What are Neuromuscular Disorders?
A number of conditions can affect the complex network of nerves that direct your cat's muscles. Cats with these nerve-muscle disorders may exhibit strange behavior such as spastic movements and spontaneous contractions. Consult your veterinarian if you believe your cat has a disorder affecting her nerves and muscles, as early intervention is important for treatment or management of these neuromuscular conditions in cats.
Two main components of your cat's nervous system are the brain and the peripheral nerves. The peripheral nerves send signals from the brain to your cat's organs and extremities to regulate all the processes that keep her alive. Some peripheral nerves control involuntary processes such as digestion, breathing and heart rate. Others send voluntary signals, such as those used for walking or playing with a toy.
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Symptoms of Neuromuscular Disorders in Cats
There are a number of neuromuscular disorders that affect cats, but most manifest similar symptoms. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian immediately if your cat exhibits one of the following symptoms of neuromuscular disorders in cats:
- Seizures
- Muscle weakness
- Paralysis
- Absence of reflexes (hyporeflexia)
- Uncoordinated movements
- Loss of muscle tone (hypotonia)
- Loss of control of body movements (ataxia)
- Weakness after physical exertion
- Crouched stance
Types
The following are the most common types of neuromuscular disorders in cats:
- Motor neuron disease: Involves the death of nerve cells that control skeletal muscles.
- Tetanus: Unusual in cats, causes stiff paralysis in an extremity upon infection.
- Diabetic polyneuropathy: Affects cats with diabetes whose blood sugars are poorly controlled. These cats experience paralysis and atrophy that progresses over time.
- Drug-induced neuropathies: Affect cats who have been exposed to a toxic chemical, such as fertilizers or chemotherapy, that damages nerves.
- Myasthenia gravis: leads to tremors, stiff muscles, spinal flexion, and labored breathing from paralysis in the larynx. Myasthenia gravis is an inherited neuromuscular disorder.
- Muscular dystrophy: affects male cats and manifests with excessive production of saliva, hopping while running, stiff neck, vomiting, and difficulty exercising.
Causes of Neuromuscular Disorders in Cats
There are many causes of neuromuscular disorders in cats. Some conditions are inherited or congenital (present at birth), while others are acquired after trauma or infection with a bacteria, virus or parasite. Once your veterinarian diagnoses your cat, he can explain the possible causes of that particular neuromuscular disorder in more detail.
Diagnosis of Neuromuscular Disorders in Cats
Your veterinarian will begin the diagnostic process with a thorough physical examination of your cat, including the collection of a comprehensive history. If a veterinarian suspects your cat is suffering from a neuromuscular disorder, this physical examination will include an evaluation of the cat's gait for weakness, limping, stumbling, tripping or walking in circles. A righting test, whereby a cat is placed on its back and observed as it recovers its standing position, is often performed to test coordination. A wheelbarrow test offers insights into the functioning of your cat's front legs.
Your veterinarian will also palpate the neck and front legs to search for areas of pain or loss of muscle tone. The trunk and hind quarters may be evaluated for abnormal posture or muscle tone. Your veterinarian may also inquire into the recent whereabouts or dietary habits of your cat.
Several laboratory tests are appropriate for the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders in cats. Blood tests may be ordered to rule out exposure to a neurotoxic substance. Myasthenia gravis and infections can also be detected using blood tests.
A spinal tap involves the removal of cerebrospinal fluid from the base of a cat's skull. Depending on your cat's symptoms, a culture of spinal fluid may be ordered to indicate cancer, encephalitis, infection, or internal bleeding related to trauma. An electromyogram (EMG), which tracks the transduction of electrical impulses through the nerves, is another useful tool in the diagnostic process.
Treatment of Neuromuscular Disorders in Cats
Treatment options for neuromuscular disorders in cats vary as greatly as their causes. Infections will be treated with antibiotic, antifungal, antiparasitic, or antiviral drugs. Surgery may be appropriate to repair a nerve-muscle junction that has undergone some trauma.
For conditions that cannot be cured, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory or steroid medication can be used to manage symptoms. Only your veterinarian is qualified to prescribe medications for your cat or alter her treatment plan.
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Recovery of Neuromuscular Disorders in Cats
Some forms of neuromuscular disease will resolve quickly with treatment, while others will require lifelong management. Cats with persistent paralysis may be candidates for a wheelchair. Certain medications may also be administered to relieve pain, inflammation or convulsions. Regardless of the particulars of your cat's condition and treatment plan, follow-up appointments are a cornerstone of management for these cats to track recovery and rehabilitation or recommend environmental or behavioral changes to better manage your cat's condition.
Neuromuscular Disorders Average Cost
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Neuromuscular Disorders Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Persian turkish cross
Mincy
10 Weeks
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Neck Stiffness
My kitten has a stiff neck and is looking only downwards. She cannot lift her head up voluntarily. It's been 1 day since she has been like this. She has not eaten since morning and it's night while I write this message.
Jan. 24, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. Without examining Mincy, I cannot say if she has had a trauma, has an infection, or has another cause for this problem. It would be best to have her examined by your veterinarian, as they will be able to examine her, determine if she needs medical treatment, and try to help solve this problem for her. I hope that she does well.
Jan. 24, 2018
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Domestic shorthair
Ruby
7 1/2 months
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7-8 month old with new progressive ascending muscular weakness approx 1 week ago i noticed my cat was having some balance issues. In 1 weeks time it has progressed from stumbling to one side to now dragging hind legs when attempting to walk.
Cat is not paralyzed but is having extreme weakness that is progressing.
Nov. 24, 2017
0 Recommendations
If you are seeing that Ruby is having progressing weakness you should visit your Veterinarian as there are many different issues which may be affecting Ruby all of which have a different treatment; cerebellar hypoplasia, cerebellar abiotrophy, infections, poisoning, trauma among causes. There is nothing I can advise you at this time that you can try at home for what you have described. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 24, 2017
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Short hair tabby
Ose
1 Year
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Unable To Jump
My 1 1/2 year old cat is not able to jump high like the kitchen counter or the couch. He's is not playful like he used to. Condition graduly begin 2 months ago. I took him to the vet and she found nothing wrong. Could this be a neuro l muscular disorder?
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
Cats may become more calm with age, I know 18 months isn’t old but he is no longer a playful kitten. It is possible that there may be some underlying cause for a reduction in activity including hormonal conditions, musculoskeletal disease, trauma, nutritional deficiencies etc… If your Veterinarian hasn’t found anything of concern, you may choose to have blood tests taken to see if there are any anomalies in the counts, liver or kidneys. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Domestic cat
chloe
18 Months
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Pain When Lifted
I have a year and half old cat. In October she dislocated her leg(we think) but we think it popped back into place itself. She seemed to go back to her normal self playing up until a couple weeks ago when we noticed decrease in movement. It seems like her back legs wont extend out for her to walk normal so she scoots across floor. We can tell she is in pain. took her to vet and they said they have never seen anything like it. Even with sedation, the vet could not extend her legs. back or front and noticed that the neck would not extend backwards like a neck should. so he said he would refer us to a university vet school. Has anyone experienced this?
Neuromuscular Disorders Average Cost
From 405 quotes ranging from $500 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,100
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