My senior cat fell, limping but acting normal. What should I do?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Oscar. If he is acting normally and not limping, he should be fine. However, you will want to monitor him closely. If the lameness recurs, this indicates that he is still painful. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medication as these can be toxic to cats. If he acts sore again, he will need to see his veterinarian!

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 !

Poor Jango! I would wait another 24 hours. Keep him confined to a small room to keep down his movement, and force him to rest. Have a litter box, food, and water in the room. If you can find a crate large enough to hold all of that equipment plus him, I would put him in it. No running, jumping, or playing. Don't let him outside if he's normally allowed outside. Should he still be limping after 24 hours, then I would take him into the vet for a lameness exam and possibly x-rays. Please do NOT give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given.

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 and thanks for posting. If you feel Jasper is experiencing pain in one of his legs, the best thing to do would be to have him evaluated by a veterinarian. Your vet will need to do an exam and may recommend taking x-rays to check for fractures or other injuries to the legs so he can be appropriately treated.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Hobo. Poor boy. Favoring the leg means he is in pain. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Keep him indoors if he is allowed outside, and limit his movements to a small room. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He 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. I hope this helps!

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!