My cat is limping and pulling his leg, but doesn't seem hurt. Why?

Hello Andrea, It is very difficult to say what may be going on with Lennie without seeing what he is doing myself. Is this a hind leg? All I can say is that if this is a new behavior for him you should have your vet check him out. He may have an issue with his knee cap that is causing the issue (if it is a hind leg that he is holding up). ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/luxating-patella-in-cats )

Ideally, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian. He may have been bitten by another cat which would explain his symptoms. A cat bite can be difficult to detect and can abscess and be quite painful. Antibiotics and pain medication may be indicated.

The chance that there is a blood clot contributing to these clinical signs is very unlikely. Typically, when something like this happens, your cat would be in absolutely uncontrollable pain, screaming and crying like nothing you have every heard. You might also notice that the feet and limbs are noticeable cold. This doesn't sound like the case. In all likelihood, Autumn simply sprained or strained something and is now experiencing some discomfort as a result. One other cause of shifting or sporadic lameness in the limbs are tick borne diseases such as Lyme disease. While these are far more common in dogs, they can definitely occur in cats as well. Depending on your geographic region, the type of tick borne diseases that are most common will vary considerably. Hope this makes sense. Get Autumn into the vet for some examination if the symptoms don't subside in the next day or so. Just don't try and give any over the counter pain medication at home as there are none that are safe for cats.

You didn't mention if it was a hind leg or a front leg. There are different possibilities for injuries based on which leg is injured. She may just sprained the leg but if she is holding the leg completely up and not putting any weight on it then it could be broken and she needs to see a vet. If she is putting weight on it but just limping slightly then just watch her for a few days. If it doesn't resolve then she should see a vet.

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!

There can be many sources of pain. Fractured bones are a possibility. There are many tiny bones in the paws, but if Mizzy lets you press firmly on all 4 paws, long leg bones, and along the back and ribs, she may not have anything broken. Second, ligaments or muscles can strain or tear. Sometimes this causes swelling and pain in a specific place, but not all the time. Third, she could have a wound or bruising in an area that is hard to see because of the fur. I would recommend just monitoring her for a few days. Watch her eating and drinking, and watch for improvement of the limp. If any thing changes or isn't better in a few days, she should be evaluated by a vet. Mizzy should also stay inside during this monitoring phase since cat's that are sick or painful may hide and don't always come back home for you to care for them.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. What an interesting episode! Milo could have acted this way for a number of reasons including: - bite or sting on one of the back paws - litter or tape stuck on the paws -back or leg pain -neurological problem If he seems normal now, I would just monitor for another episode. If possible, catch another episode like this on video for your vet. If he has any other weird or concerning signs, see your vet sooner. Best wishes to you and Milo!