Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My cat is limping on his back leg and his toe is up. Is it broken?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | 1 year and 10 months old

My cat has came home limping on his back leg and one of his toes is on his back leg that he is limping on is up. Do you know what could have happened. Do you think he had broken/ fractured one of his toes?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. B. DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

Veterinarian

Published on April 20th, 2019

That is possible or a dislocation or some trauma to the soft tissues. Either or which is painful. I would recommend your kitty be seen for an xray, treatment plan, and pain medication. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on April 20th, 2019
Poor Milo. Yes this is likely a fractured toe due to trauma from him landing on it wrong or it getting stuck in something. I would highly recommend taking Milo in to your local vet to have this looked at and to get x-rays done of the foot, along with pain medication and potentially bandaging of the paw.
I hope that Milo's foot is well taken care of soon! Best wishes and take care.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Susan England-Foster
Veterinarian
Published on January 5th, 2018
Poor Paul. I would recommend taking Paul to a vet to determine if the foot is broken Sometimes the only way to tell is with an x-ray to see the fracture. Also some cats will get small cuts and become infection, It is important for a vet to assess the foot to determine if antibiotics are needed or maybe pain medication I hope that helps
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

Outdoor cat limping on back leg: Can it heal on its own or is it broken?

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My 7-month-old cat hurt his leg, limping and crying. What to do?

Poor Tom! Without seeing him I cannot say for sure what he has injured. He could have simply sprained a muscle or broke a toenail. Unfortunately, he could have also broken a bone. I would strongly recommend to have your vet take a look at him. Your vet will be able to localize the pain and take x-rays if needed. They will be able to get him started on pain meds and the proper treatment plan to help him feel better. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat was hit by a car, is limping. How to get help without vet bill?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Unfortunately, it is difficult to know what kind of injury he has sustained and what kind of therapy he needs. This could be as severe as a fracture or something more mild like a soft tissue injury. The fact that he is crying when the leg is manipulated indicates that he is quite painful requiring pain control medications at least. If he does have a fracture, he may actually require surgery. For this reason it is crucial that he is indeed evaluated by a veterinarian. You could consider taking him to your local humane society as often times they offer less expensive veterinary care. I hope you are able to get him some help. Good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

What to do if my outdoor cat is limping and having trouble walking?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. There are many causes of lameness in a leg. A penetrating injury, soft tissue injury (strain / sprain), bone trauma (fracture, arthritis), etc. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Billu so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat's leg is swollen and painful, can't see ankle. What's wrong?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like there is severe swelling of the soft tissues along the injured leg. If the swelling is great-often times it is harder to feel the specific structures below the skin. It would be best to have an x ray of the limb to make sure there are no fractures inducing more swelling. Hope this helps

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog fell down stairs and is limping. Is his paw or toe broken?

The toe could be broken or dislocated, or it might be a soft tissue injury. The fact that he is limping means that he does have some level of pain even if he's not crying. I would recommend having your vet examine the toe - they might feel confident that it is a soft tissue injury once they are able to feel the toe and the joint or they might recommend an x-ray. They can also prescribe safe pain medication for him.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my cat limping and holding his front paw up when walking?

Hi! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a variety of conditions that can make Gerrald limp. These include a fracture, a laceration of the paw or something stuck in the paw, a soft tissue injury or even a bone tumor which of course would be the worse possible cause (unlikely). I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for an examination and possibly radiographs to rule out some of those conditions and recommend treatment based on findings. Good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share