My cat was accidentally kicked. Why is he still having back leg pain?

Hello. It is very likely that Chloe experience a small vertebral or pelvic fracture at this time, or even suffered a little nerve damage. Most of the time we do not recommend very much treatment other than a short course of anti-inflammatory medication & rest/confinement. Since she is still showing some symptom, it is possible she is still in a little pain, so it is best to try to curtail her jumping. We do have to be careful with any pain medications in cats, but a trial with some of the available ones would show if there is something that we may be able to do for her. X-rays may show something & you can certainly opt to do more advanced imaging such as a MRI, but it does seem as if there was some damage done back in January. Your vet will probably want to reexamine Chloe. Hopefully, she will put her on medication to see if it relieves her symptoms. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Be patient Willie should get better with more time. I'm glad you are trying to keep him from jumping as that can make the leg sore and take longer for the injury to heal. Most cats heal leg injuries fine with time and limited exercise. If after six weeks of keeping him quiet and resting he's no better then take him back for a recheck to find the reason he is still limping. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Willie.

Often young kittens recover well from injuries given enough time. I would let him do what he wants as long as he’s getting around now. I expect him to improve and not become worse or paralyzed. He may never be perfect but if he’s able to walk and run an isn’t painful then he can live a normal life. Having an exam would be good when you can. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your kitten.

Sounds like Garth is still experiencing quite a bit of pain. While there may not be any clear fractures, other injuries involving soft tissue structures such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles can be equally painful. There are also injuries to nerves that can result in pretty severe pain. Lastly, dislocations can also occur (particularly in the hip) that are extremely painful. However, that should have showed up clearly on the x-ray assuming they shot all the way up to hip joint. I would continue to give him his medication as prescribed and make sure he is rested and confined. However, if matters are not any better by the time the prescribed course of meds is complete, he will need to be brought back in to the veterinarian for reassessment.

Please keep this area clean so the skin will heal. I use hydrogen peroxide as it doesn't sting. You can then apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. Luckily cats heal very well so as long as he is moving normally, is not in pain and the area doesn't get infected you do not need to him take him in. If he stops eating or the wound becomes infected or smells or he stops using the leg then take him in for an exam. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Hello, it's probably painful, but if he is still using that leg quite well when walking then there is no reason to panic, just keep him at home rested for a few days, try to not encourage him to jump or run, he should improve within 2-3 days.

Ploffie is quite handsome. This could potentially heal on its own if it is a minor soft tissue injury or a minor fracture, but he needs to be confined and not allowed to roam or jump. My concern is that if it is secondary to an abscess or some type of infection or a large displaced fracture then it may not heal. If he isn't improving, I would try to figure a way to catch him and take him to your vet. Your vet will be able to determine the cause and get him started on the proper meds. I hope this helps!