My cat walking backwards

last night my cat stood up abruptly and started walking backwards in circles, seeming confused and stumbling. the muscles in her back were contracvting continuosly. I picked her up and placed her on the floor and she walked forwards for a moment then started stumbling backwards again. I put her on my bed and she layed still and started going to sleep. she is responsive but does not seem to want to get up or move. She is purring and does not seem to be in pain. What could this mean?

Is she sick? Can someone please help?

I think you need to take her to the vet!

Even though they purr they can still be in pain, but i would get her to the vet asap

Is she spayed? I know cats will walk backwards if they are in heat. My friends cat used to do the thing where she would walk backwards up to my friend with her butt sticking up in the air. That doesn't sound like the problem though.

she seems to be fine now. We think it may have been a reaction to fleas. She normaly hops to get away if she has them, so we will deflea her tomorrow and if anything else wierd happens we'll take to vet.

no she is spayed. She was walking backwards in circles without touching anything else. She seemed to be getting away from something on her. she seemed a little confused as well.

My Cinnie does that if she has fleas, she's highly allergic, I've seen her go backward also, and your right she seems to walk backwards trying to get away from it. She can also be kind of jumpy like a flea just bit her. Through experience with her and fleas, I know that this is what it is, she's been examined and everything else is alright. As soon as I get Frontline on her she quiets down considerably.

I would take the cat to a vet right away. The symptoms you describe don't sound like she was trying to get away from something. Stumbling, confusion, back rippling and lethargy -- these could be something very serious, such as a seizure.

Originally Posted by Suzume

She normaly hops to get away if she has them, so we will deflea her tomorrow and if anything else wierd happens we'll take to vet.

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Over-the-counter flea medications are really not recommended for safe use.

How old is your cat, by the way?

I agree with the other members who recommended an immediate vet visit. If this is in fact something neurological in nature, you do not want to waste time obtaining a qualified evaluation and treatment.

I can only echo what Robert has said - no over-the-counter flea treatments. They are often ineffective and in many cases have caused serious harm and even death.

Please take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.

I'd also say nothing OTC, and get to the vet asap. With luck it's nothing really serious, but what if it's something serious that needs to be treated ASAP for best results? Maybe at least call your vet and describe your cat's actions and get their counsel on when to come in.

She needs the Vet. It sounds like somethng is wrong with her. Cats in heat do not act like she is. Do not use otc flea Meds either they can kill a cat. it sounds to me like something is wrong with her. Does she have alot of fleas on her. My Meeko almost died from Anemia from fleas before I got her. I got a phone call and we rushed her to er.

Cats purr when they are happy or comfortable as well as use it for a pain reliever or to reduce their stress. Take your baby to the vet. I really hope she is ok.

It really sounds like a seizure.

This thread is over 5 years old, and it's unlikely the OP will respond.

But yes, the advice against over-the-counter flea products still holds true!