Why is my cat staggering?
It’s likely your cat is experiencing an issue with her vestibular system. The feline vestibular system is essentially the balance center of her brain. When something is amiss in this complex web of nerves and synapses, she’s likely to become dizzy, disoriented, and have trouble with muscle coordination.
What does it mean when your cat is stumbling?
It’s caused by infection, trauma or a disease, such as cancer. If your cat begins to stumble, wobble back and forth or fall down, first protect him or her from additional harm. If the culprit is an inner ear infection, this will be treated with antibiotics that will likely offer a cure for your cat’s dizziness.
What causes unsteady gait in cats?
Gait abnormalities in kittens are most commonly due to neurological or musculoskeletal disorders. Occasionally they are due to disorders of other body systems such as the cardiovascular system (ie. cardiac malformations, anemia) or gastrointestinal system (ie. anorexia, diarrhea).
Why is my cat suddenly having trouble walking?
Cats with heart disease can develop a sudden onset lameness or paralysis, essentially a sudden inability to move a limb. The most common cause of rear limb paralysis in cats is a blood clot that goes to the back leg, called a saddle thrombus or arterial thromboembolism (ATE).
Does gabapentin make cats wobbly?
Occasionally owners report more increased drowsiness which can make them a little wobbly on their feet but it generally resolves within 12 hours. At Just Cats, we like to have owners give the medication at home 2-3 hours prior to the vet visit, since that is typically the peak time for the drug’s effectiveness.
What is wobbly cat syndrome?
Cerebellar Hypoplasia, also known as CH and wobbly cat syndrome, is a neurological disorder that causes sudden jerky movements, uncoordinated motion and loss of balance. In a CH cat, the brain does not develop properly.
Why does my cat keep losing balance?
Causes of Loss of Balance in Cats Middle-ear or inner ear infections. Disease or injury of the spinal cord. Damage or disease of the central nervous system. Tumors in ear canal, especially in aging cats.
What happens when a cat’s back legs go?
Your cat’s nerves constantly send messages from her spinal cord to her brain that allow her body to move. When something interrupts those nerve signals, paralysis can occur. Rear-leg paralysis in cats is extremely serious and should be dealt with immediately.
Will gabapentin make my cat sleepy?
Gabapentin for Cats: Side Effects The most common side effects of Gabapentin include sleepiness, occasional diarrhea, and incoordination. Some vets have experienced that higher doses of Gabapentin lead to sedation in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Why does my cat have a wobbly gait?
Ataxia (pronounced a-tak-sia) is defined as a loss of muscle coordination (incoordination/unsteady gait) which is caused by disorders that affect your cat’s sense of motion, and it is a symptom of an underlying condition and not a disease in itself. There are three clinical types of ataxia in cats, cerebellar, vestibular and sensory.
Why does my cat stagger when she tries to walk?
If you are a cat lover, you are probably tuned in to the way your cat acts and what is normal for her. If your cat seems off balance or staggers when he tries to walk, it is very alarming. There are many causes for such abnormal behavior and it sometimes helps to know some of the possibilities.
What does it mean when a cat has ataxia?
What is ataxia? Ataxia (pronounced a-tak-sia) is defined as a loss of muscle coordination (incoordination/unsteady gait) which is caused by disorders that affect your cat’s sense of motion, and it is a symptom of an underlying condition and not a disease in itself.
What causes the loss of coordination in cats?
Ataxia, Vestibular Disease in Cats. All three types produce changes in limb coordination, but vestibular and cerebellar ataxia also produce changes in head and neck movement. Ataxia, in general, is a condition relating to a sensory dysfunction that produces loss of coordination of the limbs, head, and/or trunk.