My cat is howling and can't move his back legs. Is it an emergency?

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!

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.

I'm sorry to hear this! There are many conditions that can cause a cat to cry in pain, including fractures, soft tissue injuries, clot formation in a back leg (saddle thrombus), among others. Your cat should be seen by a vet immediately if he is in pain so that the underlying cause can be diagnosed and managed appropriately. There are no safe over the counter pain medications for cats, so do not give him anything without speaking to your vet.

I am very sorry to hear about Baby boy. I would recommend bringing him in to a vet right away for examination. Being unable to walk is considered an emergency and can many causes, including a saddle thrombus (blood clot blocking supply to the hind legs), a neurological problem such as trauma to the spinal cord or a herniated disk in the spine, a stroke is possible but less common in animals, vestibular disease, brain lesions, electrolyte imbalances due to diabetes or kidney disease, musculoskeletal problems, and more. He truly needs veterinary attention ASAP for his best chance at recovery. Best of luck to you and Baby boy!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These are general signs that can be seen with a lot of conditions. It could be due to a neurologic condition or perhaps an orthopedic condition causing some kind of pain or discomfort. If this continues, I recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to start with a good physical examination and possibly diagnostics to get to the bottom of this so that therapy if any can be started. Have a great day!

You should take him to to the vet urgently, it is an emergency, it could be nerve damage or a clot in his blood vessels in the legs, either way you have to act fast otherwise the damage will likely be permanent, take him right away to the closest vet.

Poor kitty! Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do for him at home except keep him calm, warm, and quiet. Do not give him any human medications, as many are toxic to cats and can be fatal if given. He needs veterinary attention immediately, and there is usually a vet on call after hours for emergencies. The information to reach a vet on call is usually found on the clinic's answering machine or website. If transportation is an issue, I would call a friend to drive you or a cab to take you. Uber may be an option as well. If paying for a vet is an issue, I can give you a list of resources that may help you afford a vet. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.
 God's Creatures Ministry helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help.
 The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has many programs including helping people with medical bills. They are a good resource for information.
 Brown Dog Foundation provides funding to families with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to circumstances, there is not enough money immediately available to pay. Please take him into a vet immediately, this is a medical emergency and he needs veterinary care now.