Why is my cat lethargic, struggling to walk, but vet tests are normal?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m so sorry to hear about Quavo. I would say if he is not improving, it’s time for more testing. Bloodwork and/or X-rays may give us a better idea of what’s going on. X-rays look for things like large heart, severe arthritis, and (heaven forbid) obvious cancer. Bloodwork will indicate kidney and liver function, diabetes, and infection in some cases. I do also agree with treating for pain. Many times pain looks exactly like what you describe so definitely give the pain medication as directed. An arthritis “flare up” can cause pretty debilitating pain and is high on my list if Quavo is 10 or more. Best wishes to you and Quavo!

Lethargy can be a sign of many different diseases. I am not sure of his age but he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. He could have an infection, musculoskeletal issue, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, thyroid issue, etc. Your vet can run some lab-work and take x-rays, if needed, to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat. He may need an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or other medications, depending on the cause. Hope he feels better soon!

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!

If the clavamox didn't resolve the issue, I would bring him back in for additional exams such as neurologic examination, bloodwork, x-rays, etc to try and narrow down the cause. These can help rule out metabolic or infectious issues, injuries or joint problems, or neurological disease that could be causing his symptoms. If you weren't comfortable with your current vet, seeking out a second opinion in person or getting a referral to a specialist in your area may also be beneficial.

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 contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds that your cat had a thorough investigation at your vets. Some cats are lethargic and less playful when they have fever (I guess that was checked by your vet) or painful condition, for example muscle pain, joint pain, spinal pain and more. If his activity is not back to normal in 2-3 days I would suggest trying a short course of anti-inflammatory medications.

Difficulty walking could be a sign of neurologic disease, and infection would be a concern for a cat Fluff's age. Some parasites like toxoplasmosis can cause neurologic disease, as can viruses like the feline immunodeficiency virus. Difficulty walking could also be related to trauma but this might be more obvious on an exam. If the labs are not conclusive, a referral to a neurology specialist might be recommended as sometimes advanced diagnostics like an MRI and/or spinal tap are necessary for a diagnosis. If she continues to eat and drink normally and does not seem painful I'd wait for test results to come back and discuss the next step with your veterinarian.