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What to do for a limping stray cat? Can a vet fix her broken leg?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

There is a cat in our neighborhood that appears to have a broken leg. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain so it may be an old fracture that healed incorrectly. She seems to walk around fine with a limp. What should we do? And if we tried to catch her and take her to a vet, what would they be able to do for her?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Christie Long, DVM

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on May 20th, 2018

It sounds like this is a feral cat, so the best way to catch her is to use a trap cage. Often cat rescue organizations or shelters will let you borrow them. You put food inside and the cat enters, then the door closes. Then you can take her in the cage to the vet, where they can safely administer drugs to anesthetize her so that she can be properly examined.

At that point, the best thing to do is x-ray the leg. It may not appear to bother her, but an x-ray is needed to fully assess that. If there is pain, amputation may be indicated to help her be pain-free. At that point I would recommend making her an indoor cat for life, to keep her safe for good.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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