Every cat parent wishes to have a happy and healthy kitty. Check these 5 signs that you have a happy and healthy cat. It will not be fun to see the kitty struggle to get around due to something wrong with her legs.

There are several reasons why your kitty might get it hard to move around, problems with the joints, muscles, bones, nerves or skin and even some more serious problems.

It is very important for cat parents to get to know the reasons why your cat is limping. Limping can also be experienced by dogs, as elaborated in reasons why your dog is limping.

Limping can also indicate some more serious problems that need immediate actions. If your cat, for example, has been in an accident or suffering from certain trauma, then it is a must to bring it to the vet to prevent worse conditions.

But, the first step you can do is by understanding these symptoms and the 11 causes why your cat is limping.

Symptoms of a Limping Cat

Cats are good at hiding signs of illness or injury. As the condition worsens, then it is the time to observe the symptoms as the cats may not be able to hide their pain anymore. Let’s see the following symptoms of limping in cats:

Stiffness.
Uninterested to do physical activities (such as jumping or running).
Refuse to be touched.
Loss of appetite.
Unable to walk.
Swelling in the affected limb.
Inflammation.
Lethargy.
Stop to rest while walking.
More vocalization than normal.
Act aggressively.

Causes of Limping in Cats

There are some causes of limping in cats. Let’s see these 11 causes of limping in cats every cat parent must know.

Arthritis

Arthritis in cat is simply defined as a condition where the cat experiences painful joints and this condition makes her difficult to move comfortably. Arthritis causes lameness and other mobility problems for all cats, both young, adults and seniors.

Arthritis is even worse than broken bones or wound as it is hard to recognize, though it brings painful effects to the cat herself. It really causes pain and makes the cat difficult to mobilize and perform everyday functions. Besides causing limping in cats, some cats that experience arthritis also need to cut down on the physical activities.

If you wish to know more about arthritis in cats,

Ingrown Toenails, Cat Fights, and Cacti

As an owner, you might not notice ingrown toenails, but this condition surely leads your cat to limp. It is said to be difficult to see ingrown toenails in certain breed of cats, such as Maine Coons, Persians and other cats with long and shaggy fur. If your cat experiences arthritis in her toes, then she may avoid the scratching post and this condition may lead to ingrown toenails.

If this is the case, you should bring your cat to the vet. Your vet will try to remove the nail from your cat’s paw pad and clean the wound. Your vet may also prescribe some antibiotics and pain medication to speed up the healing process.

There are also other cases leading a cat to limp, such as because of fighting with other cats or getting injured by some objects like cactus or hot stove. This cases lead the cat to limp and if this case happens, the vet will do some treatment. The vet will try to remove the hair around the wound, clean and flush it and apply some antibiotics.

If you have your cats fighting, get to know the reasons why cats fight and solve the problems right away!

Neurological Diseases and Cancers

Neurological disease does not commonly affect the way a cat walks, but it may also possibly happen. For instance, the case of lumbosacral disease or degeneration may cause intense pain toward the base of the tail. When your cat has a back pain, she might find it hard to walk.

To treat this disease, surgery or steroid might be needed.

Some cancers can also affect the way a cat walks. Any tumors occurring in the certain place may cause your cat to limp.

Outdoor Hazards

Playing outside is always a cat’s favorite activity. However, you might not realize that there are some outdoor hazards that may cause your cat to limp too.

The good example of it is when the cat gets her paws embedded by grass awns. Grass awns might not be dangerous but their spikes and sharp edges are able to penetrate the skin and tissues of the cat.

To treat this, your vet will try to remove the awn by digging it through the wound. Your vet might need to apply general anesthesia as well.

Besides those 4 causes of limping in cats, there are some other possible causes of limping in cats as follow:

Claw injury.
Insect stings.
Cat flu – get to know these signs of cats recovering from flu.
Sprains.
Ligament injury in the knee.
Spinal problems, such as slipped disc.
Dislocation (hip, shoulder, ankle or toe).

Never underestimate the condition of a limping cat. A limping cat experiences great pain. Your cat are unable to complain and tell you about the pain, so it is your job to pay attention to any symptoms shown by your cat. Once you notice any symptoms of limping, then bring your cat to the vet. Pain will not go away unless it is treated.