Cat Back Legs Not Working

Other times a cat cannot walk because its legs fail more commonly the cats hind legs.

Cat back legs not working. When you find your cat paralyzed from the waist down or if any part of her body is paralyzed contact the closest emergency vets office and let them know youre on your way. If your veterinarian suspects that spinal injury is the reason why your cat back legs are not working normally an x ray will be used to confirm the injury. If your kittys back feet feel cold or shes dragging her legs take her to your vet or local animal hospital immediately. A rare condition known as feline diabetic neuropathy can manifest itself in weakness in a cats back legs.

Although there can be a number of causes one of the most common and painful in cats is a saddle thrombus. Never make an assumption and never blow off your felines pain. You may notice that your cat stand but falls or cannot move at all. Rear leg weakness is not something you want to wait out.

When function is completely impaired it is referred to as paralysis. If your cats bed is high up on a chair shelf or cat condo move it to the floor give your cat soft bedding and blankets to sit on keep your cats food and water bowls at ground level implement short gentle play sessions discourage your cat from climbing and vigorous activity use a. The inability to move all four legs is tetraplegia whereas paraplegia occurs when the animal cannot move two legs. In some cases the cat will not be able to move its legs at all paralysis and in other cases there may still be some communication between the brain and spine and the cat will only appear to be weak or will have difficulty moving its legs a condition called paresis partial paralysis.

Sometimes this succeeds but with strange movements such as raising the legs abnormally or your cat moving its legs in circles. Jules benson bvsc and vp of veterinary services at petplan pet insurance. Heres what to know about treating your cat during the first two hours after her back legs stop working. In these cases the weakness is obvious.

Trauma as a cause of sudden rear limb weakness in an old cat being hit by a car falling from a height or being accidentally struck or stepped upon can cause a senior cats back legs to suddenly become weak says dr. Immobilization and vet call. Leg paralysis can be the result of several things that are not common in cats including trauma from a fall accident or abuse viruses or tick bites. Saddle thrombus is an extremely painful and life threatening condition that requires immediate veterinary attention.