My cat walks with a limp, lifting one front paw as it goes, but I see no obvious wound and it can still jump. The paw pad looks a bit odd but it won’t let me look, so I’m not sure, and sometimes it walks normally.
Expert Answer
Hello. From your description, the cat’s odd symptom is likely from a paw-pad problem, but without a photo I can’t tell what’s wrong with it. If the pad is swollen, think of trauma, foreign-object irritation, infection, or inflammation, and check the foot for anything abnormal.
If the cat is lively with a normal appetite, some serious diseases are less likely. Note that an overly worn paw pad can also swell and cause limping.
My cat lifted a front paw and I found a grass seed wedged in the pad, the vet pulled it and he was fine, so an unseen pad item was the culprit. I'd get a look or a vet exam, because "no wound" just means you can't see it, and a swollen pad hurts. Mine walked normally between limps too, which fooled me, but the moment he wouldn't let me touch it, that was the sign to stop guessing and get help.