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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / October 2006cat fakes limp?
hi folks, my cat seems to be faking a sporadic limp ever since she was introduced to my girlfriend's dog. i am not positive she is faking it, but she only exhibits the limp very occasionally, and only when the dog is in close proximity. it is very odd to watch, she will have this exaggerated limp for just a few steps, and then it just disappears and she jumps up to a 4 foot high shelf with no problems. the dog and cat get along fine by the way. there is also the possibility that the dog has nothing to do with her behavior, but i am baffled none the less. has anybody ever heard of something like this? should i be concerned that the limp might be real but only expressed 1% of the time? best, alex -- > should i be concerned that the limp might be real but only expressed > 1% of the time? Animals don't "fake" injury. Crocodile tears exist only for humans. Although behavior can be manipulated through negative and positive reinforcement, animals do not understand the idea of currying sympathy. It is simply too complex for them. If your cat is limping, rest assured that there is some physical cause. She limps because something hurts or is too weak to support her weight. She probably limps when the dog isn't around as well; you just haven't seen it yet. Many problems can cause an intermittent limp. Some of them can be very serious. Consult a vet.  Signature"I wear boots when I play that ol' squeezebox Stompin' out rhythms 'till the headstones dance on their graves" Suddenly, without warning, bearclaw@cruller.invalid exclaimed (24-Oct-06 2:42 AM): >> should i be concerned that the limp might be real but only expressed >> 1% of the time? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > reinforcement, animals do not understand the idea of currying sympathy. > It is simply too complex for them. Actually, they can. Doesn't happen often, but I've seen it, in horses. Not a 'currying of sympathy', but as a way to get out of work (learned response, I'd imagine). Not seen it in cats, but I imagine it is possible, considering that cats are more complex thinkers than horses. As for the OP's cat, I'd have the vet check, and eliminate any possibility of a real issue, first. jmc > Actually, they can. Doesn't happen often, but I've seen it, in horses. > Not a 'currying of sympathy', but as a way to get out of work > (learned response, I'd imagine). Not seen it in cats, but I imagine it > is possible, considering that cats are more complex thinkers than horses. I've seen it once in a cat. Not limping, but a wobble in the eye. MY older cat was very interested in some BBQ pork that I had. When I looked down at her, her eyes were wobbling and shaky. She looked so frail and and sickly. I gave her some and worried that I need to take her to the vet. A few minutes later, she was normal. A couple weeks later, she did it again. I had something tasty, and she was begging again. I don't know how she learned the trick, but she seemed to know when to apply it. But limping doesn't sound like a fake to me. Animals typically try to avoid any weakness as that would make them a target to other predators. I would take the cat to the vet and see if there is stiffness from the old injury site. Also, if it is a front leg, it might indicate a problem with the heart. When my dog was diagnosed with an enlarged heart (too large for the body, but healthy, she just needed to lose weight to make more room), the vet checked her legs and found stiffness. I was thinking she had a rib injury from her previous owner, but my vet knew it was a heart issue before the xrays because of the stiffness in the shoulder. >> Actually, they can. Doesn't happen often, but I've seen it, in horses. >> Not a 'currying of sympathy', but as a way to get out of work [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > but my vet knew it was a heart issue before the xrays because of the > stiffness in the shoulder. An "eye wobble" doesn't sound like it is deliberate. There is an eye ailment (I believe it is called "strabismus", or something like that) that causes the eye to quiver. MLB > An "eye wobble" doesn't sound like it is deliberate. There is an eye > ailment (I believe it is called "strabismus", or something like that) that > causes the eye to quiver. MLB I had her 18 years, and it only happened a couple times, and only when begging for a special food that I had. > Actually, they can. Doesn't happen often, but I've seen it, in horses. > Not a 'currying of sympathy', but as a way to get out of work > (learned response, I'd imagine). Not seen it in cats, but I imagine it > is possible, considering that cats are more complex thinkers than horses. I have seen a cat do this- many years ago Speedy Joe (RB) fell off a windowsill and landed awkardly and had a limp on his front left leg for a day or so during which time we made a big fuss of him Afterwards if he was after attention he'd limp and when we ignored it he would try to limp on another leg sometimes trying all four one after the other! It was as if he associated limping with big fuss but wasn't quite sure which leg produced the effect! Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs Suddenly, without warning, Lesley exclaimed (24-Oct-06 8:16 AM): >> Actually, they can. Doesn't happen often, but I've seen it, in horses. >> Not a 'currying of sympathy', but as a way to get out of work [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Slave of the Fabulous Furballs Too funny. Animals in general I think are much smarter than we give them credit for, and definitely have a better (though imperfect) grasp of cause-and-effect then generally thought... jmc Now I have to argue you on this one. I had a cat who at a young age got a very bad cut on his paw. We babied him and fussed over him and he never forgot it. Later in life when he was feeling like he was not getting enough attention he would fake limping. The funny thing was one time it would be the right paw the next the left and ten seconds later he would be sprinting through the house like a lightening bolt. There was absolutely nothing wrong he just wanted fussed over is all. Celeste >> should i be concerned that the limp might be real but only expressed >> 1% of the time? [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > seen it yet. Many problems can cause an intermittent limp. Some of them > can be very serious. Consult a vet. On Mon, 23 Oct 2006 09:53:30 -0700, putt454 wrote: > hi folks, > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > best, > alex When this happens to some people they say they "have a hitch in their getalong". Perhaps the cat has arthritis that improves after a minute of activity. Has the cat ever (to your knowledge) had an injury? How old is the cat? MLB thanks for the replys. i suspect i should take her into the vet. my cat is 3.5 years old and in perfect health. she fell from a window during her first year and dislocated a toe. she fully recovered in about 3 weeks with a cast. perhaps the limp is associated with the dislocation. anyway, thanks again. i appreciate your time. best, alex Suddenly, without warning, putt454@yahoo.com exclaimed (24-Oct-06 4:57 AM): > thanks for the replys. i suspect i should take her into the vet. my cat > is 3.5 years old and in perfect health. she fell from a window during [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > best, > alex Have the vet also check your cat's patellas. I was just thinking, a temporary limp after getting up is a symptom of my cat's luxating patellas problem - stifle lock in horses, but translates to slipping kneecaps. Luxating patellas can cause a limp when displaced, but when it slips back into place, the limp vanishes. jmc |
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