Has anyone ever seen a limping cat suddenly stop limping when it feels threatened?

by Pamela B.
(Stow, OH)

The reason for my question is I recently took in a stray cat who had been limping for about 5 days before I was able to get it and take it to a local Animal Protective League. When I got it to the Animal Protective League and they examined it, they said they did not see it limping.

I'm thinking maybe it was frightened and feeling threatened and perhaps felt like it needed to ready itself to run away? I wonder if maybe because the cat was frightened that its body released a lot of adrenaline and it was no longer feeling the pain in the bad leg?

I can't understand why after limping for 5 days it would not be limping as soon as I took it into the Animal Protective League.