What this means
Cats do not limp as plainly as dogs. Often you see only a hint: a back leg held up for a moment, a few uneven steps, a skip on three legs that quickly passes, or careful, slow movement. Such a cat can look fine a few minutes later, but that does not mean there was no pain. Note which leg, when it happens and whether it keeps coming back.
Cats hide pain, so a limp can be the only visible sign. It is worth watching for changes that may be even clearer than the limp itself: your cat no longer jumps onto the windowsill or sofa, climbs stairs less, rests longer, plays less or hides. A cat that stops jumping up is very often in pain and is not simply getting old.
Look at the leg itself too: a swelling, a warm spot, a wound or a painful lump after a bite can explain the limp. In some cases limping begins after a fall or an accident, but it can also start with no visible reason, and the reason cannot be guessed without taking your cat to a vet.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your cat.
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An injury after a fall or accident
An injured cat may limp, lick one spot, hide or stop eating. Even an injury that looks minor can hide something more serious.
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An abscess after a bite
A bite wound is barely visible in the fur, but a painful lump can form under the skin. The cat limps if the leg or the area next to it hurts.
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A slipping kneecap
The kneecap slips out of its groove, so a back leg briefly locks and the cat skips on three legs. Afterwards it may walk as if nothing happened.
About the condition: Luxating patella (slipping kneecap) -
A hip joint that formed imperfectly
If the hip joint formed imperfectly, the cat moves carefully and limps, and over time the joint wears and starts to hurt.
About the condition: Hip dysplasia -
Joint inflammation and wear
Sore joints make a cat limp, avoid jumps and move less. The changes can be subtle and build up slowly.
About the condition: Arthritis -
An injured paw or claw
A torn claw or a cut pad makes a cat refuse to put the paw down. It is usually visible when the paw is examined.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Which leg, and whether your cat puts weight on it at all
- Whether the limp is constant or comes and goes
- Whether the leg is swollen, hot or sore when touched
- Whether your cat licks one spot or hides
- Whether it has stopped jumping up and avoids stairs
- Whether its appetite or litter-box habits have changed
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if your cat limps or skips on three legs, even if it passes, or if it has started avoiding jumps or moving carefully. Before the visit note which leg and when it happens, and film it if you can. If your cat will not put the leg down at all or has had an injury, go as soon as you can.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Hip dysplasia Bones and joints The hip joint forms imperfectly, so the ball of the thigh bone does not sit in the socket as it should, and the joint wears over time and starts to hurt.
- Injuries General health Physical harm to the body: falls from a height, road accidents, bites from other animals, cuts or burns. Even an injury that looks minor can hide damage inside, and cats are very good at hiding pain.
- Luxating patella (slipping kneecap) Bones and joints The kneecap slips out of its groove at the lower end of the thigh bone, so the knee briefly locks and the leg stops bending as it should. Over time the joint can wear and start to hurt.
Body systems: Bones and joints General health