Re: Patches limping suddenly

[Nina]

Why would you jump to the idea of a tumor on her spine??  It seems much more likely that she's injured herself somehow.  Is she putting any weight on it?  She's still eating, so that's a good sign.  Let me tell you a little story about spending yet another late night at the vet's, (the second night in a row).  On Friday night I went to feed the ferals and one of the "stray" friendly kitties, Royal, that always comes to meet me was holding up his right front leg.  He wasn't putting any weight on it and he wasn't bending the leg at all, just holding it up in the air and hoping around on his three other legs. I elevated his food to make it easier for him to eat while I watched and tried to access the damage.  He seemed interested in the food, took a sniff, one lick and then went and crawled under the deck.  Not normal behavior for him at all, so of course I ran home, got the carrier and ended up at the ER.  By the time we had been waiting in an exam room for a while, I was able to see that he could bend it, was putting a little weight on it, and it didn't appear to be as severe an injury as I first thought.  He had a temp of 104, which was troubling, but the vet couldn't tell what was wrong with it just be feeling it, (I was still hoping for an abscess, even though it seemed like a more "all over" type of swelling.  Long story, just a little longer...  I went ahead and okayed radiograms and there didn't seem to be anything wrong with his leg.  While I had him there, we tested him for felv/fiv, (happily neg, he's from the same colony as Ceasar), got an abx shot and with a bill of $400 we were on our way.  I put him in a crate in my garage and he ate like a piggy.  The next night he was walking without a limp and the only thing that appeared to be wrong with him was that he had a shaved leg!  Now, I'm not saying that Patches is fine, or suggesting that Royal's limp has anything to do with what is ailing Patches, but I very much wish I had followed my intuition and waited and watched just a little bit longer.  The fact that Patches is eating and moving around tells me that the pain is not too terribly severe.  With this latest episode with Royal fresh in my mind, I would suggest putting her in a large dog crate, with the cat tent she's chosen, a litter box and some food.  That way you'll be able to keep a better eye on her and she won't be able to cause herself further damage.  If she doesn't get worse, I'd go to work and come home to check on her in the middle of the day, can you do that?  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This afternoon, after an active day running around outside and seeming fine, Patches suddenly started limping on her left hind leg. I felt it all over and could not feel anything. Shew was still walking, and going up and down stairs. When I pet her back, she tucked her tail a little.  Later the limp seemed a little worse. She ate dinner fine, but then went into a room she does not usually spend time in, and into a little cat tent that is in a corner behind some furniture. I have never seen her go in there. I brought some more food over, and she stepped out of the tent to eat it, then went right back in. I pet her and she purred, but she has not come out. She usually comes upstairs to sleep.  Do you think she just twisted her foot or something jumping down from something? Should I be worried that she has a tumor on her spine, or do you think that would not affect her so suddenly? If she does not get worse, do you think it is ok for me to go to work tomorrow and see how she is at night, or would you take off and go to the vet? Thanks, Michelle