in alone ☹️

It's horrible not being able to be with them. Snorg was in the vet for 4 nights and I couldn't visit.

mine fell from a first floor windowsill once. She seemed fine at the time, but the limp was really bad after the next day. I did get advice from the vet (I can't remember if I took her in) which was to keep her in one room, don't let her out and keep an eye on her - they couldn't tell if it was a break or ligament damage. She got better after a few days but she was pitiful for a while.

Is she holding the foot completely off the ground or is she limping where it touches the ground a little but she resists putting her normal weight on it.

If it is held completely off the ground it is likely more injured than if she is limping but using it a little.

I second what a PP said. Film her limping and send it to your vets. That way they will see how she is in her normal environment with you.

Poor puss. I hope she is better soon.

She is using it a bit if she has to, eg we have three steps between kitchen and living room so she will use the paw to get up/down there otherwise keeping it off the floor.

She is fairly alert and normal, went outside but I’ve brought her back in and will keep her in today as there are other cats around that she’s very scared of.

I spoke to the receptionist, she said a vet saw her and checked her joints, and for fractures. They are giving her pain relief today and I can take her back in if I want. Thank you so much for all the advice.

I don't understand why you don't know who checked her or if she was Xrayed - what does your itemised receipt say? I work in a vet practice and no clients are allowed in the building currently - they still all speak to the vet once the animal has been examined, and are told any findings and given a treatment plan. Poor communication on both sides, by the sounds of it. We are phone triaging every patient and you wouldn't have got near the practice in the first place unless we were already fairly sure your pet needed to see a vet and could not be helped remotely. A fall from one storey could cause significant injury - high enough to have a big impact, not high enough to allow the cat to twist into a good landing position. Please phone them again and tell them your cat is no better.

My vet has prescribed my cat painkillers and antibiotics over the phone. I gave a description of the issue and they said I could bring him in but as he is putting a bit weight on his paw we decided to get meds then reassess Monday. Hopefully you can get some over the phone.

How is she doing OP? I second all the previous comments about it being horrific having to wait outside during consultations and not being to visit when they're in for a bit. Our vet is on a busy road so trying to have conversations across the car park is awful.