He was lying on my bed and he seemed fine but just started to growl and hiss randomly. I thought it was due to a bad dream but it continued when he was awake.
I tried to look at him but he hissed at me and ran out of my door, when he was moving I could see a lack of pressure on his front right paw, but it had no signs of visible injury. He is currently hidden under my mother's bed so I can't get to him.
He is usually a grumbly cat anyway but only when picked up. Now, he grumbled when I stroked anywhere but his head.
It is nearly 6am in the UK currently, so a vet visit is out of the question as there are no emergency vets and I have nobody to take him to the normal vet. What could be wrong with him?
Answer
WhisWind:
Before anything else, stop reacting and start acting. "Freaking out" isn't helping anyone and is probably frightening the bejeebers out of your cat. He isn't feeling all that red hot and now you are acting odd. He's probably thinking something along the lines of "Great, not only did I hurt my leg, but Mom's acting weird as heck. WTF, my day sucks." He doesn't want stuff, being confined to anyplace, or whatever, just let him take care of it until you can manage a vet.
First, cats are wise creatures. He is where he is because it is the most comfortable and comforting place for him. Let him chose his spot and let him settle down. If he wants to be on the bed and be cuddled, then settle in with the TV and be a kitty pillow while you wait.
Second, call a vet. They will be able to tell you what you should be doing and also if there is cause to panic. Just because an animal is grumbly, it doesn't always mean this is something to rush around about. He might has sprained something which causes pain but doesn't mean he is going to die. It means he needs to see a vet to get some pain meds made for kitties so he isn't hurting while his leg mends.
Third, yes, he is in pain, but listen and watch carefully. He is limping but is it slowing him down? You said he is on your bed, did he hop up there on his own? Is he using that leg at all? Is it a heavy limp or is it a "I'm a bit tender there" limp? This might sound odd, but is he purring?
The more serious the limp, the more serious the problem. If he is just tender, then the problem is a bit less serious. Is he indicating he wants to move around or is he planted in one spot? If he wants to move (or has moved about) then again, less serious.
Does he purr? Purring is a sound of feeling something deeply. When he is well and you pet him, it is a sound of being deeply happy. It can also be a sound of being deeply in pain.
Stop petting him for a few minutes and leave the room. (Ignore the demands for a return) when you come back in, don't pet him and listen. Is he purring to himself (this is tricky at times since some cats purr just seeing their person because they are deeply happy their person is there.) or is he purring at you? If he is purring to himself, he is in deeper pain. Last, his demands, is the sound demanding? A I want this and I want it now! Is it a complaint? Stay! Or is it fear? I'm scared! Listen carefully to the tone. If it is "I'm scared."
You might have freaked him out with your worrying so you will need to calm down. If it is a complaint, you might consider what he is complaining about and when the complaints started. Did he complain when you first saw him, or after you started mothering him? If it is a demand, you might have a problem. "Fix it now, Mom!" But since he is complaining, it is actually a good sign. A badly hurt cat is a silent, purring cat with dull eyes and a crouched, humped look.
Now, calm down and take a deep breath. Evaluate the situation, call the ve, and give the vet the information he will need about your cat (when did the injury happen, where does the cat seem to be hurt (the more specific the better), what symptoms are being shown, how is the cat acting, is the cat running a temp (feels hotter than normal), is the cat lethargic (acts like a kitty pancake that won't move unless picked up and then will go limp), how old is the cat, how big is the cat, and do you know what the cat was doing when it got hurt.). Then stop frightening your cat and settle down to your new role as kitty pillow until someone comes to save you.
Mamma Cat:
Call a vet and explain your situation. A phone call is free.
Since the cat is in pain, there is nothing you can do for it besides having it in a quiet, safe warm place. not where he can jump around. Put her in a bathroom with her litterbox and food, water, and bedding and leave her alone and call a vet.
Troy:
Do you have a mobile vet in your area you could call? Or call a rescue
to see if they can help you, your cats in pain and is looking to you for
help Good luck and I mean that
