Why is my cat limping or dragging a back leg?
Cats can develop limping, dragging legs, or inflamed paws that persist for weeks despite clear initial veterinary radiographs and cleaning. This uncertainty stops owners from finding relief for their pet's chronic discomfort and leaves them waiting weeks without a cure.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1inspecting the foot for splinters or sprainsDid this help you?
- 2Waiting as advised by a veterinarianDid this help you?
- 3Visiting a second veterinarian for a radiographDid this help you?
- 4Cleaning the pawDid this help you?
- 5Checking the cat for external woundsDid this help you?
- 6Searching the internet for videos of cats with neurological damagesDid this help you?
- 7Waiting to see if a suspected toxin passesDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“My cat came one day with his leg limping, took him to the vet and we took a radiograph. Nothing, we went to another and told us to wait, it has passed almost 2 weeks and he doesn't seem to cure.”source ↗
“His paw is inflamed and he can't stomp, we cleaned it but that yellowish thing had nothing inside.”source ↗
“One of her back legs keeps dragging behind and sometimes he stumbles.”source ↗
“This little guy's an apartment cat. And he seems to be having a problem while walking.”source ↗
“He doesn't seem to have much control over his left hind leg. Could it be a spinal issue?”source ↗
“Can anybody guide me on what his issue could be and does this warrant a visit to the vet?”source ↗
“My cat started yowling like he was in pain when I got home this afternoon.”source ↗
“When we got home it’s like his back legs aren’t working well and he occasionally yowls.”source ↗
“I’m so scared for my boy! Don’t know what to do.”source ↗
“To make things worse, money is tight right now.”source ↗