Cat losing control of legs- help please

[KatieBee25]

Hi all, need some help/ advice regarding our indoor cat Milo (12 year old indoor cat)

we took him to the vet's about a week ago as he wasn't eating, he doesn't jump up anymore , wasn't leaving his cat bed, lethargic and wobbly on his legs. Vet diagnosed him with dehydration after doing some bloods (all blood work was ok) so he spent the day on fluids via a drip and he seemed to perk up a bit... we've been adding lots of water to his food and he's using the litter tray so we know he's not dehydrated anymore,

Over the weekend he took another turn, same as before reluctance to eat his food- wouldn't finishing it and was seeming to lose control of his back legs, just seemed sad, not jumping up anywhere and just spending all his time hiding in his cat bed but not even settling . So we decided his quality of life is suffering so probably time to think about putting him to sleep -

HOWEVER Monday comes around and he's much happier again! Meowing (happily) calling for food, eating, seems more perky , enjoying a fuss and a stroke (still not jumping up but maybe that's because his age)

But tonight (Tuesday) he came out of his car bed for food and completely lost control of all his legs! Literally like Bambi on ice. We had to carry him over to his food bowl, after he'd eaten with help to stand, he's fine again?! Again as in fine I mean, he can walk around.. maybe slightly wobbly / weak but nothing majorly worrying . He still won't jump anywhere but he doesn't seem on deaths door.

I've no idea what to do as he's a very timid cat and hates the vet's, so don't want to put him through lots of tests (we don't have insurance for him so can't afford lots of investigations) but I don't like the idea of him being in any pain. When he does lose control of his legs he doesn't seem in pain just confused as to why he can't use them.

I will attach a photo for you to see what he went like when he did lose control of his legs, bless him. They literally just seem to slip and slide away from him. Any advice welcome 🙏🏻 x

Aww poor little thing, I’m not a cat expert but I’ve noticed this is in the pets section rather than the Litter tray, if you ask mumsnet to move your post to that section you are more likely to get help and advice, really hope you can get some answers it’s horrible to see them struggling.

its probably something neurological. My cat did something similar, but we didn’t recognise it for what it was until
she started fitting while at the vets. Although hers was a much quicker decline.

I don't know what to say! I'll not give false hope like chain vets did.

Mine was spinal injury.... I'm so so sorry.

This is bringing back heartbreaking memories.

I noticed that our Kitty Softpaws (!) didn't seem to be walking normally on our laminate flooring.
I took her to a well known that are vets, for pets... Well... She was put on the floor and I was told by someone who didn't know her and looked 17 to me that she seems to be walking fine. Let's charge you for antibiotics and painkillers.

The next day, I am SO sorry to say, that she turned in to Bambi on ice.
We put down any rugs or bits of carpet we could find to aid her, and next took her to a local private vet.
The first thing he did was squeeze her tail, then her back paws. No feeling.
(2 days after chain vets!).
I wasn't ready to give up on her, so brought her home, more painkillers, nice food.
She ended dragging herself round on her front two feet, back legs trailing behind.

It was called in the end, must have been some spinal damage. The shining light was that she wasn't in pain. I carried her up to bed on her final night and she smiled. By then all bowel and bladder movements were out of her control. I kept her wrapped in a towel, kidneys failing and she was losing blood.

And I kept whispering I love you Kitty Softpaws in her ear until she went.

I buried her in my back garden.

Omg I'm so sorry.

I know you want some hope.

Definitely cover the shiny floors with whatever rug and carpet you can find as she won't be able to gain traction with just her front paws.

Chain vets... About £2000 for scans etc and they were doing everything to guilt trip me in to paying. I couldn't! Hence 2nd opinion and he's squeezing tail and back paws. So obvious looking back.

I am so sorry.

Thanks everyone ❤️. I do think it is the beginning of the end for him sadly 😭 I will keep you updated on how he is , this morning he is mostly okay, acting his usual way, using the litter tray, eating his breakfast, and mainly has control (if not a bit tentative) on his legs. But I think we'll just take it day by day and a trip to the vets will be needed soon!❤️

I’m so sorry @JanglingJack utterly heartbreaking.

I recognise this. My lovely little cat was a couple of years younger than yours and started with leg issues, loss of balance etc. It was utterly terrible to witness the fear and confusion in her.

It was neurological brain cancer, so we made the decision to PTS after trying steroids etc to see if she would rally.

