Do you have a cat that limps? There can be so many reasons, and lameness in cats can occur to varying degrees. Sometimes the reason is obvious, if the cat has a visible, for example bite or wound. At other times, it can be more difficult to determine exactly why it limps, for example if it is a fracture or a joint disease. We explain some of the most common reasons why the cat limps, and what you as an owner should do. 

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My cat limps - is it serious?

Here the answer can be both yes and no, and whether or not the lameness is serious depends entirely on the cause. The reason why the cat starts to limp is usually pain from the locomotor system. The pain can then come from soft tissue, such as joints, tendons or muscles, for example after a bite from a fight, stabbing injury or osteoarthritis. There can also be pain from the skeleton, for example as a result of a broken bone. There can also be neurological causes such as prolapse, or circulatory causes (blood clots). In other words, there are many disorders and problems that can be associated with lameness, and in varying degrees of severity. Cat's age, race and gender are important factors that influence the risk of the various disorders. 

Illustration of cat limping

How to treat a limping cat

do you have a cat that limps, it's time for a vet visit. Considering that the causes can be many, and potentially serious, it is important to have a thorough examination of the cat. Please try to keep it calm until you have an appointment with the vet. This means that it should be kept indoors, while you avoid active play, stairs and jumping up and down from heights. 

As a cat owner, it is wise to be observant of the cat's movement pattern, so that lameness can be detected as early as possible. Sometimes it can be perceived by us humans as an acute event, while in reality it comes as a result of an underlying cause over time. It is therefore important that you take your cat to the vet as soon as you notice that it is limping, both to save your cat from unnecessary pain and to prevent, for example, joint diseases from causing permanent damage. 

Lameness as a result of joint disease 

Older cats are more prone to calcifications in the joints, i.e. osteoarthritis. This disorder can make it painful to move, and it is therefore important to make the correct diagnosis with a veterinarian in order to map out the best treatment. Considering that cats are primarily predators, they will instinctively do their best to hide the fact that they are in pain or injured. Some signs that a kitty is in pain may be that she or he moves less, is irritable and unsociable or loses her appetite. The sooner you discover the disease, the sooner you can arrange and improve the senior cat's quality of life. 

Preparation for veterinary visits

We recommend taking all limping cats to the vet. It is often desirable to take an X-ray in case of lameness, and it may be necessary to give the cat a sedative. Therefore, the cat can come fasted to the examination. Get in touch on +4733139840 or post@a-vet.no if you have questions. For urgent inquiries outside our opening hours, we recommend contacting the nearest 24-hour veterinary clinic. 

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Elisabeth is a veterinarian and authorized ophthalmologist with specialization in eye surgery, as well as further training in internal medicine, general surgery, oral surgery and ultrasound from the European School for Advanced Veterinary Studies in Toulouse.