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My stray cat has a swollen leg but seems fine. What should I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male

Hey I don't have any breed of cat...he is a stray cat but he is still very small and today I noticed that in his back leg (thigh) there is some swelling I don't how it's caused? But I don't think there is any pain there as he is running here and there. But because of swelling, I am little tensed. Can you please advice me what should I do ? And I don't have any pictures as he is not let me click his picture....can u please advice me something

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on November 3rd, 2018

Swelling of the leg can be caused by a number of things including abscesses (infections) under the skin (very common in stray cats that fight with other cats), injuries such as sprains or breaks, cysts, growths, tumors, etc. It would be best to try and catch the cat so he can be brought to a local shelter or to a veterinarian where he can be sedated and cared for. If he doesn't let you handle him, most shelters will rent out humane traps that can be used to catch stray and feral cats safely. Filling it with some very smell wet food or even some heated up fried chicken is usually enough to entice a cat to enter.

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