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Why does my cat have weakness in his back legs?

Why does my cat have weakness in his back legs?

This is because diabetes leads to kidney and even liver issues. This then causes secondary issues which lead to toxin build up in the blood and then results in the cat being lethargic and having weakness in their back legs. A low blood sugar can lead to weakness–this could be due to lack of nutrition or secondary to disease.

What does it mean when a kitten is lethargic?

Young cats and kittens are normally hugely playful, with abundant energy, so when a kitten becomes lethargic it is a cause of concern. As cats age, their energy slows down. They tend to sleep more and enjoy the good things in life, such as sun bathing and watching the world go by.

How to tell if your cat has leg problems?

Rear Leg Problems in Cats. 1 Lameness (limping) 2 Struggling to stand. 3 Slow or stiff walking. 4 Unsteady back legs. 5 Holding a leg off the floor while standing. 6 Dragging the back paws. 7 Legs giving out or collapsing. 8 Paralysis – unable to move the legs at all. 9 Reluctance to exercise, jump, or climb. 10 Disinterest in play.

What causes a cat to not be able to walk?

If a cat has bone cancer in its back leg, this will gradually affect its ability to walk. Lameness in one leg is the most obvious symptom. This results in an awkward gait, and reluctance to put weight on the leg. Bone cancer in a cat’s spine or skull can also affect its movement.

This is because diabetes leads to kidney and even liver issues. This then causes secondary issues which lead to toxin build up in the blood and then results in the cat being lethargic and having weakness in their back legs. A low blood sugar can lead to weakness–this could be due to lack of nutrition or secondary to disease.

What are the symptoms of a lethargic cat?

A lethargic cat will have an extended period of weakness, depression, or lack of energy. Even after a nice long nap or relaxing sunbathe, these cats will continue to be tired and not as active as they normally are. Cats with lethargy are sick and typically there are other warning signs that something is wrong.

What makes an older cat tired and lethargic?

Older cats are prone to chronic kidney disease or failure. This disease is a progressive loss of kidney function and often cats appear weak, frail, or tired and sometimes vomit, drink more than normal, or urinate more than normal. Liver and gall bladder diseases can also make cats sick and lethargic.

Why is my 12 year old cat lethargic?

My 12 year old cat is lethargic and back legs are wobbly took her to emergency hospital and they ran blood work and urine and said her levels were ok for her age and said i needed to take her to her vet. I took her to her vet and he did an ultra sound on her stomach area and ran blood work for her thyroid .

What happens to a cat in old age?

As a cat approaches old age, age-related diseases become commonplace. While some cats may die very suddenly, many age-related diseases are slow and progressive and can be managed with veterinary care over a long period of time. Eventually, the cat will move into the late stages of the disease and pass into the dying phase.

What can cause a cat to die suddenly?

Thomas: The most common reason for cats to die suddenly is heart disease. Cats can develop a condition called cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes the muscles in part of the heart to thicken and not work as well. Dilated cardiomyopathy causes the heart to get big and flabby — once again,…

What causes sudden back leg weakness in Old Cats?

Infection May Cause Sudden Hind Leg Weakness in an Old Cat Infectious disease can arise from a number of sources that affect the brain, including tick-borne diseases, Cryptococcus, feline infectious peritonitis and taxoplasmosis. As you can see, cancer is not on the list of sudden rear leg weakness in an older cat.

As a cat approaches old age, age-related diseases become commonplace. While some cats may die very suddenly, many age-related diseases are slow and progressive and can be managed with veterinary care over a long period of time. Eventually, the cat will move into the late stages of the disease and pass into the dying phase.

What happens when a senior Cat loses control of its legs?

Senior cats often experience problems with their legs. In fact, the rear legs are usually the first part of a cat’s body to become compromised. When a cat loses control of its rear legs, it will struggle to perform crucial everyday activities. Your cat will be less mobile and unable to jump as high.

What kind of disease does an old cat have?

Feline chronic renal failure (CRF) is another common disease in aging cats. The Feline CRF Information Center specifies this disease is progressive and terminal but partly manageable in the early stages.

What should I do if my cat’s back legs are not working?

For example: 1 If your cat’s bed is high up, move it to the floor 2 Give your cat soft bedding and blankets to sit on 3 Keep your cat’s food and water bowls at ground-level 4 Implement short, gentle play sessions 5 Discourage your cat from climbing and vigorous activity 6 Use a low-sided litter tray 7 Gently massage your cat’s legs More …

What causes a cat’s back legs to stop working?

Diabetes, organ failure, and neurological problems can cause the gradual weakening of a cat’s rear legs. If your cat’s hind legs suddenly stopped working, this can sometimes be a sign of a blood clot, infection, or stroke.

If a cat has bone cancer in its back leg, this will gradually affect its ability to walk. Lameness in one leg is the most obvious symptom. This results in an awkward gait, and reluctance to put weight on the leg. Bone cancer in a cat’s spine or skull can also affect its movement.

What does it mean when your cat is lethargic?

Lethargy is an indication of your cat not feeling well and could relate to a relatively minor medical condition or could be a sign of a more serious illness. Careful investigation by your veterinarian will be required to narrow down the cause.

Why does my kitten have a wobbly leg?

I took the kittens to the vet because they were getting runny eyes, and while I was there I asked about the wobbly kitten. They vet looked at her and said that she didn’t have any ideas, they it could just be that her cerebellum is immature and will either get better or worse with age.

