My cat fell from balcony. Paw hurts, growls when touched. What to do?

I am sorry to hear about Ariel! If you feel she is lethargic and not moving normally then I would recommend a visit to the veterinarian as soon as possible. You also want to watch her breathing closely as we worry about bruising of the lungs in trauma and this can take some time to appear. We also want to watch and be sure she is urinating and that a ruptured bladder is not a concern. Check her over for any bruising/swelling, check her mouth for broken teeth, check her eyes to be sure the pupils are the same size, press on her belly, and along her spine and legs to check for pain. If you are noticing anything abnormal, or if she is lethargic then seeing the vet sooner rather than later would be the safest course of action.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Suzi. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian right away. She will likely need x-rays of her sore limb to ensure that she does not have a fracture. From there, pain medication will be prescribed to help her feel better. In the meantime, do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to cats. I hope this information helps!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So sorry to hear this happened to Givenchy. You really need to get her to a vet for an examination. She could have fractured/broken the leg, dislocated it or even avulsed the brachial plexus (bundle of nerves in the armpit). These are not things you are going to fix at home. I'm sure she is in a lot of pain and getting some pain medication from the vet would be a nice thing to do for her too. Please get her to the vet. It doesn't sound like a simple sprain. You can cold compress it if she will allow you to but that won't take the place of a vet exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Cats are extremely sensitive to their paws, so she will definitely be painful and crying for a while. I cannot tell the extent of the damage from the pictures, but I would need to physically see the cat in order to have a better idea. The biggest worry is that something was broken. A broken bone will cause her to not walk and will cause a great amount of swelling. If you notice this, then she should go to the vet for treatment. Otherwise, she could have been bruised, which will cause some limping for a few days. You can help relieve some of the swelling and pain by gently applying ice, or ice water to the affected areas for 15 minutes twice a day. I do not recommend giving any medication, because human pain meds can be especially dangerous if given to cats. If Savanna is still very painful by tomorrow morning, then I recommend taking her to a vet for an evaluation. They will be able to get an idea of the extent of the damage and provide better pain control. I hope that helps and Savanna gets better soon.

Hi there. So sorry that Noogie hurt his leg! Cats rarely just sprain/strain a limb like dogs do. If they are limping usually they are significantly injured. I would recommend taking him in for an exam and x-ray. If you choose to watch him just make sure he stays inside! Make sure he is eating and drinking normally and using the litter box. Whatever you do - DO NOT- give him any over the counter medications like tylenol or aspirin!!! Cats are extremely sensitive to these medications and can die if given them. If he is no better in a few days then definitely take him in for an exam. I hope this helps. Best wishes! Dr. Amber

Oh dear, poor Meow! Since she is not moving, eating or drinking, my main concern is that she has experienced significant trauma in her travels, either from a long fall or being hit by a car. These traumatic events can cause major head trauma, rib fractures, or internal injuries that can be quite severe and painful. At this point, Meow needs to go to an emergency vet immediately for evaluation and treatment. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lulu. I recommend she sees a veterinarian right away. She needs to be thoroughly examined to determine the extent of her injuries. She may need x-rays to look for any broken bones. Based on these results, medications can be prescribed to help her feel better. In the meantime, do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to cats. I hope this information helps!