What to do if my cat is walking backwards and legs aren't working?

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!

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 Alfie! It sounds like he has a chronic problem. This could be related to an abnormality within the bone structure of his lower back, or hips. Sometimes an issue like hip dysplasia or a pinched nerve can show up like this. It would be less common, but an injury to his cruciate ligaments could also present this way. The only way to know will be to have Alfie visit his veterinarian. The doctor will palpate all his legs to determine the cause. The doctor may also need radiographs to look for changes to the bone. Until you get him into the veterinarian, he needs strict rest, so no walks, no running, no playing and try to keep stairs to a minimum. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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!

I'm sorry to hear Princy is having issues. If she is unable to walk or move her back legs it would be best to bring her to a vet ASAP so they can check for issues with her muscles, nerves, broken bones, illnesses, etc.

Oh my. This is quite concerning. Bunty could have sustained a musculoskeletal injury to his hips (dislocation) or he could have a saddle thrombus (blood clot in lower limb). He needs to be seen by a vet right away for testing and medical care. I hope your kitty turns out ok. Best wishes and take care.

If your cat cannot move his back legs, this is an emergency that needs immediate veterinary attention. Its possible that he may have thrown a blood clot to that has ruined his ability to have circulation to his back legs. Or he may have had something tramatic happen to his spine. Either way, Jebat needs to be seen by your veterinarian immediately. Hope he feels better!