Help! Young cat started walking on hocks tonight

[wobblercat]

Our cat is 7 months old and has been in perfect health up to now, all up to date on jabs/flea/worming etc
When we called him in tonight we noticed he was walking funny on his hocks then flopping down and lying with his legs out to the side after a few steps. I've tried to prod around and he's not reacting to any pain and has eaten, he was even trying to catch a bug in the house so doesn't seem uncomfortable.
Google seems to bring up diabetes a lot but I think it's rare for his age. Will be calling the vet first thing but just seeing if anyone has any experience of this?

Is he walking ok now?

He can move but only on his hocks not his back feet, we've carried him upstairs and tried to put his basket there (usually he sleeps on the chair in my sons room) but he's gone to sleep under our bed. I've brought a bowl of water up too. He seemed fine this morning, I did notice this afternoon in the garden he walked a bit oddly then lay down but just put the odd walk down to his 'preparing to lay down' and flop on his side if you know what I mean

So he can't stand or walk? I would contact out of hours vet.

Yes he's walking but on the flat lower half bit of his hind legs not on his toes. He seemed very alert still, purring and ate his food

I carried him upstairs because I didn't want him to try and possibly fall

Possibly sign of diabetes. I’d phone an out of hours vet and see what they say.

Please phone the out of hours vet now. Their number should be on your own vet's answering machine message or website.

Sorry - x posted - v tired! Hope he’s ok soon and that it’s not diabetes.

If he can't walk he needs a vet. Tonight.
Purring can be a sign of pain.

I've just googled and the near me close in 7mins at midnight so I'm not sure if there's anything they could really do. I doubt I'll be able to sleep much so will keep an eye on him and update in the morning

Check his claws - if they are looking tatty or torn or shredded, then he may have been hit by a car. They cling on to the road surface.

Or he could have fallen from somewhere high up like out of a tree, or maybe had a fight with another cat. He really needs to be seen by a vet.

Something like this happened to my cat, but she was much older
It turned out to be a blood clot, the vet gave her something [injection]and it never happened again
So please take her to the vet asap

I've checked out his feet earlier thinking he might have something in there causing it but all was fine and no other signs of being in a fight. Checked him over for ticks too just in case, he's fluffy but couldn't find anything. I can't get him to a vet tonight if they're all closed though

He's walking on his toes this morning but still wobbly and only for about 10 steps then sits down. He's eaten and following up around and desperately trying to get his cat flap open, just waiting on the vets opening at 8.30am

You are doing the right thing by getting him to the vet today. My cat did this at the onset of his diabetes. Let us know how he gets on.

Update: he had an X-ray and bloods done and they think he's fallen somewhere and has badly bruised his hips/spinal area so is on anti inflammatories and painkillers

Ouch. I hope he's feeling better very soon.

Did they ask why you didn’t phone the emergency vet last night when he was obviously in pain?

@SuburbanRhonda no they were probably more concerned with helping rather than judging someone

Glad he's on the mend now

TBH I could understand if they did judge. In pain. Clearly needing veterinary attention. There must be out of hours vets near you. You should at least called for advice.

The two aren’t mutually exclusive. Just because they’re treating your animal doesn’t mean they’re not judging you for not seeking medical care when it was in pain.

You might want to ask them for the emergency vets number when you take your kitten back for its check-up, although as pp said, it’s normally on the voicemail when you phone the regular vet out of hours.

Hope the drugs kick in quickly for him and he’s soon feeling brighter. What a worry these cats are.

He's now trying to jump up at a moth and hammering away at his cat flap that is obviously locked. To reassure everyone he is a very much loved cat and I honestly judged the situation last night, as he was following us around and jumping at bugs then and eating etc that it wasn't life threatening or in debilitating pain. He didn't react when I poked and prodded him. (He only reacted when the vet pressed hard on one bit of his spine today).
Thanks for all the well wishes for him.