Urgent — same day vet contact Same day for severe pain or non-weight-bearing; sooner if visible fracture or suspected RTA

Cat limping or holding up a leg

Cats hide pain well — any limp lasting more than 24 hours, any non-weight-bearing leg, or any cat with visible swelling or wound needs a same-day vet visit.

Cat

Recognise the signs

Holding a leg up or touching the toe lightly
Limping or stiff gait
Reluctance to jump up or climb
Hiding more, less playful
Swelling, often on the tail base or back end (common bite-wound site)
A scab or puncture wound, sometimes with discharge
Sudden hindlimb paralysis with crying — saddle thrombus, emergency
Reduced grooming or grooming only one area

First aid steps

Check the affected leg and paw for visible wounds, swelling, or torn claw.
Look for puncture marks — bite wounds often only show as small scabs but rapidly form abscesses.
Run a gentle hand along the leg and back; cats hide pain stoically, so watch for subtle stiffening or flinching.
Restrict outdoor access for the next 24 hours so the limp can be monitored.
Keep the cat indoors with food, water, and a clean tray within easy reach.
Phone the vet for any non-weight-bearing limp, suspected fight, or no improvement in 24 hours.

Do NOT

Do not give any human painkillers — paracetamol kills cats, ibuprofen and aspirin are unsafe.
Do not assume a tiny puncture wound is harmless — bite wounds abscess within 1–3 days.
Do not let an outdoor cat continue going out while limping — assessment and rest are essential.
Do not assume sudden hindlimb weakness is a sprain — saddle thrombus presents this way and is emergency.
Do not ignore a stoic-but-quieter cat — cats with broken bones can still purr.

When to phone the vet immediately

Non-weight-bearing on the leg
Visible fracture, open wound, or large swelling
Suspected fight, fall, or RTA
Sudden hindlimb weakness or paralysis with crying — saddle thrombus, emergency
Lameness with fever, off food, or hiding
No improvement after 24 hours of rest
Persistent or progressive lameness in an older cat

Signs that can usually wait for a routine appointment

A very mild limp in a bright, eating cat with no visible wound and clear improvement within 24 hours of rest can be monitored at home — but escalate at the first sign of swelling, smell, or worsening.

Common causes

Cat fight injuries — bite wounds and abscesses (commonest cause in outdoor cats)
Soft tissue injury from a fall or jump gone wrong
Fracture from trauma — RTA, fall from height, getting stuck
Cat 'high-rise syndrome' — falls from windows or balconies
Arthritis (older cats; very under-diagnosed in cats)
Cut or torn paw, broken claw
Insect sting
Saddle thrombus — sudden hindlimb paralysis (see cat-saddle-thrombus, true emergency)
Tick bite or tick paralysis (rare)
Bone tumour (older cats)

What the vet will need to know

Which leg and how the limp started
Indoor/outdoor
Any known fight, fall, or known RTA
Visible wounds, scabs, or swelling
Pain on touching specific areas
Other signs — fever, hiding, off food
Time since limping started
Phone video of the cat walking

Aftercare

Bite wounds usually need clipping, cleaning, antibiotics, and pain relief; abscesses may need draining.
Soft tissue injuries: strict rest indoors for 1–2 weeks; cage rest for severe cases.
Fractures: surgery or splinting depending on location and severity.
Arthritis: long-term joint support, environment adaptation, prescription pain relief.
Buster collar to prevent licking surgical or wound sites.

Prevention

Neutering reduces fight risk dramatically — territorial entire toms are over-represented in bite-wound cases.
Indoor or supervised outdoor cats have far lower trauma rates.
Window screens for upper-floor flats reduce high-rise syndrome.
Annual health checks; senior cat checks pick up early arthritis (much commoner than once thought).
Maintain healthy weight — joint pain accelerates with obesity.

Breed-specific notes

Saddle thrombus risk: Maine Coon, Ragdoll, British Shorthair, Sphynx, Persian (cardiomyopathy-prone breeds).
Higher arthritis incidence in older cats of any breed; rarely picked up because cats hide it well.

Frequently asked questions

Why are cat bite wounds so prone to abscesses?

Cat teeth are sharp and narrow, leaving tiny puncture wounds that close on the surface and trap bacteria underneath. Within 1–3 days, the area becomes a hot, swollen abscess that often bursts and discharges pus. All suspected bite wounds need vet review for clipping, cleaning, and antibiotics.

How can I tell if my older cat has arthritis?

Cats with arthritis often stop jumping up high, sleep more, groom less, and become less playful — easily mistaken for normal ageing. Reluctance to climb stairs, missed jumps, or stiffness after rest are early signs. Many cats benefit dramatically from prescription pain relief; ask the vet about a trial.

Can I give my cat human painkillers like for a sprain?

No — paracetamol is fatal to cats, and ibuprofen and aspirin are unsafe. Cat-specific pain relief from the vet is essential. Until the cat is seen, rest and warmth are the only safe home measures.