please watch this vidoe of Wobbles and comment

hi everyone...here is a link to a video of my baby Wobbles...for some reason when i try to attache it it says it's not embedded or something but when i copy & paste it into a browser it comes up just fine....anyway if you could watch this for me and tell me what you all think...i have other of her just running playing and climbing too but i wanted you to see her actual steps..but you get to see her come over to me to be loved on too and the smile on her beautiful face ....love this cat

her steps almost look robotic...

https://www.dropbox.com/l/3WO1krnVe56TONkcTFyULn?

I can definitely see the problem and how worrying. Wobbles does appear to be happy though and not in any pain. She is a beautiful kitty too. A bit underweight though and her backend is a bit scruffy/unkempt looking. How old is Wobbles? I don't know what to say, hun, other than having a vet take a look to diagnose. Hopefully other members will come along with their input and evaluation.

I would have loved to come here and say it looks like CH (cerebellar hypoplasia) but unfortunately, it does not.

It appears to be more of a spinal/tail injury, and am I correct that Wobbles is incontinent?

This would confirm a nerve injury in my opinion.

I can see by the hind end/tail there is no bladder and/or bowel control, am I correct here?

I have watched the video a few times over and I am thinking like @catwoman707  due to the aparent lack of movement in the tail along with the significant muscle wasting in the hind quarters in contrast to the muscles and bulk to the front of her body.  She looks very determined to keep moving about and to have attention, and I can see why you are so taken with her.

Is it soiling to her back legs and tail or also different fur texture?  If she is struggling with toileting and or using a tray it would be good to get her used to regular washing and keeping her warm and drying quickly afterwards as her less mobile limbs and tail will likely get very cold if blood does not circulate in them so well - muslce movement helps to pump blood around the body.  This would also mean any injuries on her back legs and tail would have more difficulty healing and need extra care.   

Thank you for posting a video.

Unfortunately, I agree that @catwoman707  that this is not CH.  I am not sure what it is but think you have some good comments above as a starting point.  I really do hope you will be able to save up some money and take Wobbles to the vet.

She is pretty gosh darned happy lol and no pain that I can tell I handle her all the time and she never cries out…unless im bathing her which I had just done in this video so she is a bit wet and Her back end fades to a brownish color and her tial is black so when wet looks weird…but I do keep her back end and tail cropped very short bc she does scoot a lot still and poops while laying down and gets it on her alot

I can’t imagine how she would have gotten an injury…I do plan on taking her to the vet soon though

Yes she is incontinent but the back end of her in this video is from being fresh from the bath, please know I would NEVER let any of my cats roam about covered in filth…I bath her everyday and use baby soap so as not to irritate her or give her an infection

But I was thinking nerve too because she never moves her tail…ever…but she can feel her back legs and tail…is nerve damage treateable?

She is beautiful and sweet and playful…when she was small she was an ugly little thing though lol my son called her Gizmo bc she looked like a gremlin

She seems to be using the back legs much more frequently than she ever did , in fact almost the whole day through…if she scoots I tell her to walk and she does lol …is this a sign maybe her back legs will nto waste so much anymore?

If anyone is interested I have a few more videos of her just playing

Although I am not a vet and it is only my observation and experience that I say this, but I would almost guarantee this is infact a nerve injury.
The incontinence confirms it with me.

It happens, and is so sad because the chances of recovering when there is a limp tail and incontinence are virtually slim to none.

What a vet will commonly do if the cat's owner refuses euthanization, is amputate the tail. This is for a couple reasons, one is the tail is lacking proper blood flow and will eventually die if not dead already.
The second reason is to help avoid infections, as your kitty will be very prone to infections and complications due to the incontinence.

I can't say your kitty is not suffering as far as pain goes, I tend to not think so, unless/until trouble with the tail and/or infection comes.

But I can't help question how it must feel to eliminate on himself, not be able to groom himself, and wonder just how "happy" this kitty really is.

As I said, I am not a vet, but I've seen this before, and it's not good, but you really do need to take him to the vet, have this confirmed and think about your/his options and quality of life.

Good luck!

