My friend's cat has "stiff back legs" and falls over when it walks, What could be wrong with her?

There's not enough information to make any kind of determination over the Net. Sorry, dude.

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My friend's cat has "stiff back legs" and falls over when it walks, What could be wrong with her?

I have cats and have never seen anything like this. This cat is about a year old and her back legs are stiff and she falls over a lot when she walks. Has anyone ever heard of this in cats or have any odea what might be wrong with her. They have no money for a vet right now, so I just thought I...

She could have a neurological problem (I've seen many cases of this at cat shelters). Diabetes mellitus could cause this, but the cat is younger than most diabetic cats. Saddle Thrombus is a heart condition that could cause this. A pet is a responsibility, like a child. The cat cannot help herself. She relies on her human family to provide care for her. If the cat was a child, I'm sure medical attention would be sought. The poor cat needs to be seen by a vet. I've offered suggestions of illnesses that would cause this behavior, but a vet needs to diagnose and treat the cat. Most vets will accept payments. Please encourage your friend to take the cat to a vet for diagnosis and treatment.

Is there evidence of trauma? Like a back injury? Is the cat urinating normally? Could be a kidney infection? Is the animal in pain?

Please find a way to get the kitty to a vet. Maybe you can work out a payment plan with a vet.

Did this just happen, or have her "differences" become more noticeable as she has grown from a kitten into her cat maturity?

I have a beautiful, amazingly wonderful cat who has Cerebellar Hypoplasia. In human terms it would be very similar to Cerebal Palsy. It is a neurological condition caused possibly by a number of things. More than one vet has thought, and from my own research I have come to the same conclusion, that my cat's was caused by exposure to Feline Distemper in the womb.

My cat's symptoms are many. Head bobbing/ shaking. Clumsiness, stiff legs, falls over easily, cannot jump like "normal" cats, she can spring up like a kangaroo, though. She occasionally has tiny seizures, almost unoticeable, they last for about a second or two. To get on my bed she jumps on the side and then claws her way up to the top. I can write more, but from what you briefly described this cat may have a similar condition if she had a gradual build up of symptoms.

My cat is an absolute doll, she has a very happy life, plays with our other cats, with us, and I am totally in love.

Try to read some of these articles to see if this sounds like your friends' cat may have this condition. The kitten in the Youtube was a little more severe than my cat, but there are many different degrees. Some cats can only drag themselves around.

http://www.chkittyclub.com/pages/home.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLlL24shW7E

http://vetmedicine.about.com/library/viewers/uc-ce...

http://www.messybeast.com/disabled.htm#CH

I hope that this helps! I know that some people on here like to jump to outrageous conclusions. It is unfortunate, but the public is not always very kind.

Also, not all vets will treat as the one that you described. You can always request an estimate before services. It is also always better to be armed with as much of your own research before the appt.

If the cat is only 1 year old, it is most likely some defect the cat was born with. The only other possibility is potassium deficiency, which results in muscle mass loss, most frequently first noticed in the rear legs. The only way to know for sure is to have a blood test run.

I can understand that you are trying to do what you can to help. I think the best way to find out what it could be is to call a few vets and explain the symptoms. They could give you some idea of what it could be and some idea of what it would cost to help the cat.

I could have nerve damage or it could have had a mild stroke.

I know you said no money for a vet, but to know for sure what is going on with her, she needs to be examined by a vet.

I mentioned two possibilities and there at least a dozen more.

A visit to and an exam by a vet is the only way you're going to know for sure what is wrong with the cat.

That cat needs to see a vet. Call the local animal shelter and tell them your situation. They will help you find a vet that can work with you or at least let you know what you can do for her. It sounds like she was hurt, but if we tell you one thing and we are wrong we can make it worse.

She has to see a vet.

could be a problem with the knee caps- they "luxate" or slip out of place and can cause the walking to be abnormal. there is a surgery that can correct it. In the meantime, food that includes supplements for joint health may help, but realisticly, kitty should see a vet. Check with local shelters for vet visit programs--- many have vets on staff and have programs for low-income households.

good luck to kitty

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