My kitten has weak back legs and drags himself. What's wrong?

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.

Hi ! Your kitten needs to see a vet ASAP, to understand if there is a proble with her pelvis or with her back. The longer she is left, the less chance she has to recover sadly. Also she is going to be in a lot of pain which is also a big concern. I hope she can be treated and she can go back to full health soon. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach !

Without an exam it would be hard to say what is wrong. If this is something he's had since birth, congenital issues such as cerebellar hypoplasia can sometimes cause symptoms like poor coordination, but the cats are otherwise happy, healthy and enjoy full lives. Other muscular or nerve issues, illnesses, or injuries may also cause coordination problems, so it is always a good idea to rule out any health issues with your vet that may be treatable.

Make sure your kitten has an x-ray and you may consider testing for toxoplasmosis. Infections in the spine are possible. Most vets will test for this using a blood culture. An x-ray may also help show signs of an infection. Sometimes further diagnostics like an MRI or CT scan is indicated. other infections of the brain can also present as paralysis. If your vet can't figure it out, I recommend to have Mussel examined by a specialist. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

At the age of nine months, most cats are essentially full grown. They might still grow a tiny bit, but at this point you are seeing their adult size basically. Some cats are larger than others with the smallest ones around 4 to 5 lbs and the largest around 18-22lbs. If he is having issues with mobility in his hind end, I would have a veterinarian examine him for any pain or neurologic deficits. At nine months old, it would not be very common for a painful condition to arise though juvenile inflammatory conditions can occur. If he is currently not experiencing any symptoms, now would probably not be the best time to have a vet look at him as they will not be able to see to what you are referring. The next time this occurs, schedule a visit. I would also consider the possibility of a tick borne disease in any case of lameness in a dog or cat, particularly those that are not using preventive products.

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!

Dragging the hind legs is not normal but they will stumble since they are learning to walk. Dragging the hind legs is concerning for a problem with brain development: https://www.petcoach.co/article/cerebellar-hypoplasia-in-kittens/ Other causes are also possible. I recommend to play it safe and have the kittens examined by the veterinarian. The vet should be able to determine if this is normal or pathological. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.