Kitten with sudden leg weakness/trouble walking

We've had Isaac for a month now - he's 5 months old and we adopted him from the shelter. He's had a cold but doing well, putting on weight etc and has been fine as usual today up until 4pm when all of a sudden he can hardly walk. He's meowing and just sitting there and walking very reluctantly with his hind legs way under himself, kinda like how a bunny looks. He managed to get himself into his bed and there he stayed. Seems like he's extremely weak or half paralized or something.

We took him right into the vet who put him on antibiotics for the cold but couldn't explain the weakness and trouble walking. She said he has full mobility, doesn't seem to hurt anywhere and has muscle response. They gave him an antiinflammatory shot and told us to see how he is tomorrow and if he's no better bring him back in.

Anyone else had this happen/can share some wisdom?

I'm such a suck I've been crying on and off ever since it happened and would really like to know what it could be/what we can do...

Thanks everybody.
Tammy

The only things I can think of are:

1) pinched nerve
2) brain damage
3) seizure

Did the vet listen to Isaac's heart? A congenital heart problem is on the list of possible causes. Please keep us updated of his condition--hopefully it was just a sprain or other inflammation that made him not want to move for fear of pain.

Feline Calcivirus (one of the viruses that can cause 'cat flu') can sometimes cause lameness/arthritis as a symptom, especially in young cats - so it could well be linked to his other symptoms. I would keep him warm and hydrated, if it is that the anti-inflammatories should help, but as it's a virus the antibiotics won't result in a quick improvement in his condition, but will help if there are secondary bacterial infections. I would ask your vet about joint pain as a symptom of calcivirus when you take him back in tomorrow.

If it is calcivirus then if he is otherwise strong and healthy he should recover and the arthritis get better in a few days, just make sure he's drinking and assist-feed him if he stops eating - another symptom is ulcers on the roof of the mouth and gums, but like the arthritis not all cats get them with calcivirus, so if they aren't present it isn't proof that he doesn't have that!

Originally Posted by Epona

Feline Calcivirus (one of the viruses that can cause 'cat flu') can sometimes cause lameness/arthritis as a symptom, especially in young cats - so it could well be linked to his other symptoms. I would keep him warm and hydrated, if it is that the anti-inflammatories should help, but as it's a virus the antibiotics won't result in a quick improvement in his condition, but will help if there are secondary bacterial infections. I would ask your vet about joint pain as a symptom of calcivirus when you take him back in tomorrow.

If it is calcivirus then if he is otherwise strong and healthy he should recover and the arthritis get better in a few days, just make sure he's drinking and assist-feed him if he stops eating - another symptom is ulcers on the roof of the mouth and gums, but like the arthritis not all cats get them with calcivirus, so if they aren't present it isn't proof that he doesn't have that!

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Gee, what you said really seems to fit. I googled it and read more. It gives me some hope - he seems so forlorned and looks up at me as if to say 'what's wrong with me mommy?'. It's heartbreaking so I sure hope he can fight it. It's funny though - when I asked the vet if it could be linked to his cold he caught at the shelter she said no.
He has been a bit more mobile this morning and is eating and using his litter box, both of which are close to his bed so I'll let you know if anything changes.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has had a kitty recover from this?
Thanks everyone.

How is Isaac today? I've been thinking of you today and hoping everything's alright! I've not had a cat with calcivirus itself, but it came to mind because Radar always gets temporary arthritis from the vaccine, hobbles round like an old man for a couple of days, he had his boosters recently so it was fresh in my mind.

Let us know how the little one is!

Could he have sprained his legs while jumping?
Or perhaps he has a urinary tract problem which makes it painful to walk?

Good luck!

Hi everybody.

Yes, the vet did listen to his heart but didn't mention anything...Isaac is about the same today or even a little worse. He's got a good appetite but is very uncomfortable. He doesn't want to put weight on his front or back paws - he is fine on his side, stretching and washing but as soon as he has to bear weight to get up or walk he really hesitates. I read on a website that it can take up to 2 weeks for this stage to go away. The good news is that his snots are all cleared up already from the antibiotics - wow, that was fast!

I have felt all over him for sores/breaks and nothing seems to cause him any pain when I do this. It's just when he has to get up/walk. It seems to really fit the profile of the FCV acute lameness, especially since he has the cold and had a fever too.

Thanks for thinking of us everyone - I'll keep you posted and here's a picture of him...

If tests prove arthritis ... or other inflamation

www.trixsyn.com

Hi everyone, just a quick update here. So Isaac's worst day was last Wed the 3rd. He could hardly get himself up and couldn't even manage the litter box. His appetite, although, has been very so good so we had to help him in and out and when we were out he would make it but have accidents along the way (even though his box was 1 foot from his bed).

