Poorly cat - hind leg problem

Kathy535

Hi, hoping someone can help me and my 10yr old ginger Tom, Harvey. We noticed at the weekend that he seemed to be having a bit of trouble getting on to the sofa, down the stairs etc. By Sunday we were thinking that it was his right hind leg but as he's an active, outdoor car who roams and hunts we put it down to a sprain. By Tuesday he'd gone downhill, struggling to walk or climb and yowling if you picked him up so DH took him the the vets.

Vet examined him, said it might be arthritis but she couldn't find anything wrong other than a loss of muscle mass in his affected leg. She gave us oral metacam for him and we made an appointment to bring him back on Monday for x rays if he was no better.

It's now Wednesday and he's got worse. He's lethargic, is breathing more quickly than usual and can't get comfy. He tries to lie down but can't and ends up sitting upright. I'm taking him to the vets tomorrow for x rays if he's no better.

He's still purry and affectionate and I hate seeing him like this. Has anyone's cat had a similar experience or can anyone suggest how I might make him more comfortable?

Thank you

gettingready

get him back to vets ASAP, do not wait till Monday.

Has he been on metacam before? Breathing difficulties may be a sign of reaction to medication...

Kathy535

He's had anti-inflammatory injections. He had blood tests last month when he had a tooth extracted so we know his kidneys are fine and he doesn't seem to be having problems breathing, he's just breathing faster. I will take him to the vets tomorrow morning, and, just in case, I'll be sleeping with the bedroom door open in case an emergency night visit to the vets is needed (been there before).

About 10 mins ago he got up and went into the garden. I've just checked and he's not come back yet, am hoping this is a good sign but pessimistic hubby is worried the cat has crawled off to die.

HappyMJ

Kathy535 wrote: »

He's had anti-inflammatory injections. He had blood tests last month when he had a tooth extracted so we know his kidneys are fine and he doesn't seem to be having problems breathing, he's just breathing faster. I will take him to the vets tomorrow morning, and, just in case, I'll be sleeping with the bedroom door open in case an emergency night visit to the vets is needed (been there before).

About 10 mins ago he got up and went into the garden. I've just checked and he's not come back yet, am hoping this is a good sign but pessimistic hubby is worried the cat has crawled off to die.

I wouldn't be letting him out. Do you have a litter tray?

Kathy535

No, nor any cat litter. A trip to the supermarket may be in order. We have 3 other cats so we can't really shut the cat flap, the last time we tried it was mayhem. Literally. Big fat cat head butted the flap until it broke, cat who had had operation (reason we'd shut the cat flap in the first place) jumped out of a first floor window (it was only open a crack), two other cats had a slap fight and ripped fur and flesh from each other. Not their finest hour.

He's back now, tucking into tea but still limping. All the other cats aren't normal either, all off their food and acting weird. Harvey is boss cat so maybe they are confused by his sudden lack of authority.

moggymutt

Loss of muscle mass suggests something that's been going on for a least a little while, but is only just now beginning to show.

Xrays is definitely a good idea.

Glad he's back in, and I hope you both have a peaceful night. Hope you get on alright at the vets tomorrow.

stsarina

One of our old boys had a stroke and the big symptom for him was losing control of the rear end of his body - is Harvey soiling himself at all? Shadow was also a yowler afterwards, which our vet put down to feline dementia caused by the stroke.

I hope the vets come up with an answer tomorrow and he has a peaceful night tonight.

Maz

Our cat had very similar symptoms just recently in her hind leg. One day she was fine, the next morning she was hobbling! A visit to the vet meant metacam for a day or so to see if there was any improvement, maybe indicating a sprain. Her breathing also became shallower than usual but the vet reassured us that this was because she was in pain and distressed.

Anyway, no real improvement but the vet suggested a small op as after examination, they thought she may have torn ligaments. We did take the precaution of having blood tests done to check for kidney/liver function to make sure she'd be OK for an op.

Turned out it was torn ligaments and a couple of days on cat is now hobbling up and down stairs and definitely on the road to recovery and is a lot more calm.

Helping to get her comfy was a problem though so we just let her do her own thing and find her own comfy positions etc. We also closed off the cat flap (not so easy for you in a multi cat household) and brought a litter tray in. After her op on Monday, she was screeching her head off to go in the garden today though, so I let her out and kept an eye on her.

As I say, she's on the mend now and I do hope your kitty gets better soon too.

Kathy535

Thanks All. I spoke with the vet yesterday and took him in this morning for a variety of tests and x rays. He's no better but no worse fortunately. He's not soiling himself but yelps if you try and pick him up, has no strength in his back legs to push himself up from a sitting position and is lethargic although still purrs when he sees you. His appetite is fine, he's drinking about the same and he's hobbling outside every now and then (we assume to use the facilities!). He's not grooming though and he has lost his usual neat posture and sitting arrangements. He stands with his hips very low and sits with them further forward than usual.

We are hoping that they find what it is today and that we know what we can do to help. Fortunately we are insured so money isn't an issue. I'm more worried that we'll be told there's no obvious cause and we have to decide whether to let it run for a bit and see if he improves or to not have him suffer any more than necessary.

Typically, when we get to the vets, he pretends that nothing is wrong, the adrenaline makes him seem bright and alert, we'd video'd him moving around and trying to get up on to the sofa etc so she could see we weren't imagining things!

Kathy535

Well, we are back from the vets. Nothing was found from x rays and blood tests, which is good but ultimately we still don't know what's wrong with him so v frustrating. But I am relieved that it's not his kidneys or something terminal (as far as we know).