My kitten has shaky back legs since birth. What's wrong?

She should be checked by a vet. This may be from an infection the mother had while pregnant known as cerebrellar hypoplasia or a developmental problem is she was small or the runt. If it just came on all of a sudden then her blood sugar may be low and it may need to be supplemented with karo syrup or nurtrical

Unfortunately, without a diagnosis it's impossible to say what you need to do to help him - there are many things that can cause a drunken, uncoordinated gait in a kitten this age, and all of these different problems would require different treatments. If the kitten has been to the vet, I would recommend asking him/her what they think is causing the abnormal gait. The kitten may have a birth defect called cerebellar hypoplasia, which is a benign condition that does not require any treatment, or could have a serious neurologic problem such as toxoplasmosis, meningitis, or even a toxicity of some kind (antifreeze, etc.) - these issues are much more serious, and would require prescription medication or even hospitalization to treat appropriately.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Hmmmm, I’d really have to see Lumi to determine if this is problematic. When I hear about a kitten with odd shaking concerns, I do think about a neurological disorder such as cerebellar hypoplasia....and symptoms can become more obvious when the cat is focusing on a task (“intention tremors”)..... but it’s usually pretty apparent and I think I’d be hearing more concern from you. If Lumi is completely normal in every other way, and this is just a little “shiver” sort of shake, then it’s likely normal. Sometimes they’ll shiver/tremble when they’re very excited, or nervous, both of which could come into play when eating. So, no concrete answer but I suspect this is normal. However, if it looks concerning to you (and certainly if you feel anything else about Lumi’s movements look odd) then it’s worth having your vet take a look at her to be safe. Hope this helps!

Poor Zoey! Unfortunately, the video will not load on the Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach forum, but I can get a sense for her abnormal gait from your description and the pictures. My first concern would be that Zoey may have cerebellar hypoplasia, but meningitis, toxoplasmosis, congenital lysosomal storage diseases, FIP, FIV, FeLV or spinal cord lesions are all possible. If it has not yet been done, ask your vet about performing a blood test for FIV and FeLV (feline leukemia). Otherwise, hopefully they are able to obtain further insight from a veterinary neurologist or internal medicine specialist. I hope that all goes well!

I would not be concerned about her twitching a little when you touch her back. Sometimes when cats get happy and excited they seem like they are shaking their back/lower body but it is just the stance that they are in. Without seeing what she is doing it is hard to say if it is something to be concerned about. A lot of times your veterinarian will be willing to look at the video to see if it is something to be seen or not. I would call and see if they will be willing to look at a video on their email (if they have one). Otherwise if she is acting completely normal otherwise I wouldn't worry at this time. If things change or the shaking gets worse then I would recommend evaluation with a veterinarian. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. It very well may just be that Simon is a bit of a nervous kitty. The only other plausible explanation might be some kind of neurological condition going on, but I would think your vet would have seen something else during the exam to corroborate this. A slight difference in pupil size or even a slight abnormal movement in the eyes, for example. Otherwise, I do not think I would be overly concerned about this, either. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Gini. There is a chance she has condition known as cerebellar hypoplasia based on your description of her behavior. She will need to see a veterinarian to determine if this is the case or if something is affecting her. For example, has she been exposed to any toxins? In the meantime, monitor her food and water intake to ensure she is still receiving enough despite the tremors. I hope this information helps!