My cat has a weakness in its hindquarters, what could be causing this?

What are the main causes of hindquarter weakness in cats?

Hindquarter weakness caused by tick paralysis in cats

If you live on the Eastern seaboard of Australia it is likely that you are in a paralysis tick area. If your cat comes home showing weakness in the hind legs or difficulty jumping up and down off furniture, it is very possible that they have a paralysis tick attached to them. Other signs that may or may not be present include inappetance, lethargy, vomiting and a change in meow. If you suspect tick paralysis it is a medical emergency and it is critical to seek veterinary attention ASAP. Don’t forget cats should be on regular long-lasting tick control and should be checked for ticks daily.

Hindquarter weakness caused by trauma in cats

If your cat goes outside regularly and comes home one day with weakness in the hind legs, such as limping, dragging a leg, or even being unable to move because the hindquarters are paralyzed and it is not tick paralysis, it is very likely that they have been injured. This could be due to a foreign body or an injury to the paw pads, which is usually easy to spot, or to an accident, such as being hit by a car, having a bad fall, or being involved in a violent fight with a bite wound, which may be harder to detect.

If your cat has difficulty moving and is dragging a leg, their pelvis may be fractured, nerves may be damaged, or a bite may have become infected and developed into a painful abscess, making walking difficult. Be careful of defensive reactions, such as biting or scratching: even if your cat does not show it, the pain may be severe.

Fractures and abscesses require surgical treatment: your cat will need surgery and then must be kept indoors during recovery. Foreign bodies must be removed. Paralysis from an injury, on the other hand, is more difficult to treat.

Osteoarthritis as a cause of hindquarter weakness in cats

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease mainly associated with aging. It develops all the more subtly because cats tend to show very little pain. As a result, it is often already advanced by the time you notice that your cat is really having difficulty moving.

Diabetic neuropathy: a complication of feline diabetes associated with hindquarter weakness

Diabetes tends to appear, although not exclusively, in adult older male cats that are overweight. It is characterized by increased thirst and urination, known as polyuria-polydipsia, and weight loss often associated with increased appetite. It is caused by insufficient insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter the cells. As a result, blood glucose levels rise, which is known as hyperglycemia.

If this hyperglycemia continues, around 10% of diabetic cats will develop diabetic neuropathy, meaning damage to the nervous system. It may appear suddenly, in an acute form, or more gradually, in a chronic form, mainly causing weakness and muscle wasting in the hind limbs.

Affected cats develop a very distinctive and easily recognizable gait because they walk on their hocks. This is called a plantigrade stance, because the whole paw up to the heel rests on the ground, whereas cats normally walk on their toes. As a result, the cat can no longer jump.

This completely abnormal plantigrade stance should alert you to the possibility that diabetes has been developing for some time.

An urgent veterinary consultation is needed to start diabetes treatment, because at this stage the disease has likely been present for a long time. Stabilising the diabetes can improve diabetic neuropathy, at least partially, although there is still no specific treatment for the neuropathy itself.

Hindquarter weakness in cats and aortic thromboembolism: an absolute emergency

Aortic thromboembolism is caused by a thrombus, or blood clot, that forms and travels through the arteries until it becomes lodged and blocks blood flow. It is most often, although not always, the result of heart disease.

Most often, the clot “blocks” the abdominal aorta where it divides into the two iliac arteries that supply blood to the pelvis and hind limbs. The pain is sudden and extreme for the cat. They may have difficulty breathing, and the hind limbs may become stiff, painful, and cold at the extremities. The cat may limp if only one limb is affected, but most often paralysis occurs because both limbs are involved.

Faced with this very distressing clinical picture, time is critical and you must go to the vet urgently. The vet will hospitalise the cat, relieve the pain, and stabilise them. Once the cat is stable, further tests will be needed to find the origin of the clot and treat the underlying cause.

Even though the prognosis for aortic thromboembolism is serious, the cat may recover partially, or even fully, within 1 to 2 months if treatment is started quickly and the underlying disease is not too advanced.

What should I do if my cat has hindquarter weakness?

Any hindquarter weakness in a cat can hide a problem that may be much more serious. It is therefore important to learn how to observe your cat carefully, because very often cats will not show their pain or difficulties.

If your cat’s gait seems abnormal, if they are reluctant to move, or if they growl, bite, or hiss when you stroke their hindquarters, do not hesitate to consult your vet promptly. They will carry out all the necessary examinations to help get your companion quickly back “on their paws.”