Loomis is a nine month old neutered male mix, no medical history besides a
very bad URI when he came to us from the shelter four months ago. He eats
canned Felidae/ California Natural/ Wellness/ Merrick, and is usually a vey
active cat. He lives with two other male cats of identical age, no medical
issues, and they normally play very wildly.

Loomis hasn't quite been himself lately- he's quit jumping on the kithen
countter, quit playing with the others, quit being crazy Loomis. He still
eats, drinks, poops and pees, but he's walking very gingerly, like a leg
hurts.
Rather than worry I took him to the feline vet this morning for a check up.

He found nothing really wrong. Loomis seemed tender about his rear legs, and
his temperature was elevated (when I went to go take him in the van BROKE
DOWN in the driveway and I had to call the husband to take us. His truck has
no A/C so it was a hot stressful 30 minute ride), so the elevayed
temperature was probably stress related (?). Loomis wiggled and panted all
the way there, and it was hot and very humid South Florida style.

So the diagnosis was either he had banged himself, or fallen, or damaged
himself playing which is very likely, or he has an infection somewhere. He
gave me Baytril in case it is an infection.

But on the ride home we were talking and I remembered- I had a babysitting
dog here all last week and I had her gated in our bedroom. I saw Loomis jump
over the gate once and his rear claws tended to get stuck in the gate as he
was going over. I remember thinking to myself "boy if he gets a rear foot
stuck on the way over he could really wrench his leg". When I mentioned this
to the husband he said he saw him jump over it once, crash on the way over,
and just fall the rest of the way and land badly- this would have been last
week Thursday or Friday. Her visit is exaxctly when he stopped jumping and
climbing around- very co-incidental!

So I'm fairly sure that's what happened. Why we couldn't have remembered
that before speaking with the vet is beyond me, but I'm pretty sure that's
what happened.

So do I give him the antibiotics or not? I hate to do it unnecessarily, but
if he needs them he needs them.
Vet said if there is a dramatic improvement then it is probably an infection
somewhere and if it is a sports/banging  injury then he won't improve as
rapidly.
He saw no real reason to do bloodwork or xrays yet, as there are no concrete
symptoms- just a bit of tenderness in his rear legs, but all cats hate their
rear legs manipulated... yes? No? That, some "laying low",  and  a Mommy's
sense that he isn't feeling well. Temp 103ºF after a very hot stressful
trip.

So I'm thinking give him the pills for a couple of days and see if anything
changes??
He is not scheduled for a recheck until this coming Friday, so I should give
them until then?

I just hate unnecessary antibiotic use, but I guess it is the lesser of two
evils? If there really is an infection somewhere we need to get on it.

What would you do?