Question
I accidentally stepped on my kitten's paw while walking. She cried loudly and hid in a corner immediately after. I checked her paw , tried moving it just to see if it caused her any pain. Apart from soft cries (out of sadness and the heartbreak of betrayal I think) she didn't react in a manner I thought was concerning.
Question is what are the signs of fracture or sprains I should look out for? And what can I do if I see any of these signs?
I know the best thing would be to take her to a vet but the place I live in is under complete lock down and there is nothing more I can do right now.
Answer
The way to see if the injury is serious is to observe your cat for a couple of hours: if your cat is still limping and tries to avoid using the paw when she walks, you can start thinking about taking her to the vet.
If the paw starts to swell, it is time to call your vet.
You are saying "kitten" in your question, so I am assuming she is only a few months old. The bones in a growing kitten are flexible, so they do not break easily.
If your cat can walk on the paw and is not limping after a couple of hours, you can assume that she will be fine.
You can examine your cat yourself by taking a firm grip on the paw that you think might be injured and if your cat shows signs of pain or cry, you need to take her to the vet to get her examined.
By a firm grip on the paw I mean just taking the paw in your hand and give it a little squeeze, like when you grab your own finger.
Try not to worry, most of us cat owners have stepped on our cats paw at least once and injury to the cats paw is not very common, at least when it comes to fractures. Soft tissue injury will heal in a couple of days, so again, try not to worry.
Answered By - trond hansen