What are Lameness?
Lameness isn’t an illness, rather it is a symptom of an illness or injury. Once the cat owner notices their cat limping, it’s important to get the right diagnosis so the cat doesn’t develop permanent muscle or nerve disorders.
A cat who is unable to walk, run, or jump normally may be considered lame. The cat may be in obvious pain and the affected limb may look abnormal. While cats are generally able to land upright when they jump or fall, it is possible for them to suffer limb injuries which result in lameness. Some cats may develop lameness as the result of an illness.
Lameness Average Cost
From 566 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
$800
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
Symptoms of Lameness in Cats
Cats are experts in hiding signs of illness or injury. As an injury or illness worsens, however, the cat will be unable to hide its pain, making symptoms easier to spot:
- Stiffness
- Lessened physical activity (jumping or running)
- More vocalization than normal
- Refusing to be touched or handled
- Decreased interactions with others
- Lessened appetite
- Favors the affected limb, obviously limping
- Stops to rest while walking
- Unable to walk
- Acts aggressively
- Swelling in the affected limb
- Inflammation
- Lethargic
- Refuses to bear weight on affected limb
Causes of Lameness in Cats
It’s not only jumps or falls from high areas that lead to a cat becoming lame. Other causes can include:
Injuries
- Ligament injuries
- Bruising
- Broken bones
- Tendonitis
- Myositis or inflamed muscle
- Bites from other animals
- Frostbite
- Broken claw
- Infection of the claw bed
- Cut in pad of foot or on leg
- Footpad disease
- Object embedded in the foot
- Snake bite
- Injury to spinal disc or vertebrae
Illness
- Osteoarthritis
- Nerve damage
- Developmental or congenital conditions
- Joint condition (may be inflammatory)
- Infections, such as calicivirus
- Progressive polyarthritis (immune system disorder)
- Cancer of the bone
- Metabolic disease such as diabetes
- Fungal infection
- Bad nutrition
- Minor stroke
Diagnosis of Lameness in Cats
The vet relies on their patients’ owners to describe just what is happening to the cat. Using the owner's’ observations, the vet gives the cat a full physical exam, looking for signs of the lameness, as well as what is causing the condition.
During the exam, the vet may find obvious causes, such as a foreign object embedded in the footpad. Other underlying causes may not be as easy to detect. This is when the vet gives one of several kinds of tests to the cat:
- X-rays
- Blood testing (looking for infectious or immune system diseases)
- Biopsies
- Removing joint fluid with a fine needle
- CT scan or MRI
- Ultrasound
- Neurological exam
- Myelograph (injecting dye along the spinal cord and taking a special X-ray)
- Electromyography (recording electrical activity of affected muscle tissue)
- Endoscopic exploratory surgery
Treatment of Lameness in Cats
In addition to treating the underlying cause of a cat’s lameness, vets want to manage the pain the cat is feeling. They will start with a less invasive treatment before moving to a more invasive pain treatment if the less invasive options don’t work.
The first option is pain medications, which range from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, which reduce joint or ligament inflammation. While the cat is taking this medication, the vet will be watching the cat closely to ensure it doesn’t develop kidney, liver, or gastrointestinal damage. Along with this form of treatment, the vet may prescribe cage rest.
If NSAIDS don’t work, the vet will prescribe opioid pain medications, such as tramadol, buprenorphine or butorphanol. These medications are reserved for more acute pain. The cat can take oral medications or receive injections of this medication.
Chondroprotectants are drugs that protect the cartilage that surrounds the joint. These medications are reserved for cats diagnosed with osteoarthritis as they work to slow degradation of the cartilage in the affected limb. Again, these medications are given orally or as injections.
Complementary treatments may pain relief to the cat. These include chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, and physical therapy. Laser therapy may also be helpful. These treatments are intended to increase physical comfort to the cat as it works to return to a more normal function. Other treatments can include massage and dietary changes.
If the cat has a congenital condition that limits the use of the limb or causes significant pain, the vet may suggest surgery to the cat’s owner.