She may be building a little strength in the muscles she has but there is a lot of muscle wasting there.  A vet would need to examine thoroughly to say if / how she might improve because it would depend on how the damage has been caused.  Any possible improvement depends on the cause but generally once a nerve is damaged it is not able to repair itself.  If there is some muscle movement to build on and sensation so that she can keep herself reasonably safe then this is what will help her the most I suspect.  

It makes sense that she has just been bathed in the video, and that will make the smaller amount of muscle she has to the rear of her body and in her back legs more obvious.  Until you can take her to the vet please do take very good care of her skin and look carefully for any injuries as they will need very careful care as I said before.  It is great that you have already developed a daily washing and care routine with her.  Does she groom herself as well, or be groomed by any of your other cats?

catwoman707 said:

Although I am not a vet and it is only my observation and experience that I say this, but I would almost guarantee this is infact a nerve injury.
The incontinence confirms it with me.
It happens, and is so sad because the chances of recovering when there is a limp tail and incontinence are virtually slim to none.

What a vet will commonly do if the cat's owner refuses euthanization, is amputate the tail.

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I agree on the first but not the second here. Absolutely, agree after hearing Wobbles is incontinent that nerve damage is the culprit behind the dragging of the back legs. Full recovery is probably not going to happen, Georgiesmommy, and I am so very sorry about that. I know you have been through so much recently but this comes with rescuing.

I would not think that amputating the tail would be of any help. :dk: In fact, that could cause even more nerve damage even though there already may be some present.

Georgiesmommy - to me, Wobbles does look quite thin as well. I know how much you care for your cats and do a wonderful job. This must be so much for you to wash and clean Wobbles daily and I have to wonder if Wobbles is in some bit of pain. Definitely, a vet visit is the best way to go and discuss what quality of life Wobbles will have. All my best to you, hun. We are here for you.

Hi everyone...to answer the most asked wuestion, yes she can and does groom herself all the time...and every other cats that comes her way lol

she does not scoot very often any more she walks almost non stop now..and i check her tail everyday for feeling warmth and pulse all of which are great

she is a very thin cat but so is her mom believe me she eats several times a day and i spoil the heck out of her with human treats like chicken and cheese and canned cat food as well as dry, wet poop messes be darned lol

trust me she is a very happy cat and i do check her for pain often..the only thing she does not like besides bath time is being held, but that is genetics as her mom and all of her sibling have the very same aversion so it does not stem from pain.

I am taking her to see a vet and no absolutely 100% i will NOT have her euthanized!!!! that is insane to even consider...she is a very happy loving amazing cat..so she cant walk great or all the time, so she is incontinent..I will deal with that and make sure she stays infection free and if i think for one second she has an infection she will go to the vet ASAP even if i have to sell my children (this is a joke of course but not by much lol)

 right now at this moment in time, she is wonderful...happy and playful loving and cuddly...i will deal with each day as it comes and do whatever is best for her, and today whats best for her is to sleep play and eat all day then run to me when i come home and eat some more get a bath cuddle with me and then sleep on my head like she does every night...and tomorrow we will do it all over again until something interupts that routine which she has come to trust and love and i will do it with her for her and standing beside her all the way 100% ...like i do with ALL of my cats

i thank all for you for your ideas on what this could be and twill take them to the vet with us but please know I love her and would never put her in harms way

and please , don't be sad for her, she really has no idea she is any different than my other cats and if she does she is sure doing her darnedest to change that lol
she is not sad and she eliminates ion a way that it is off to the side and not actually on her person i bath her because she does scoot some and i dont want her to get sick. her quality of life right now is like any other cat as she has taken to walking almost 100% now...she lives in a safe loving home eats very well, has human and cat family member who all love her
just because she is a little more work does not me her or my quality of life is compromised at all...
if one of my sons was god forbid born with a debilitating disease that caused him to be paralyzed and incontinent there would be no change in how i love him, so why should i do that for this lovely cat, who yes i think of as my daughter ...really...i call her my daughter call y son her brothers...im nuts i know but hey that's whats great about me so i think LOL
 

and i dont think its a shame at all she has this problem bc like i said she has no idea and neither do the other cats, they treat her like everyone else..playing, cuddling, grooming and dolling out a swat or bop on the head when she annoys them like they do to all the youngsters

One thing I do not doubt is how much you love this little cat    and I am sure you will do everything you can for her within your resources.  Some of the questions asked in this thread, and opinions expressed must have been difficult for you to think about, and different to your own, but hopefully we all learn from these discussions.   One thing is certain is everyone has Wobbles and her wellbeing at the centre of their thoughts and want the best for her:  she is your cat and I am sure you will talk about her health and the best quality of life she can have when you take her along to your vet.

