Cat devolops paralysis in hind legs practically overnight

traveller-57

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My daughter's 9 month old male cat started walking in a very unsteady manner and seemed to develop extremely weak hind legs overnight. This happened 5 days ago. He is now just dragging his back legs like he is not conscious they are there.
The vet is totally puzzled and thinks it is some kind of nerve problem or virus, but does not know what to make of it. His X-ray shows a normal skeletal structure. The cat does not seem to be in pain, and does exhibit a response if the back extremeties are squeezed. He was kept overnight at the vet's. The vet also emtied the cat's bladder with a cathether.

He is totally an indoor cat, and there is no sign of any physical trauma from hitting anything.

Has any body seen anything like this before?

He is still eating, though less than normal. He cannot control his bowel movements. He seems fairly normal otherwise. He is such a friendly little guy. It breaks my heart to have to put him to sleep, if this does not resolve. Does any body have any ideas or suggestions ?
Thanks.
 

hissy

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Is he an inside only cat or an inside/outside cat?

It could be a stroke, it could be genetic, it truly could be anything from colliding with a car, or bike, to eating something that was toxic. Were blood tests done?
 

mrsboz99

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I'm so sorry to hear that! Will be keeping my fingers crossed for your kitty. It really sounds like a neurological issue, especially how you described the dragging of the legs and the loss of bowel control...those are definitely symptoms that can be caused by spinal cord compression/damage.

My cat had similar issues last year. In her case she had scar tissue growing around her spinal cord due to irritation from a slipped disc that had happened sometime in the past (we were completely unaware of it...she hid her discomfort SO well). The neurologist told us that aside from scar tissue, tumors
and intervertebral disc disease (degeneration of a disc that either through slipping or disc rupture puts pressure on the spinal cord causing paralysis) can also cause paralysis like that. And in all these cases the paralysis can appear very quickly. Cali was fine one evening and couldn't walk the next morning.

We were told the only way to be sure what is going on with the spine, if an xray shows no bone issues, is imaging, either through MRI or CAT scan (CAT scan is a bit cheaper and was very effective in our case). I would ask about this right away.

Hmm...just to cover other bases...has the cats potassium levels been checked? Someone correct me if I'm wrong but hind leg weakness can also becaused by a potassium deficiencies. That was the first thing our vet checked when Cali first started showing symptoms. The loss of bowel function and actual dragging of the feet still seems more like a spinal problem me though.

Best of luck to you! Keep us posted.

-Tara, Cali, Bonk & Kasumi

ps - Cali had surgery on her back and is walking and running around now like nothing ever happened so don't give up on the little guy! And if that isn't possible for you, there are many cats out there with hind leg paralysis still living high quality lives...there are wheeled carts and everything out there to help them get around. Just something to think about!


Originally Posted by Traveller-57

My daughter's 9 month old male cat started walking in a very unsteady manner and seemed to develop extremely weak hind legs overnight. This happened 5 days ago. He is now just dragging his back legs like he is not conscious they are there.
The vet is totally puzzled and thinks it is some kind of nerve problem or virus, but does not know what to make of it. His X-ray shows a normal skeletal structure. The cat does not seem to be in pain, and does exhibit a response if the back extremeties are squeezed. He was kept overnight at the vet's. The vet also emtied the cat's bladder with a cathether.

He is totally an indoor cat, and there is no sign of any physical trauma from hitting anything.

Has any body seen anything like this before?

He is still eating, though less than normal. He cannot control his bowel movements. He seems fairly normal otherwise. He is such a friendly little guy. It breaks my heart to have to put him to sleep, if this does not resolve. Does any body have any ideas or suggestions ?
Thanks.
 

kittenkiya

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My friend Nanci just lost her beautiful PrettyGirl to the same thing. The vet diagnosed a blood clot on the spine. It literally happened overnight. The vet said that there was no circulation in the hind end, no pulse and neurological damage.

I am so sorry that your baby has had to suffer similiar problems.
 

nygirl

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OMG, same thing here with our 16 week old Kitten. One minute he is fine the next day to the Vet. XRay showed nothing, everything look great.

She called a Neurology Vet, to see what he came up with and they both agree, some inflammatory medication and wait it out for 10 days. If not we will have to put him down.. This is so weird!
 

AmyVBB

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This exact thing happened to my 12 year old indoor cat female. It happened about 8 or 9 days after she received her rabies vaccine and that is what I chalk it up to. I immediately took her to my vet's office and they did all kinds of blood work and x-rays etc.etc everything came back negative and normal. I figured if it was the rabies vaccine that caused the paralysis that's exactly the results I would see. I took her to a spine specialist who did some stimulation work on her and she has fully recovered over a period of two weeks. Is it possible your cat had received vaccines and then went lame?
 

Jennifer1973

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This exact thing happened to my 12 year old indoor cat female. It happened about 8 or 9 days after she received her rabies vaccine and that is what I chalk it up to. I immediately took her to my vet's office and they did all kinds of blood work and x-rays etc.etc everything came back negative and normal. I figured if it was the rabies vaccine that caused the paralysis that's exactly the results I would see. I took her to a spine specialist who did some stimulation work on her and she has fully recovered over a period of two weeks. Is it possible your cat had received vaccines and then went lame?
Hi i also have experienced this my vet insisted that my 16 year old indoor cat have a rabies shot when i took her there to be shaved. Within 2 months she loss so much weight and now her back legs are weak. I asked the vet if the rabies shot was causing these issues and she said "oh no its because shes old". . My girl is still eating, using the litter box, but i know she won't be with me too much longer. I am devastated! I was wondering if there is any information on rabies vaccination causing these problems as i would like to hold the vet accountable?
 

catlover73

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Hi Jennifer and welcome to TCS. I am sorry you had to join us under such difficult circumstances. I do not have any personal experience with the issue you mentioned. I just wanted to let you know someone is thinking of you and your baby. You have posted your question in reply to a really old post. The original poster on this thread is not around much anymore and probably will not see your question. I would create a new thread with your question in the health forum. You enter the forum and look for the post new thread button. I really think you will get more advise by posting your issue and questions in it's own new thread.
 

Jennifer1973

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Thank you very much! This is actual my first time posting on a forum, i googled the issue my girl is having and it brought me here. I didn't see the dates of the post. And again thank you for taking the time to reply
 

catlover73

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Your welcome. I wanted to make sure you knew that you could start your own thread with your questions. I hope once you start your own new thread you can get some advice from someone who has experience with this issue.
 

AmyVBB

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My veterinarian actually called the company that makes the vaccine and they did not dispute anything about my cats paralysis and in fact reimbursed us the $700 for all diagnostic testing related to this incident. Which tells me, of course, that, yes, it can cause lameness, paralysis and every other thing that you're experiencing with your cat.
Hi i also have experienced this my vet insisted that my 16 year old indoor cat have a rabies shot when i took her there to be shaved. Within 2 months she loss so much weight and now her back legs are weak. I asked the vet if the rabies shot was causing these issues and she said "oh no its because shes old". . My girl is still eating, using the litter box, but i know she won't be with me too much longer. I am devastated! I was wondering if there is any information on rabies vaccination causing these problems as i would like to hold the vet accountable?
 
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