Worried about the cost of treating your pet's symptoms?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
Recovery of Lameness in Cats
Depending on the cause of a cat’s lameness and it’s severity, along with the method of treatment and follow-up care, the affected cat can generally recover. For cats affected by osteoarthritis, their medication will help to slow the progress of the disease as well as offer some pain relief. If the arthritic cat is also overweight, a change in cat food that allows it to lose the extra weight can also lead to more significant relief of pain and lameness.
For cats diagnosed with osteoarthritis, it will be necessary to take pain relieving medications for the rest of its life. Regular veterinary follow-ups will also help improve quality of life for the pet.
Cat foods that contain a higher amount of Omega 3 and 6 (fatty acids) can also provide a small amount of pain relief by improving the health of affected joints.
Lameness Average Cost
From 566 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
$800
Top
Lameness Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Short hair domesti
Patches
13 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Difficult Breathing Lameness Rightlimb
Difficult Breathing Lameness Ri
Difficult Breathing
Difficult Breathing, Lameness
My cat has been diagnosed with lung cancer and has limp right leg
Should I see oncologist?
13 years old
Gave curcumin
Difficult breathing slight enlarged heart
ER vet said lasix.
I took patches home
He suggested put to sleep or take home to eventually pass
Aug. 18, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
If the only alternatives that you were given were euthanasia or letting Patches die at home, and you want to see if there are other therapies, seeing an oncologist might be a good idea. They'll be able to examine her and give you an idea if there are any other therapies that might help her.
Aug. 19, 2018
Was this question and answer helpful?
tabby
Buttercup
12 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Limping
Lame
My cat has came in from the rain and he cannot walk on one of his back legs. He is wobbling around and refusing to put weight on it, and has fell over a few times. But he seems not to be in any pain at all, letting us touch the leg and continuing to walk around for pets like he would normally. Hes not a young cat anymore and he is quite overweight so we are worried it could have been a minor stroke, or maybe with the heavy rain he slipped and fell wrong or a car may have hit him.
July 29, 2018
0 Recommendations
There are many causes for limping in cats which may include simple sprains or more severe injuries; sprains, dislocations, fractures, insect bites among other causes may lead to limping. You should keep Buttercup well rested and restrict movement to prevent further injury, visit your Veterinarian if there is no improvement in the limp or is vocalising in pain. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 30, 2018
Was this question and answer helpful?
cat tabby
gracie
9 Weeks
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Limping
my 9 week old kitten got first shots on Tuesday and now on Saturday has lameness in front left paw and wont use it and is sleeping a lot more then normal, she eats well still
June 24, 2018
0 Recommendations
There are various causes for lameness in kittens, a sprain or soft tissue injury is quite common; you should keep an eye on Gracie for the next day or two to ensure that she gets plenty of rest (no running or jumping) and to see if there is any improvement in the limping. If there is no improvement, you should visit your Veterinarian for an examination just to check. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 25, 2018
Was this question and answer helpful?
Unknown
Kitty
3 Weeks
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lameness
Hi. My neighbour's 3 wks old kitten was picked up roughly by the middle of her back by her rat terrier and shook from side to side. There didn't seem to be another bleeding or apparent injury but when picked up, she was meowing in pain and aggressive and my neighbour mishandled her as well. The kitty then couldn't walk anymore and has been dragging her back legs since. She has been unable to walk for 6 days and my neighbour didn't take her to the vet although I urged her to. What could be the problem with the kitty? A broken back or hip dislocation or broken leg. Can she recover and walk again by herself or she needs urgent vet care? Also, will she ever walk again if she gets proper medical care? My stupid neighbour keeps saying she won't survive and won't do anything to help her. She says the kitty is drinking milk but still cannot walk. Please advise
June 22, 2018
0 Recommendations
Spinal damage is the most likely issue, however without examining Kitty and possibly looking at some x-rays we cannot determine the severity of any injury to the spine, hips or any injury in general. I would recommend visiting a Veterinarian, could even be a charity clinic, just for an examination and if need be euthanasia. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 22, 2018
Was this question and answer helpful?
Lameness Average Cost
From 566 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
$800
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
