Terrified for my cat... Wobbly back leg

My cat Angel is pretty much my best friend. She means the world to me. Yesterday afternoon my mum and I noticed she was being clumsy and walking weird, like tilting over to one side. One of her legs seems to be b bit 'off' and she was being very wobbly. She couldnt jump up then but later on she could jump up fine but this morning whilst shes still jumping she seems a bit lethargic and like she cant balance. I had to hold her to stop her falling off the arm of the chair as she cant balance. She doesnt seem in any pain from her back of legs when ive given her a quick check over. I dont think its neurological as I read their eyes go funny and her eyes seem ok. But unfortunately despite her meaningh everything to me, like many people I cant afford huge vets fees... I am taking her for an appointment later at 4:40 and its 12:10 now (earliest appointment) but im so scared she will have to be pts. We really cant afford expensive tests e.g.neurology or longterm meds. As of yesterday im unemployed. I dontthink shes poisoned because she hssnt been sick but she had a bit of diarrhoea last night, which reminds me she had trouble stepping over into the litterbox. Im so scared and just keep crying :'(

Also sorry for double posting but shes 13 if that helps. Im having such a hard time emotionally as I have my grandfathers funeral on friday too.

l'm so sorry that your kitty is having this health issue, and l'm glad that you're taking her to the vet promptly 

From your description, the first thing that entered my mind was diabetes. Has she lost any weight recently, or does she seem thirstier than usual?

lf it is diabetes, it is entirely manageable and she won't need to be pts, try not to worry. Please let us know how things go at the vet, and give us an introduction. We love cat pix here at TCS.

Please tell us what you find out and we're sending you good vibes.

Hi yes ill do an introduction when im on my computer. She has maybe lost a bit of weight but shes a very small cat naturally so its hard to tell! She doesn't feel inordinately skinny to me but hopefully the vet will weigh her. Not noticed much difference with her drinking to be honest in fact she wasnt too interested in her water earlier when I put it right next to her pillow, though thankfully shes had some recently. She just seemsso sleepy and going into a deepish sleep though its not too unusual for her. Shes curled up on my lap now

Is she peeing more? Eating more?

Well I don't know how I feel right now.

I felt really bad for her driving up there as she was crying, poor thing.  

I guess there is good news and bad news.

Good news - it isn't anything life-threatening and the vet seems to think shes got a few years left in her yet He thinks it's nerve compression on one of her spinal discs (I think he said a lower one, where cats arch their back) because her back legs are weak and her tail is quite limp.

Bad news - I'm assuming nothing can be done about it and that it will get progessively worse as she ages. And when I was crying from worry the vet seemed to think I was mad and was really quite blunt about it. Of course I'm crying, I'm seriously worried about my cat!

He gave her a steroid shot which will hopefully help a little.

I guess I was just hoping it would be something like a sprain that would get better and I feel bad for not being happier that her life isn't at risk (yes I am crying again!!) but I'm just really sad for her... she seems happy enough but it breaks my heart thinking she'll be walking weird and not being able to be as active as she was before if she's having trouble getting up on the sofa and high places which she loves.

I'm glad you got some answers. If the steroid helps, daily prednisone is not terribly expensive.

That vet has terrible bedside manners. Of course people get upset when their furbabies' health is at stake.

Did he say there was inflammation? Krill oil can help with inflammation.

Thank you both for your replies.

I assume there is inflammation if he's given her a shot but I don't think he actually said for certain. I will look into Krill Oil.  

Coconut oil also helps inflammation. They sell huge plastic jars of it at Costco since it is the new natural wonder food. But don't buy the big jar until you know your kitty likes it. If you go to any health food or farmer's market-style grocery store, they'll have coconut oil. Most cats will simply lick it off a spoon. You can try putting it on your fingers, too, but coconut oil has a low melting temp.

There are also such things as animal chiropractors. They are probably expensive, but it sounds like you have time, so you could save up. Maybe see if there's one around and ask if treatment would likely be one or two sessions or an ongoing thing. Consider there is some risk in manipulating an animal's spine.

Thanks for the suggestions

Just realised another problem... shes fine going up the stairs but can't get down the stairs at all, she falls down them... I don't know what to do... I can't confine her to a pen... seems like every few minutes I find a new issue...

Have you taken her to the vet?  Did they run tests to rule out something neurological or a stroke?

Yes please see my previous post about what the vet said. No tests were done, but I am actually quite unhappy with his suggestion because it happened alll of a sudden and wouldn't disc damage be a gradual process? Hopefully next week I will be able to take her to another surgery to get a 2nd opinion. We have had issues with this vet in the past with our dog so not filled with hope...

Disc damage could be sudden if the kitty had a fall or something like that.

There are medical treatments and medication that can be given for Disc problems.  I would recommend adding Glucosamine/Chondritin to your kitties diet.  I use a brand called Cosequin for my kitites.  It's great to help with the joints in older kitties.  Is all the vet did was give your cat a steroid shot?  It should be on pain medication, anti inflammatories and possible antibiotics.

Hi cprcheetah. 

I will definitely be adding some glucosamine to her diet. Do you happen to know if foods that contain it have a high enough concentration of it or should I be getting the capsules? But yeah thats all he gave her as he checked her legs and hips/pelvis pretty thoroughly and confirmed what I thought - she doesn't seem in any pain but then again some kitties are good at hiding it. 

As I said in one of my previous posts I'm taking her to another vet if she hasn't improved by next week (I have the funeral on Friday and won't be in town) I will ask if they think its necessary or beneficial for her to go on pain meds and/or anti inflammatories. Right now she seems ok, shes just sleeping loads but still eating and drinking. She is able to get up and down from the sofa with ease which makes me feel a little better.

They are just such a worry. I just want her to be happy really. 

The amount of glucosamine in foods is not enough to be of much benefit to a cat.   Cats need 22-44 mg /kg of Glucosamine per day.  It doesn't hurt to give them a little more than is needed as long as it isn't like 10x what they should have.

Just a note that if you are offered something call Metacam/Meloxicam, think carefully. This is a very controversial drug. It is normally used as a single injection after surgery, but many vets prescribe it off-label to be administered orally. There have been cases of acute renal failure when used this way. The risk is low, but the amount of cases is significant. My opinion is that it should be considered only as a last resort.

You might want to ask about Adequan, which is normally  used for horses, but can be used for cats.

cprcheetah- I will get her some supplements then

raintyger - Thank you, I have seen a website advising against the use of metacam, and I was quite alarmed that I saw it in my vets surgery today. I would always ask for an alternative wherever possible.