Why Is My Cat Limping? Causes, Treatment, and How To Prevent It

Cat limping can be concerning, whether your cat is having trouble walking or jumping up and down. You may be wondering, “Why is my cat limping?”

This behavior is a sign of pain that should never be ignored. But when is your cat walking with a limp considered an emergency, and when should you take a wait-and-see approach?

Let’s look at the common causes of cat limping, how they’re treated, and most importantly, what you should do when you see your cat limping.

Why Is My Cat Limping?

Whether your cat’s limping is occurring on a front or back leg, several potential causes can include:

• A broken bone

• A dislocated joint

• Foreign material embedded in the skin or deeper tissues—in between toes and paw pads is very common

• A torn toenail

• Toenails that have grown into the feet

• A wound, such as a cut, abrasion, bite, or burn

• Frostbite

• An insect sting or bite

• Bruising

• Overworked, strained, or torn muscles

• Injured or ruptured ligaments and tendons

• Infections affecting soft tissues, bones, or joints

• Abnormal development (often first noted in younger animals)

• Osteoarthritis, more likely with age

• Autoimmune or inflammatory disease

• Cancer affecting bones, soft tissues, or joints

Should You Go to the Vet for Cat Limping?

There are many causes of feline limping.

Some cases of cat limping can get better on their own, while others require a veterinary visit. Some can be true emergencies.

Let’s look at a few options to help you decide how to respond if your cat is limping.

1. Give It A Few Days

This is a good option if your cat has just started limping, and the limping appears to be on and off.

Your furry friend can put weight on the affected leg, and they seem to feel fine otherwise. They’re eating well, using the litter box normally, and aren’t in distress.

Here are a few tips for at-home treatment:

• Gently examine your cat’s toenails, paw pads, feet, and legs. Maybe you’ll find something that you can manage at home, like a small wound or an overgrown toenail.

  • Skip this step if your cat resists—you don’t want to be bitten or scratched.

• Keep your cat indoors.

• Minimize play and encourage rest.

• Closely monitor the situation to ensure that their condition doesn’t worsen and that they continue to eat, drink, and use their litter box normally.

2. Make An Appointment with Your Vet

Your cat’s limp is not improving after a week of rest, or it’s getting worse. Your cat doesn’t want to put much weight on their leg, but they’re acting normally otherwise.

3. It’s a Potential Emergency—See Your Vet Immediately

Your cat is showing signs of extreme pain. You know your cat has experienced serious trauma—such as being hit by a car or attacked by another animal—even if serious injuries aren’t immediately obvious.

Your cat has an obvious fracture or dislocation (you can see a bone protruding through the skin, or their leg is deformed). Your cat is dragging a leg and they have other worrisome symptoms, such as bleeding, disorientation, lethargy, or trouble breathing.

Never give your cat any type of pain reliever unless you have been told to do so by your veterinarian. Many pain relievers that we commonly take or give to dogs are extremely toxic for cats.

Be careful handling your cat. Cats can lash out when they are in pain.

When it’s time to go to the vet’s office, use treats to encourage your cat to enter their carrier on their own and provide them with a lot of blankets for added comfort.

If you must pick up your cat, place a thick towel over them, then lift and gently put them in a carrier.

Don’t try to slide your cat through the door of a hard-sided carrier.

Take the top off, put them inside, and then fasten the top in place.

How Vets Diagnose Limping in Cats

To diagnose the underlying cause of a cat’s limping, a veterinarian will start by asking you questions about what you have been seeing at home and for how long, as well as your cat’s lifestyle and health.

Tell the veterinarian about any medications or supplements that your cat is taking and any previous medical issues they may have had.

Your vet will watch how your cat moves in the exam room and perform a physical examination, paying special attention to your cat’s musculoskeletal system.

If your cat is intermittently limping, take a video at home so you can show your vet the behavior if it’s not repeatable in the exam room.

Diagnostic testing is often necessary to look for an underlying cause of your cat's limping.

Veterinarians will usually start with X-rays and routine lab work, but sometimes more advanced diagnostics are necessary. These can include: 

• A joint fluid analysis

• A CT scan

• MRI

• Tissue biopsy

Treatment for Cat Limping

Veterinary treatment for feline limping will depend on your cat’s diagnosis and overall health. Possible treatment for cat limping can include:

• Pain medications

• Broad spectrum antibiotics such as Clavamox or Convenia are used treat bacterial infections

• Medications to reduce inflammation or suppress the immune system such as oral steroids (prednisone/prednisolone) or NSAIDs (Meloxicam or Onsior)

• Surgery to repair wounds, stabilize broken bones or joint injuries, or remove tumors

• Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy

• Nutritional supplements like omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate

• Complementary therapies, including acupuncture, cold laser treatments, and CBD

• Physical therapy

• Weight loss

How To Prevent Cat Limping

To prevent cat limping, it’s important to take proper precautions to cat-proof your home, as well as your cat’s environment.  

Consider a catio or walking them on a leash or in a stroller to prevent injury.

Be cautious bringing new pets into the house to avoid fighting.

Regular nail trims help decrease nail injury, thus lowering the chance of the nails getting stuck and broken.