Hey I’m not sure if this belongs in health or behavior. I chose behavior for now because I don’t think it is strongly affecting my cat. But I’m very curious.
So I adopted a stray cat from the backyard in March. Or rather, she adopted us. She had come by for food for 2-3 nights, likely following our two strays we care for (Don’t worry. They’re both fixed and taken care of medically but though they’ve been offered a place inside they seem reluctant to do it so for now they are our “outside cats”).
Anyway. I went out to the porch to feed our regulars and she meowed and then walked right into our home like she owned it.
She was sick with a nasty eye infection, coughing, sneezing. She went to the vet and was treated. No fleas or or bugs. We put out signs and walked a couple miles around the neighborhood to find her owners but nobody knew anything and nobody contacted us.
So we decided to keep her.
Now she is fixed and healthy and a VERY happy and affectionate cuddling cat. She’s the best!
The one thing I’m concerned over or at least curious about is this:
her back legs are strange. When she comes down the stairs, she bunny hops. She never lays with her back legs tucked under her, I’ve never seen her do it in all the time she’s been with us. She tends to flop heartily onto her side and splay her back legs out. Even if she’s sitting up, her back legs will be stretched out and splayed.
They don’t appear to be tender or painful. I’ve tried checking and she doesn’t get skittish or angry. She lets me touch them.
The feet seem to face outward when she stands, walks, or runs. It’s very strange. She is my 9th cat (not all at once. We have three inside including her and the two regulars outside currently) and I have never seen this before.
What is it and will it cause problems later on in life? Is there anything to do to lessen possible issues in the future? She’s only about 6-8 months old at this point. Half grown but not quite adult yet. I would love to have answers to get her on the right track.
Or is it nothing and since she’s otherwise healthy as can be, should I just leave it alone and accept it as a quirk of hers?
Sorry about the formatting. I’m writing from my phone.
So I adopted a stray cat from the backyard in March. Or rather, she adopted us. She had come by for food for 2-3 nights, likely following our two strays we care for (Don’t worry. They’re both fixed and taken care of medically but though they’ve been offered a place inside they seem reluctant to do it so for now they are our “outside cats”).
Anyway. I went out to the porch to feed our regulars and she meowed and then walked right into our home like she owned it.
She was sick with a nasty eye infection, coughing, sneezing. She went to the vet and was treated. No fleas or or bugs. We put out signs and walked a couple miles around the neighborhood to find her owners but nobody knew anything and nobody contacted us.
So we decided to keep her.
Now she is fixed and healthy and a VERY happy and affectionate cuddling cat. She’s the best!
The one thing I’m concerned over or at least curious about is this:
her back legs are strange. When she comes down the stairs, she bunny hops. She never lays with her back legs tucked under her, I’ve never seen her do it in all the time she’s been with us. She tends to flop heartily onto her side and splay her back legs out. Even if she’s sitting up, her back legs will be stretched out and splayed.
They don’t appear to be tender or painful. I’ve tried checking and she doesn’t get skittish or angry. She lets me touch them.
The feet seem to face outward when she stands, walks, or runs. It’s very strange. She is my 9th cat (not all at once. We have three inside including her and the two regulars outside currently) and I have never seen this before.
What is it and will it cause problems later on in life? Is there anything to do to lessen possible issues in the future? She’s only about 6-8 months old at this point. Half grown but not quite adult yet. I would love to have answers to get her on the right track.
Or is it nothing and since she’s otherwise healthy as can be, should I just leave it alone and accept it as a quirk of hers?
Sorry about the formatting. I’m writing from my phone.