I hope you will let us know how things go for Wobbles over the coming weeks, and how she keeps up with your other cats. 

I don't doubt your feelings and caring for her here, not at all.

I also did not think you would even consider putting her to sleep either, this was mentioned as your vet will likely put that out there as your option, but is just that, your option.

Vet will discuss the tail amputation with you due to the limpness, which is the biggest culprit for infection. Surgically removing a tail does not cause nerve damage further.

That is your option as well of course. Just another mention of what to expect to hear is all. I've heard the same things from each vet, in each instance for cats with nerve damage from a tail or spine injury. 

It doesn't mean you have to, it is an option is all.

Improvement you have seen is very likely due to strengthening muscle to compensate for lack of control. Please don't be disappointed when she does not recover completely or any further than she has already.

Nerves just are not able to repair that way. At least she is more mobile then prior.

I just want to add one more thing.

Because you see her being a cat like she doesn't even realize or is aware that she is different, doesn't mean she doesn't know.

The only way she would not know would be if she were born this way. Going from normal to not, and believing she is unaware, is like saying a person can have his leg amputated and continue on with life, adapting, but forgetting he is missing a leg. 

Cats know their bodies VERY well.

I never question your love, care and concern for ALL of your kitties because I have gotten to know you and your great love for your cats on this forum. My goodness, I know you would never let one of your cats suffer and linger in anyway. Obviously, you know Wobbles better than anyone of us and we can't judge from one video how well or not she is actually doing. We take your word for it that she is very happy, playful and getting around just fine. My only thought and concern is for her future health quality and sustainability. BUT as you say, you are living for today and in the moment, and that today IS a good day. Tomorrow will come and then you will deal with that, when it comes. I think you will know in your heart if Wobbles is not doing well or will flourish this way. :nod: None of us can say one way or another, all we can do is offer our thoughts, kindly and respectively taken, we hope.

We are glad you posted the video and us giving you our opinions is in no way going against how you love and care for Wobbles or any of your cats for that matter. You wanted us to view the condition of Wobbles and sometimes you may not always hear what you want to hear, you know??? There could or could not be so much more involved in Wobbles condition and only a vet exam and possibly further test will be most accurate in diagnosing. For us, we are just guesstimating and going from past experience as to what we think is going on.

Please DO keep us posted on any further updates, any more questions and what the vet check comes up with. WE CARE about you and your kitties.

catwoman707 said:

Vet will discuss the tail amputation with you due to the limpness, which is the biggest culprit for infection. Surgically removing a tail does not cause nerve damage further.

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I didn't view the video a second time. I did not notice the limp tail the first time I viewed the video. :slant: I then agree, with the tail being of no use and limp, that this could very well be a necessity and may be mentioned by the vet.

i truly appreciate everyones feed back, i really do but i was just beyond shocked when i heard mention of a vet suggesting euthanasia..and i guess i got a little ofended that some people think of her as a poor sould  destined to a life of pain and suffering due to this disability, when in reality the complete opposite could not be more true i posted that video also so you could see her lovely face when i was petting her, the love she felt and gave to me was crystal clear...and that is how she is day in and day out

to say i dont worry she may get sick or be in pain or may not live a long life

Would be a total lie…when she poops too much or is too verbal or too sleepy I panic…that’s is what Georgie went through the days before he died…one day she really did poop literally all day and I went level 10 freak out …ask my son he’ll confirm lol when all it was was a change in food brand issue

She is so much more than this issue and I adore her much more than I ever planned on it…

Would something like this help?

http://www.handicappedpetscanada.com/walkin-wheels-mini/

Have you tried cat diapers?