Why does my kitten slip on his back?

In some animals it makes them walk around in circles. Our Shelly had it – it made his back legs weak, and he’d slip when trying to jump up on stuff. If he were a little tiny kitty when he had, it, I expect it would sound like what you’ve described.

Is it fatal for a cat to have wobbly back legs?

It is not degenerative, progressive or fatal and doesn’t start as a tremor. They often do present with a tremor, but the wobbly ataxic gait and lack of co ordination is the main thing. Many animals are needlessly euthanised because vets don’t know enough about this condition. With a bit of special care these wobbly pets can lead normal lives.

Why does my cat have back leg weakness?

Diabetes is no fun to deal with, whether you’re a human or a cat. The most common symptoms of feline diabetes include increased appetite, thirst, urination and weight. But back leg weakness can also rear its ugly head.

I took the kittens to the vet because they were getting runny eyes, and while I was there I asked about the wobbly kitten. They vet looked at her and said that she didn’t have any ideas, they it could just be that her cerebellum is immature and will either get better or worse with age.

Why does my cat have trouble standing up?

Once you notice your cat is having trouble standing up, it is important to watch for the other signs of vestibular disease. A cat who is suffering from loss of balance may also display the following symptoms: The symptoms of vestibular disease may be related to another condition, such as an inner ear infection or head trauma.

In some animals it makes them walk around in circles. Our Shelly had it – it made his back legs weak, and he’d slip when trying to jump up on stuff. If he were a little tiny kitty when he had, it, I expect it would sound like what you’ve described.

Why does my cat have a limp on her back?

She can immediately go from having a noticeable limp to dragging her back legs because of paralysis that accompanies the blocked arteries. Her back feet will feel cold and may even have a blue tint to them. It’d be nice if a bit of back leg pain could be attributed to one short list of problems, but that’s not the case.

What is possible cause of leg weakness in cats?

Leg weakness in cats can be caused by a wide range of illnesses. Neurological orders such as epilepsy can cause this. Other causes can be diabetes, hypokalemia, an injury to the Achilles tendon, hyperthyroidism as well as liver or kidney problems.

Why are my Cats hind legs weak?

In some cases, the hind leg weakness may be caused by electrolyte imbalances (e.g. low potassium levels) related to excessive urination. Also, diabetes that is not under control can cause muscle wasting (diabetes is a catabolic or “breaking down” disease) and your cat’s back leg problems may be due to this.

What causes paralysis in cat’s back legs?

These include: Blood Clot: Thrombosis where the aorta joins with iliac arteries results in paralysis of both legs. Tick bite: Ticks bites can release neurotoxins into the cat, resulting in nervous system malfunction and paralysis. Stroke: Lack of oxygen to the brain destroys the part of brain controlling leg movement. Trauma: Broken pelvis, injured spine

What to do if your cat’s back legs give out?

Cats can experience sudden rear leg weakness or paralysis just like dogs. This is using a cat wheelchair can be the best mobility solution. It’s the perfect solution for your feline friend with paralyzed or weak back legs. The rear wheelchair can help support your cat’s hind end, which allows him to easily get around.

What causes cat to go limp with its back legs?

The pet can show such symptom as limping on its hind leg for a great variety of reasons, and not all of them are visible on the face of it: Intra-Articular Fracture; Closed Dislocation; Strained Ligaments; Bone Fracture; Closed Wound; Joint Pathology; Joint Arthritis or Arthrosis; Lumbar Region Injury.

Are cats limbs called legs?

Cats have legs; front and hind legs. Legs are weight-bearing limbs for locomotion. Cats are ‘digitigrades’ that is they walk on their toes (dogs do as well). The word “arm” refers to a limb that has a hand on the end of it, not a foot. Therefore, again cats have legs, not arms. Do cats have knees? Cats have knee and elbow joints but not wrists or ankles.

What happens when a cat has a clot in the back leg?

A clot in the back leg suddenly causes the cat to be unable to put full weight on the affected leg. The cat may be vocalizing, usually a sign that the leg is painful. The leg might feel cool to the touch. The clot usually affects both rear legs, but can affect only one rear leg, a front leg, or other parts of the body.

Is it normal for a cat to have back leg pain?

Back leg pain can take even the strongest kitties out of action for a bit. Whether your kitty’s a spring chicken or waiting on her Furball Association of Retired Cats card, rear leg weakness is not normal. It’s not necessarily a sign of impending doom, but it does need checked out.

What causes a cat’s back leg to be weak?

Infection May Cause Progressive Back Leg Weakness in an Old Cat. “Several diseases can affect the brain, leading to hind limb weakness,” notes Dr. Benson. These include: taxoplasmosis, feline infectious peritonitis, Cryptococcus and tick-borne diseases.

Back leg pain can take even the strongest kitties out of action for a bit. Whether your kitty’s a spring chicken or waiting on her Furball Association of Retired Cats card, rear leg weakness is not normal. It’s not necessarily a sign of impending doom, but it does need checked out.

What are the physical ailments of an older cat?

One of the most common physical ailments that affect senior cats is reduced mobility or immobility. Often hallmarked by hind leg weakness, stiffness, balance problems, and an inability to walk without a limp, the older feline can easily fall victim to joint and muscle deterioration.