hurt cat paw

Question
hello, when i found my cat this morning she was limping, so i tried to see if her other paw was broken or something, she only responded to it slightly when i touched it, so i thought it was just asleep or something and left her alone, but its the end of the day now, and she still won't walk on it, and shes acting very obidient and strange, i know its weird to be upset over an obidient cat, but right now shes sitting in my lap like a human *on her butt* and she isn't fighting it and she seems really weak, i was wondering if this is just because of old age because shes almost 8 years old now, or if it's something else, i'm only 15 so i don't have money to take her to a vet, and my mom hasn't been home all day, i don't know how to help her...any thoughts?

Answer
Hi Nicole.  I don't think this is likely due to old age.  Most cats are living closer to 15 years now.  However, there could be a possibility she's suffering from a little bit of arthritis, and that could make her uncomfortable.  Cats can also contract a virus called calici, and this can cause lameness.  Infected cats may limp or avoid bearing weight on some feet.  They also will be lethargic and often feverish, with loss of appetite.

If you can't see a cut on her paw, an ingrown nail, or something else embedded in her paw pad, it's best to leave her paw alone for now and get her to a vet in the morning.  The vet can feel the paw to determine just what type of movement and pressure appears to bother her worst.  They can also gather information about her general health to form an opinion on what the root cause of the problem is.

If you DO notice a cut, ingrown nail or something embedded in her paw pad, remove any foreign bodies, or cut back any ingrown nails, and then try to soak her foot in warm water mixed with antibacterial soap.  I know it's just about impossible to soak a cat's foot in water, but if you put just a couple inches of the solution in a cup and then stick her sore paw into the cup, it's usually easier.  Try to soak it for 5-10 minutes.  This will draw out bacteria and can help relieve pain associated with cuts.  Then, also get her to the vet in the morning.  Cuts on the feet will need to be treated with an antibiotic due to their location - the feet come into contact with many germs, of course, so the risk of infection is high.  In general, avoid using Bactine, which is toxic to cats, and peroxide, which can cause tissue damage, to disinfect any wounds you may find.

Best of luck!

Jessica