Paralysis in Cats

Paralysis in your cat, even if temporary or partial, is always an indication of an underlying condition or injury. You should seek immediate veterinary care if your cat displays signs of paralysis as this condition may lead to death or serious, permanent injury if not treated promptly by a professional.

Paralysis in cats occurs when your pet is unable to control or move its legs or some other portion of the body. Complete paralysis involves the complete lack of ability to move legs, neck, tail or other bodily parts. Partial paralysis, also called paresis, is the lack of full control over the body which may occur as weakness, lethargy, twitching, or extreme slow motion.

Signs of paralysis in your cat may range from subtle to obvious depending on the underlying cause of the condition. Signs may occur suddenly (acute paralysis) or escalate over a long period of time. Signs to watch for include:

• Inability to use or move portions of the body including neck, head, tongue, legs, tail or back
• Improper or stumbling gait
• Cat stepping on its own toes
• Difficulty breathing
• Uncontrolled twitching
• Extreme slowness of moving distinguishable from lethargy
• Lack of or delayed reaction to pain or other stimulus to legs, body, or affected area
• Difficulty eating or drinking
• Inappropriate urination
• Dribbling of urine

Paralysis in cats occurs when some portion of the structures that support the central nervous system have become damaged. A complicated pathway of nerves are encased within the spinal column of your cat. These nerves then connect the nerves in the brain to the nerves in the other portions of the body, allowing communication from the brain to the limbs, organs and other structures. When this communication is damaged, paralysis can occur. The location of paralysis can indicate which area of nerves has become damaged. Causes of damage can include:

• Traumatic injury
• Infection in bones or tissue near spine
• Slipped discs in back that pinch or damage the nearby nerves (can occur when cat jumps from heights)
• Inflammation in muscles surrounding the spine which places pressure on nearby nerves
• Tick paralysis caused by tick bites
• Tumors in the spine or brain which place pressure on the nerves
• Malformation of spine or vertebrae
• Certain chemicals or toxins that can permanently or temporarily cause nerves to cease to communicate (botulism is a common toxin)
• Embolism which inhibits proper blood flow to affected limb

To diagnose paralysis in your cat, your veterinarian will need a thorough physical history of your cat. Of especial importance will be any recent injuries, trauma, falls or other high impact events that could have caused damage to your cat’s spinal cord. It will be important to document the approximate onset of signs, whether paralysis occurred gradually or all at once, and whether there is any fluctuation in the severity of the signs over time. 

During the exam, your veterinarian will pay careful attention and document thoroughly the severity of the paralysis and in which areas it is occurring. Your veterinarian may attempt to manipulate each individual limb and may also encourage movement by positioning limbs in awkward positions in order to determine if your cat will move them back. Your veterinarian may also use gentle probing, or potentially a fine needle, to determine whether your cat has any pain response. Attempting to elicit a pain response is a sensitive procedure and should only ever be conducted by a professional veterinarian.

Basic diagnostic tests such as blood and urine panels will help your veterinarian determine whether there is an underlying infection that may be causing inflammation. Your veterinarian may also take a sample of spinal fluid, if an infection is suspected.

The most definitive test for paralysis will be an MRI, CT scan or X-ray, which will allow your veterinarian to see any damage to the structures around the spinal nerves. This may be done with or without contrast. Contrast refers to a type of dye that can be injected into your cat’s spinal area. This dye will respond differently to X-ray waves, allowing for additional detail in images.

Treatment of paralysis in your cat will depend on the underlying cause of the condition. Suspected infection will be treated with antibiotics. In some cases, nerves can regrow or repair with time and proper care. If your veterinarian diagnoses an injury which your cat will heal from over time, they may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pressure in the spinal area. They will also advise you on the proper home treatment. 

Cats should never be left in the same position for more than two hours and my need assistance in manually emptying their bladder and bowels. Nutrients may need to be administered intravenously or through a feeding tube. In some cases, heating pads and light massage may encourage blood flow to the affected area which can encourage healing and growth. Gentle manipulation of muscles will also help minimize any atrophy, which will get your cat back on their feet more quickly once they have healed.

Prognosis for recovery in your cat will depend on the severity and cause of the condition. In some situations of severe damage or paralysis, it may be unlikely or impossible for your cat to heal. In cases of permanent paralysis, you and your veterinarian will discuss the appropriate measures given your pet’s quality of life.

In instances that healing and recovery is possible, it will be vitally important to follow all schedules for medications and physical therapy. Due to the complexity of supportive care for cats suffering from paralysis, an extended hospital stay may be advised if you are not able to keep up with the necessary timing of care required at home.

Recovery from any paralysis will be slow and lengthy, but generally, you should begin to see improvement over the course of 1-2 months. Frequent follow-up with your veterinarian will also be important to your cat’s long term health.