By thursday we could see a slight improvement and now it's sunday and he's definitely on the mend. His nose has cleared up completely - no sneezing greenies anymore.

His walking is much improved, although he is still stiff looking but is not dropping onto his hocks anymore. He can get himself up the stairs and was even laying on his back playing with his catnip toy today. He is spending less time in his bed and comes out to greet us when we come home. He is grooming and smelling much better.

We are so relieved to see him coming around - it was really quite scary but helped knowing what was wrong with him and that he would probably get better. It's so much harder when you have no clue!!

Thanks again everyone

I know it's so scary when they get sick and we don't know how to help them. When my Josh wasn't feeling well and I took him to the vet... they/she scared the crap out of me and had me thinking the worst. I turned out to be just an abscess, but for a couple days... it seemed like an eternity, I was thinking he had cancer.

So glad to hear Isaac's feeling better. Sending good vibes for a full recovery!

Hi everyone, just another update. It's been 11 days since Isaac went lame and he's completely recovered! He was limping a bit 2 days ago but today and yesterday he's walking easily so we moved his food and litter box back to their original spots.

He's alternating between laying in the sun and attacking all his toys - I don't think he's felt this good his whole life!

Thanks everybody

I am glad he is feeling better, he looks such a cutie

Great news! Thanks for the update. Isaac is a handsome fellow. I love his eyebrows and whiskers.

I'm so glad he's fine now. If that happened to one of my cats I'd be freaking out.

I'm so happy he's better. Shelter cats are exposed to so many things, and the stress suppresses their immune system to make them even more vulnerable.

Sounds like he found the right home.

Hi there on here trying to find reason our think 3 month old kitten all of a sudden has trouble walking.She is eating and drinking I carried her down litter box she went pee but not the other.My daughter brought 4 kittens home after their mom was hit on the road.They were in a shed and they are not sure how long they were alone before found crying.She used her hard earned money bought them formula got up every two hours fed them.# passed away and our little Munchkin made it. Yesterday she was not walking on her front paw thought maybe something in it no.Then this morning she is wooble and sure is the kitten we know.Any ideas would be great.As a single mom on a disability that is not making ends meet. I was very upset she brought them home because of this but this is who she is.She is in college and is struggling. So any ideas would be helpful thank-you

Thank you so much for posting this! I was searching everywhere because I have the same thing happening right now in a litter of 3 foster kittens! They are only about 5 weeks old, but they were totally fine when they came to us a few days ago- happy and playful and jumping around.  This morning we noticed these symptoms in all 3 of them and it was really upsetting and confusing! 

One of them seems okay but just holds up front paw up constantly- one is having trouble walking generally, and one is hardly able to walk at all, just kind of pulling himself along on the ground.  They are all lethargic and so hot- feline calcivirus makes so much sense! We called the shelter and they agreed, and they are getting them the antibiotics, etc. Phew, it was so scary, I'm glad to find the solution, and glad to hear that they can recover from it! 

Thanks for posting and for updating!

Thanks for the posts.  They are giving me hope.  Was given my Goblyn last Halloween as a very small foundling.  She's been a healthy, active outside cat up until we moved three weeks ago (from Central Louisiana to Central Texas), when I started keeping her (and her Doppleganger stray that showed up end of February) in the house.  We moved on a Sunday, the following Wednesday she started sneezing and coughing periodically.  Two days later she spiked a really high fever and was having muscle control issues with her right foreleg.  I found a lump under her right ear and thought she had been stung/bit by something and put bacitracin on it.  Took her to the vet the following morning, even though her fever had come down (vet said it was still very high at 104.7) and couldn't find any kind of puncture in the lump or abcess to explain her fever.  Hydrated her and put her on clavamox.  I If  kept putting bacitracin ointment on the lump and she was getting better.  She was getting better through the week on clavamox, then started digging at her left ear until it was very swollen and I found a lump under that ear and her muscle weakness has spread to her back legs (primarily right side), though her front leg seems to be getting better.  I have her back on clavamox again.

She seems to be getting better again, not crying as much when I pick her up and her left ear is healing where she had it dug raw.  I am afraid she had a fever stroke.  She was always such an active and playful kitten (she's only about seven months old).  All I can do is tend to  her, can't afford a bunch of tests

Doppleganger (about the same age) was just spayed and got her rabies & distemper shots and doesn't show any signs of getting sick.   We cancelled Goblyn's appointment due to her illness.

Interesting fact that may or may not be related.  I just started a new hospital job and had my MMR titres drawn last week.  My mumps titre came back so high they called me in to make sure I'm not sick!  I had mumps 40 years ago, so I must have been exposed somewhere to spike my titre so high and I wonder if it has to do with Goblyn's illness, though I know they say cats can't get mumps.