My cat is limping and acting listless. When should I see a vet?

Hello Anisa! Limping means he is in pain, and pain could make him lethargic as well. Unfortunately there are no OTC pain medications you can give him, as many human ones are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. I think you should take him into the vet first thing in the morning. The vet can diagnose why he is in pain, and can treat him. I hope this helps!

Due to the large number of symptoms your cat is experiencing (lethargy, limp and vomiting) it is best to schedule an appointment with your local veterinarian for care. It is possible that the limp may be caused by an injury that is causing pain and or nausea in your cat, leading to the lethargy and vomiting. Pets in a lot of pain may refuse to eat, and thus not get enough energy, or may become nauseated or vomit up their food. Addressing the underlying problem (in this case, possibly the limp) can help improve overall symptoms. Feeding a bland diet of warmed up boiled chicken or turkey may also encourage your cat to eat some, getting his energy levels up and helping him to keep food down. Until you can be seen by the vet, be sure to keep your cat quiet and calm and restrict activity. This will help prevent further injury to the affected limb and may help to relieve some pain or nausea related. Once your vet has taken a look at the limp and other symptoms, they can then provide you with more specialized treatment depending on their causes.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Based on the information you have provided, and the attached pictures, I am also very concerned that Sprinkles may have sustained significant trauma, causing her to be non-weightbearing lame on her left hind leg. Whether she was hit by a car or potentially fell and injured her leg, it sounds like she is in a significant amount of pain. She also looks like she has abraded skin (a wound) on that leg as well, which is at risk of becoming infected. I recommend having her seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible to have her injuries addressed. He/she will perform a full physical exam to localize her pain and determine if she has other, more life-threatening injuries such as damage to her chest or abdomen. X-rays may be indicated if a fracture is suspected. Ultimately, pain medication and antibiotics can be prescribed to help ease her pain and prevent infection. Importantly, NEVER give pain medication that is intended for humans to your pet, as these can be fatally toxic. I hope this is helpful!

I am sorry to hear about Luna. If Luna is limping there are many different possible causes, including soft tissue injury (such as a muscle sprain/strain, torn ligament), a fracture (it isn't always obvious when a pet breaks a bone if the fracture is not displaced), a torn or sore toenail, a skin infection of the toenails or bottom of the foot, nerve disorders, or in older pets tumors of the muscle or bone. I would recommend examination by a vet if the issue has been present since Sunday with no improvement. Unfortunately there are no safe pain medications available over the counter for cats, so I would just try to keep her quiet/restrict her activity/keep her indoors until she can be seen.

Hi there. A couple things could be going on with Sam. He could have a soft tissue injury, a fracture, or he could have an abscess in his leg or foot that has not come to the surface yet. If you’re able to take him to the vet on emergency today it would just help him feel more comfortable more quickly but if that is something that is difficult to do you should be OK to wait until tomorrow because he’s acting normally otherwise. I hope that helps and that Sam feels better soon. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

As your cat hasn't been eating and is limping it is best to schedule a veterinary appointment ASAP. The limp could be caused by a number of things including injury to the leg, such as a break or sprain, wound or infection from a bite or scratch, or muscle or nerve damage. If the limb is hurt severely enough or if infection is present it may make your cat not want to eat. Until you can get to the vet, limit all activity to prevent further injury to the limb, and try to entice eating by warming up some wet food or adding some warmed boiled chicken to your cat's food. However it is necessary to schedule a vet appointment ASAP.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Momo! The most common reason for an outdoor cat to limp is from trauma. Either falling from something, get caught up or from fighting with another animal and suffering bite wounds and an abscess. I would keep him indoors and see if resting helps the limp, which it would if it was a strain or sprain. If he stops eating and is lethargic he may have a fever from bite wounds and infection. Bite wounds are treated with pain medications and antibiotics. These medications need to be prescribed by a Vet who can examine Momo. I hope this helps!