My cat got caught in the door and is now swollen; she cries when I touch her paw but eats and plays normally—what should I do?

Based on your description, your cat’s hind leg became swollen after being caught in the door, but her appetite is normal—this likely indicates soft-tissue bruising and inflammation in the hind leg. If she walks normally, you can continue to observe her for 1–2 days and give some pet-specific broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory medication during this period to control infection.

Generally, a simple soft-tissue injury will improve on its own in about 36 hours. If your cat’s symptoms do not recover, we recommend taking her to a veterinary hospital for an X-ray to check for a possible fracture. After examination, the veterinarian will provide targeted treatment based on the results.