Definitely back to the vet. If you can get a video of your cat, they’d find this helpful.

so sorry this is very sad to go through. When my precious Dolly’s legs started doing this she was in advanced stages of heart failure and I lost her a couple of days later.

I’d keep to one room and get some rugs/runners down whilst you assess the situation so the cat is comfortable.
I’m so sorry xx

Back to the vet. Get a video of her when she's like this. So sorry, it's heartbreaking.
We had to get our cat pd in December, he was 17 but he had had enough and he was miserable.
💐

I had something similar with one of my cats. Stopped eating. Numerous vet visits, drip, antibiotics, feeding through a tube. They didn't know what was wrong and nothing seemed to help. I had an appointment to PTS and an hour before I had to leave for the vet she seemed to perk up. I put off PTS, but two days later she stopped drinking as well.

Problem is that cats hide their illnesses really well. Usually by the time you see something, it's really bad. For me it came as a completely shock and only after a week of tests and treatment did I begin to lose hope. She went from seemingly perfectly fine to not eating and worse from there.

The vet gave me a booklet. I forgot the title, but is was something along the line of "How do you know when it is time". Because often it's not clear cut when it's over or if an animal is suffering or not. The booklet was written by a vet and he outlined several points to consider. These are off of the top of my head. Perhaps other posters can clarify.

• Can an animal eat or drink?
• Is an animal is chronic or frequent pain?
• Can an animal still function as an animal?

I found the last point tricky to understand. But it has something to do with the dignity of the animal. So for cats for example, not being able to use the litter box by themselves can be really distressing as cats like a clean environment. The example the vet used in his booklet was his dog. His dog would sometimes fall down, lose bowel- and bladder control and was unable to get back up. This happened twice and the second time they were not at home. He asked himself. How many more times was he willing for his dog to go through an episode like that. The answer for him was: No once.

It will never be easy or clear. You know your cat best and your judgement in this is best as well.

OP. It's a horrible situation to be in.

Thanks again for your responses. He's just lost control of his legs again and falling into his food bowl, it's horrible to see. Just waiting for a call back from the vet. We have a video so will email that to them, it's so sad. It's such a hard decision what to do as don't really want to put him through lots and lots of tests and investigations as it'll really stress him out but so hard to know when to put him to sleep as he's fine one minute and then really bad the next :-( x

@AndrinaAdamosballetshoes thank you, it really was. Then I realised its not about me... So apologies to @KatieBee25 if I overstepped.

Definitely get her something on the floor, anything really that will provide some grip for front paws at least.

My baby was only 5 years old, it was definitely seen as spinal rather than neurological.
Just sending hugs @KatieBee25 Xx

Oh I'm so sorry.

I did have my last week with Kitty Softpaws... Still hoping! But she needed flooring to grip, she'd lost control of weeing, I had to help her get a poo out..
My only solace is that she was numb from the 'waist' down.

You'll know when the time is right. ❤️ to you all xxx

No of course you didn't overstep, I just wanted everyone's stories and advice. So sorry about your lovely cat ❤️ xxx

Oh that's so hard. Very similar happened with my 10 year old beautiful boy. Our vet was very clear that this was not going to resolve itself, and that in all likelihood we could put him through scans etc but it would only delay the inevitable. We chose to put him to sleep, it was definitely the right decision.

Thank you. We're all here for you ❤️

If you are unable to pay for treatment for your poor boy then you need to have him put to sleep. There's no hanging on or waiting to see when an animal is in distress like this. I'm very sorry.

My dog had this and it was damage to his spine which was fixed with an operation (IVDD). While I was the vets they said it’s very common in cats. No idea what the op and recovery is like for them though.

I agree. I think it is time to say goodbye and have him pts today.

Just an update- had a long chat with the vet. She thinks it's something neurological or maybe he's having mini strokes. Which I don't think I will investigate further as dont want to put him through the stress of it to be honest. So we've got him booked in for Friday and I think sadly it will be time to say goodbye. He's just not himself and he's struggled to eat today- which is his main joy in life :-(

@KatieBee25you are doing the kindest thing for your boy.

Sending you so much love OP- this happened to my gorgeous Rodney a few months ago. We also had to say goodbye- it was very sad and so tough but it was definitely the right thing for him.

Nothing to suggest but wishing you and your boy all the best OP. I can imagine how you're feeling as I too have a 12 year old female cat who has had several health problems over the years. I know I will be devastated when the time comes for me to make 'that decision'. Sending you hugs.

❤️