My cat suddenly drags back legs, falls, and lost weight. What's wrong?

Ray could have a problem with his hips and/or back. Given that he is returning to the same symptoms, I think further testing is needed. I'd make an appointment to take him back into the vet, and I would discuss x-rays as a next step. Best of luck.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If you think Tinkerbell is having back leg problems and she appears to be in pain, I am concerned that this could be what we call a Saddle Thrombus. This is a condition in which a clot breaks free and travels through the aorta down to the saddle (where the femoral arteries branch off of the aorta). This causes paralysis and severe pain. This is typically related to heart disease. I would recommend having Tinkerbell examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Poor Forte! The weight loss and the reluctance to move around, and the apparent sensitivity around his back are all very concerning. If he hasn't had x-rays of his back yet, that might be a good idea. He could have an injury if he fell off something in the house or possibly got hit by a car outside. Another possibility is a disc disease in his spine, but these don't show up well on x-rays. I would definitely take him back to the vet for a recheck and let them know what you noticed about his back. It might be difficult to get a similar reaction at the vet (because cats are usually upset about EVERYTHING at the vet clinic and don't react more when something is sore), but it might give the vet ideas for treatments to try such as pain medication, medication to decrease inflammation, and possibly a muscle relaxer. The best way to check out the spine is an MRI, so that's a possibility for the future if you vet isn't finding other issues. Good luck to you and Forte! I hope he's feeling better very soon. Let me know if this was helpful information and definitely submit another question or set up a consultation if you'd like more information.

I'd be concerned about Mr Cuddles in that he may have injured his leg causing him to drag it, or he could have injured his back or hips. Given that he only has three legs, it's important that he remaining legs work well so a vet visit is definitely recommended. I would take him into one first thing in the morning. Tonight, keep him indoors if he's allowed outside, and I'd keep him confined to a small room so he's kept as quiet as possible. Do not feed him breakfast in the morning in case the vet needs to sedate him to do x-rays. I hope this helps!

This is an emergency, as your cat could be suffering from a riding thrombus, which is a blood clot that keeps blood flowing from the aorta into the femoral arteries. This is a very painful and life threatening condition. She could also have been a victim of a traffic accident hurting her spinal cord. Please take her to a veterinarian or an emergency room right away. The vet will want to do radiographs and a blood test and your kitty will need treatment depending on the diagnosis today.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm very sorry to hear that Alfie's back legs stopped working acutely. This is really concerning, and I would have him evaluated by a veterinarian right away. This could be due to some sort of trauma/injury, like to his back/spine. It could also be a neurologic problem. It is also possible for cats to get something called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), which means a blood clot gets lodged in their aorta (the body's major artery) right where the vessels to the hind legs branch off. This is also called a saddle thrombus, and results in acute loss of blood supply to the hind legs, which is extremely painful. Regardless of why Alfie has stopped using his hind legs, I recommend having him examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Your veterinarian can try to localize the issue and decide what treatment is best. I hope this is helpful!

Yes, you need to take Katie to the veterinarian. Weakness in the hind limbs can indicate many things ranging from hyperthyroidism to a spinal issue. A physical exam, blood work and potentially x-rays are needed for the correct diagnosis and treatment. Certain conditions, if caught early, are highly treatable. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.