Why does my cat walk like he's drunk?

It's likely your cat is experiencing an issue with her vestibular system. The feline vestibular system is essentially the balance center of her brain. When something is amiss in this complex web of nerves and synapses, she's likely to become dizzy, disoriented, and have trouble with muscle coordination.

Why is my cat wobbly when walking?

The most common sign of ataxia, regardless of the cause, is an abnormal gait in which the cat is very unsteady on her feet. With a spinal cord lesion, the toes may drag on the ground as the cat walks, traumatizing the tissues of the toes.

Why is my cat suddenly off balance?

Causes of Loss of Balance in Cats

Middle-ear or inner ear infections. Disease or injury of the spinal cord. Damage or disease of the central nervous system. Neurological disorders.

Why is my cat stumbling and falling over?

Vestibular disease is a condition in which a cat suddenly develops incoordination, falling or circling to one side, involuntary darting of the eyes back and forth (called nystagmus), a head tilt, and often nausea or vomiting. These clinical signs usually appear suddenly, often in less than an hour.

How long does vestibular disease last in cats?

Although the signs are typically the same as those associated with other types of peripheral vestibular disease, they are transitory, arising abruptly and then gradually improving over the course of several days. Most cats will be completely recovered within two or three weeks.

Cerebellar Hypoplasia Cat

How do cats get vestibular disease?

Causes of Vestibular Disease in Cats

While Siamese and Burmese cats may suffer from an inherited or congenital form of the disease, it is believed that most cases are caused by middle- or inner-ear infections. In some very rare cases tumors within the vestibular system may be the cause.

How do you treat vestibular syndrome?

What are the signs that a cat is dying?

What is wobbly cat syndrome?

Cerebellar Hypoplasia, also known as CH and wobbly cat syndrome, is a neurological disorder that causes sudden jerky movements, uncoordinated motion and loss of balance. In a CH cat, the brain does not develop properly.

What does a stroke look like in a cat?

Strokes in cats occur when blood flow to the brain suddenly gets interrupted, often due to a blood clot. Signs of a stroke in cats include stumbling, pressing their head against a hard surface, and weakness. Strokes in cats require immediate and sometimes ongoing treatment to give your cat the best chance for recovery.

What does ataxia look like in cats?

Symptoms of Ataxia in Cats

An ataxic cat may look like they are drunk, with a wobbly gait, swaying, and increased drowsiness. They may also have more subtle symptoms, such as a mild head tilt or a curling under of the toes while walking.

Why do cats act like he's dizzy?

If you spin around in circles as fast as you can and then attempt to walk in a straight line, you'll experience what your cat probably feels like if he's suffering with vestibular disease. There are two types of vestibular disease: peripheral and central.

Why is my cat walking weird with his back legs?

Cat Limping May Indicate a Veterinary Emergency

If you notice your cat limping, it could be an injury or other medical condition impacting a muscle, joint, bone, paw, or other tissue. Cat limping can result from trauma like jumping, falling from a high surface, or being hit by a car.

Why is my cat disoriented and weak?

It's likely your cat is experiencing an issue with her vestibular system. The feline vestibular system is essentially the balance center of her brain. When something is amiss in this complex web of nerves and synapses, she's likely to become dizzy, disoriented, and have trouble with muscle coordination.

Are wobbly cats in pain?

Cerebellar hypoplasia is a developmental condition in which the cerebellum of the brain fails to develop properly. The cerebellum is the portion of the brain that controls fine motor skills, balance, and coordination. The condition is not painful or contagious.

Does wobbly cat syndrome hurt?

While this condition has no treatment or cure, it usually does not cause cats any serious or harmful effects. “These cats can live long and healthy lives; they just look a bit funny when they walk around,” Mankin said.

What are the signs of kidney failure in cats?

What happens right before a cat dies?

A dying cat may have an abnormal breathing pattern, with her respiratory rate speeding up and slowing down at random. She may even stop breathing for short periods of time and then start back up again.

Can cats sense death?

Cats' ability to sense death actually has to do with their heightened sense of smell. A story in the New England Journal of Medicine detailed how a cat named Oscar accurately "predicted" when patients in a nursing home were going to die by going to sit by them just hours before they passed away.

What toxins cause vestibular disease in cats?

Chlorhexidine and aminoglycosides are toxins that cause vestibular disease and will make clinical signs far worse if used to clean the ear.

Do vestibular problems go away?

In most patients (95 percent and greater) vestibular neuritis is a one-time experience. Most patients fully recover.

How long does vestibular disease last?

Symptoms of vestibular disease are often most severe during the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours, with improvements seen within seventy-two hours. Most dogs often recover within two to three weeks.

What causes wobbly legs in cats?

Often referred to as 'wobbly kittens' or 'wobbly cats', cerebellar hypoplasia is an unusual neurological disorder as a result of interrupted development of the brain, leading to uncoordinated movement or ataxia.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease in cats?

When infected, cats may show lameness, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, or difficulty breathing. Lyme disease can also affect the kidneys, joints, nervous system, and heart. Many cats do not show noticeable signs, despite being infected.

Why is my cat walking weird and meowing?

Medical Condition. If a cat isn't feeling well, she may roam the house and vocalize her distress as she tries to find a comfortable place. A variety of illnesses, including hyperthyroidism, can cause a cat to feel restless, irritable, thirsty and/or hungry, prompting them to wander and meow.