My cat sprained his leg. How long to heal and when to recheck?

It can take up to 3-4 weeks for a cat to completely heal from a sprained leg. It's very important to keep them as rested as possible during this time, confining the cat to a small room or crate to reduce movement. Pain medication can help, but you should only give pain meds prescribed by your vet. Many human ones are toxic to cats and are fatal if given.

If the lameness has persisted for 3 weeks and you notice that there is a difference in the shape of the shoulder area and leg position, I fear that the injury could be more serious than a sprain. Muscle injuries normally recover in 4-5 days of rest and antinflammatories. I would recommend to have him reassessed, there is a medication that can be given at home prior to the visit to help with the stress, I would ask your vet. Hope this helps !

You can try resting Mickey for the next 72 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. I'd keep him confined to a small room or a large crate. Keep him indoors if he's allowed outdoors. It's very important to not give him any human pain medications. Many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. Should he still be limping at 72 hours, then he will need to see a vet.

Yes, he will continue to improve over time. Luckily cats heal well with orthopedic injuries. Let him rest if he wants to and I would discourage jumping for another month so he won't injury the area again since it's not fully healed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Chippy.

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. While it's *possible* that Ernie has a mild injury like a sprain, in all truthfulness a minor sprain wouldn't usually cause a cat to act as lethargic as you described with Ernie. Cats are pretty good at getting around on 3 legs, so usually with a sprain or similar minor injury, they're just as active as ever but simply put less weight on the sore leg. If he's sleeping an unusually large amount, and eating less than usual, that sounds to me like he's feeling ill. My biggest concern in a kitty who spends time outside and is now lethargic and has a sore leg, would be a bite wound, usually from another cat - they can be very sneaky and hard to find until the resulting infection flares up. It would be worth having Ernie seen by your vet if he doesn't seem back to his usual self tomorrow. Hope this helps!

Stray cats are very hardy. He will probably heal in a week or month, depending on the injury, without treatment if he can rest and have food and water. If he stops eating then that is serious and I would take him for treatment as you don't want him to suffer. Often rescue groups can help with the medical bills and may be able to place him when he recovers. Thanks looking after him and using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Poor Oreo! It sounds like she has injured herself, and it could be due to a strain. I recommend resting her for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Keep her confined to a small room to limit movement, and do not allow her outside if she is allowed outdoors. If she still appears painful after this time, then I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. She may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given.