Can anyone please tell me why my cat starting walking with her toes bent under. She never used to do this.
Her walking got progressively worse until she cant walk at all. She has had numerous blood/ urine tests and an x-ray but they can't find anything wrong.
Pleas help!!...
Update (after my note below):
No she hasn't been declawed. She started walking strange particularly on her right leg. Then eventually to both legs. She would stagger and her toes curled under and try to pull herself along. Now can't use her legs at all for standing. She did get some paint on her fur on the same side and her fur went matted for a while. We tried to groom her but couldn't rid of the matting. The vet washed her and her fur has been fine since.
She does have feeling in them as she can stretch her back legs and pull them back and she spreads her toes when tickled. When I try to get her to stand she doesn't even attempt to use them.
She can't get herself in the litter tray although she tries. We have countless sleepless nights as she keeps waking us up trying to claw her way to the litter tray.
Could it be nerve damage, slipped disc, muscle wasting disease etc although she has been lame now for approx 3-4 months. She has just turned 11 years old.
Vets have advised a mylogram, MRI and a CT Scan but we have already paid over £1300 with out any answers and cant afford any more.
She seems fairly happy in herself and doesn't appear to be in any pain. She eats normal and enjoys treats.
I have attached a photo of her although I dont have any of her standing.
Hi... The problem has occurred after she was walking normally. This is not, therefore a congenital problem (something she was born with).
Something happened during her life and it affects the bones and or claws (it seems). In short, there has been a change. (There are a number of congenital conditions that affect the architecture of the paw)
I am surprised that X rays show that nothing is wrong as an X ray would show that something is wrong, which is that the paw is bent because her toes are bent under! This is in fact very strange.
Something as visually obvious as this must be diagnosable by a vet, surely?
I wonder, did you see the X rays? If not, I would ask to see them together with an explanation of the information on the X ray.
Well. two things come to mind:
Declawed cat: I have emailed you but while I wait for a response I thought I would respond here and modify it, if required, after receiving your further information. {This is now redundant due to the update above}
The toes of a declawed cat sometimes grow back in a deformed way. This is what may be happening.
However, this would be obvious to a vet and he or she has not remarked on this.
Intact Paws: As the bone is affected it would indicate to me possible arthritis, which can deform digits. This is a wild guess. This would show on X rays though. {This too is redundant after receiving the update}
New Updated: Paralysis - Spinal Cord Disease and/or Nerve Injuries: This may be an injury to the brachial and radial nerve involving both front legs. The legs may have been jerked back away from the trunk. The legs are limp. This gives the impression that the toes are bent under. The nerves may be lacerated. They need to be repaired. The nerve usually repairs in 6 months. Without recovery amputation can be an answer (if one leg is involved).
Signs of Radial Nerve Paralysis: The upper side of the paw often drags on the ground (the paw would have to be bent under to do this)- source: peteducation.com.
An injury to the spine can cause weakness to one or more limbs. Weakness in all four limbs would indicate a spinal problem. One possible is spinal arthritis but an X ray would reveal this.
Arterial Thromboembolism can cause limb weakness. This is a blood circulation problem and can be tested by a reduced pulse being present.
Thanks for visiting. I will come back and add to this, quite possibly. References: Book 1 Medical References
My cat is often splaying his back paw toes when standing or lying down. The right paw he does more and it has a small cyst the vet squeezed to drain on top of the paw. The outer toes separate away from the paw. I sent the photos to a neurologist and asked if it was normal and he said no. I had blood work done, comprehensive including an IBD test because he hunches. xray (constipation seen and I read that could cause hunching), hips, feet abdomen normal. Blood glucose 255 but he was stressed. He is 8 years old and has a flare up of a rectal prolapse at times since young -see red at rear. What could be causing his paw splaying? Thank You.
Bonnie, are you saying that your cat’s toes spread out because your cat consciously does this? Or are you saying that your cat has no control over it? ‘Splaying his back paw toes’ means spreading out the toes as if it is part of the stretching process. Is that what you are describing?
hi, it may be C A very similar to CH but cats are not born with it. my 6 month old kitten has the same thing and keeps falling down the stairs ? how is your cat now??
Thanks Liz for sharing your knowledge. Appreciated.
Hello there, so sory th hear all of this. our cat 11 years old was all of a sudden dragging his rear legs. took him to the vet. with meds and x rays blood tests exc… not inexpensive. Hes worth it though. No eating or Drinking, wouldnt move. started doing therapy on my own….. giving him hope, making him walk to breakfast, lunch and dinner… dragging at first. with my hand under him. shaking his treat box in diferent parts of the house. This morning he walked into our bedroom and was purring like a little machine!!!! also bringing him outside to hear and see the birds. sorry. This post is choppy. Im busy with him. I also stopped forcing him to take food. Hes back! Walking in the top of his foot though. Vet today. More therapy and love!!! We feel very lucky. Good luck.and love to all tha kitties.
Great post Elaine. Well done. I enjoyed reading your comment and I wish you both the very best.