Hello XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX;
I need a bit more information please.
Is he an indoor only cat?
If indoor have you seen spider's or biting bugs in the house?
Do you have other pets in the house with him?
Does the leg look deformed?
Dr Dan
Ok well it may be your boy had a fight with someone outside, another neighborhood kitty maybe. What you describe may be an abscess from a bite wound. WIth out seeing him I can't be sure. A cat bite wound can look like a pin prick. Cats being cats tend to lick the blood away so there is often none to see.
Abscess can be very painful and they usually come up a day or three after a fight. An infection in or around a joint should be looked after by a professional. Antibiotics may be in order. If it is an abscess warm soaks with a mild disinfectant like povodone iodine or epsom salts might be helpful.
I can not rule out a fracture. I have seen cats slip the growth plate off their distal femur(thigh bone) and walk around on it with just a little limp.
I would suggest having your cat seen by your local veterinarian. It is the only way to be sure of what is going on.
Hope this helps
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Hi;
Cats are great healers. If they have a broken leg and the bone ends are close together, if you keep the cat's leg from moving too much and from becoming infected. They will heal. The healing may not be 100% normal but the heal. So many fractures can be treated by binding the leg in a splint. But you really need to see a veterinarian to do this. To tight a splint and you cut off circulation. If this is a bite and you bind it you may make the infection much worse.
As for warm soaks with Epsom salts or betadine it is worth a try. It would be better if you had him on an antibiotic. The soaks help increase blood flow to an infected area of tissue and helps the body heal itself. If this is an abscess it may help bring it to a head and have it rupture. I can not see your cat so I have no idea how serious the wound really is. You are there with him. If he lets you touch his leg with out hurting you. If you feel heat, the wound is inflamed and probably fighting infection. If he moves the leg while you hold it and you feel a crunching or grating in the leg he has a fracture and needs at least a splint.
I still think no matter what is going on if you can get him checked out, you will be better in the long run. Remember he is in pain. Pain is why he is not using the leg. The sooner he is treated the sooner he will be comfortable.
Good Luck
Cat Veterinarian
DVM, Practice owner since 1988, Memeber AAFP,AAHA, AVMA