TL;DR: Ataxia is uncoordinated movement caused by communication issues between the brain and body; seek immediate emergency care if your cat cannot stand or is in pain, and record a video of their walking to help your vet diagnose the cause.
What is feline ataxia and why is my cat walking wobbly?
If your cat appears wobbly or uncoordinated in their hindquarters, they are likely experiencing a condition called ataxia. This is not a specific disease, but rather a clinical symptom indicating that the brain, ears, or spinal cord are not properly communicating with the rest of the body. You may see your cat swaying, crossing their back legs while walking, or dragging their paws.
Is it an emergency if my cat is uncoordinated or weak in their back legs?
- Urgency Level: Medium. While some causes are chronic or slow-progressing, sudden incoordination can indicate serious issues like spinal trauma, toxin ingestion, or a saddle thrombus (a painful blood clot).
- Emergency Indicators: If your cat is vocalizing in pain, has cold back paws, or is unable to stand at all, you should contact an emergency veterinarian immediately.
- Next Steps: Otherwise, a prompt appointment with your regular vet is necessary to prevent the condition from worsening.
How does recording a video of my cat's movement help with diagnosis?
- Overcoming Stress: Cats often hide symptoms at the clinic due to adrenaline; a video provides your veterinarian with specific gait abnormalities in a natural environment.
- Invaluable Data: Taking a short video of your cat attempting to walk at home provides essential diagnostic data before the physical exam begins.
- Differential Diagnosis: Seeing the movement helps the vet distinguish between neurological issues, orthopedic pain, or vestibular disease.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Arterial thromboembolism, often secondary to conditions causing left atrial enlargement such as cardiomyopathy, hyperthyroidism, or congenital heart disease, is a common cause of hindlimb paresis or paralysis in cats. Clinical signs include pain, reduced or absent femoral or pedal pulses, cool extremities, and firm, swollen gastrocnemius muscles. Cats may retain the ability to move their legs above the stifles, and the tail is often unaffected. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, physical examination, and Doppler blood flow assessment of the hindlimbs. Although spontaneous clot lysis can occur, numerous treatments have been largely unsuccessful compared with supportive care. Neurologic deficits may improve over weeks to months, but permanent deficits are possible, and euthanasia is common due to poor prognosis.
Chapter: Cardiology
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1245)