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Cats/Cat Hurt or Exhausted??

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Expert: - 3/15/2009


Question
Our cat followed us on a walk last night, however did not come home until this morning.  When she did, she look like she could barely walk her back legs seemed sore.  She seemed exhausted.  Although when we last saw her, there were no roads between her and our home, we suspect either she was hold up in a tree all night or was somehow injured.  There is no bleeding or visible signs of injury, however cognitively, for a few minutes, her eyes were moving back and forth rapidly when my husband picked her up from her cat bed.  They are o.k. now.  Now she has moved into the sun and is laying on her paws with her head down resting.  Normally when she lays down in the sun, she is on her side stretched out.  She seems to be resting fine, but we are still concerned.

Answer
Emily,

It's possible that your cat got into a scrape with another cat or a wild animal and she may be injured. It's a good idea to keep a close eye on her and take her into the vet to be assessed if she doesn't seem back to normal in a day or two. I am concerned about the eye movements you describe as they can be indicative of head trauma and that could mean that your cat has crossed paths with a cruel cat hating human. All in all I'd really recommend that your cat is assessed sooner rather than later because if she does have any injuries she could require treatment and pain medication for them.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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