Understanding Paresis and Paralysis in Cats: Causes and Treatment

If your cat is suddenly dragging its back legs, struggling to walk, or seems unusually weak, it's imperative to act fast. Weakness, partial paralysis (paresis), or complete paralysis are all signs of a serious problem with your cat's nervous system. These conditions are always considered veterinary emergencies. Understanding the potential causes of paralysis in cats and knowing when to seek immediate help can make a huge difference in your cat's outcome.

What's the difference between paresis and paralysis in cats

In cats, two terms describe weakness and the loss of movement: paresis and paralysis. Paresis is a partial loss of voluntary movement or muscle strength, while paralysis refers to the complete loss of function in one or more muscles.

Paresis: This refers to a partial loss of voluntary movement or muscle strength causing significant weakness. Your cat might still have some control over the affected body part but will have difficulty moving it normally.

Paralysis: This means complete loss of movement and feeling. A paralyzed body part cannot be moved voluntarily.

Think of it like this: a cat with paresis might stumble, limp, and appear weak, while a paralyzed cat could be completely unable to stand.

Regardless, both conditions can occur in any part of your cat's body, including their legs, tail, face, or even their vocal cords. The severity of paresis and paralysis can range from mild weakness to the inability to move at all.

Common causes of paresis and paralysis in cats

Many different conditions can cause paresis and paralysis in cats. Some of the most common include:

• Trauma: Car accidents, falls, bite wounds, and other injuries can directly damage the spinal cord or nerves, leading to weakness or paralysis.
• Saddle thrombus: This fibrocartilagenous blood clot blocks blood flow to the rear legs, causing sudden paralysis. It's a painful condition and a veterinary emergency.
• Tick paralysis: Certain ticks release neurotoxins found in the saliva. This can cause temporary paralysis that usually improves once the tick is removed.
• Spinal cord issues: Conditions like Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), lymphoma (cancer), myelitis (inflammation), and injuries can all affect the spinal cord and cause varying degrees of weakness or paralysis, including partial or complete paralysis.
• Nerve damage: Nerves can be damaged by injuries, diseases, or other medical conditions leading to paresis or paralysis in the affected area.
• Diabetic neuropathy: Untreated or unregulated diabetes can cause nerve damage in cats, leading to hind limb weakness, difficulty walking, and a plantigrade stance.
• Metabolic conditions: Low potassium (hypokalemia) and other metabolic imbalances can disrupt nerve function and potentially cause weakness.
• Laryngeal paralysis: This condition specifically affects the nerves controlling the larynx (voice box), leading to voice changes, loss of purring, noisy breathing, and difficulty breathing.
• Tumours: Masses in the brain or spinal cord can put pressure on nerves, causing paresis or paralysis.

Tip: The specific location and severity of the paresis or paralysis can help your veterinarian narrow down the potential causes.

Signs to watch out for

Even subtle signs of weakness or changes in movement warrant immediate veterinary care. Some conditions causing paresis or paralysis can worsen rapidly, so it's very important to act quickly. Watch for the following signs:

• Weakness/partial paralysis (paresis)
  • Limping or dragging limbs
  • Difficulty walking, jumping, or using the litter box
  • Wobbly, uncoordinated movements
  • Reluctance to move or play
• Complete paralysis
  • Inability to move certain body parts, such as the legs, tail, or head
  • Loss of reflexes or lack of pain response in the paralyzed areas
  • Voice change or loss of purring (which can suggest laryngeal paralysis)
• Other potential signs
  • Changes in how your cat breathes (difficulty breathing, panting)
  • Unusual vocalizations or changes in meow
  • Difficulty eating or drinking
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control

Tip: If you have noticed that one or both of your cat's hind limbs are extremely weak or paralyzed, touch the paw of the affected limb, and if it is very cold, a blood clot or saddle thrombus is likely. Please see your veterinarian immediately.

How your veterinarian will diagnose paralysis or paresis in your cat

If your cat is showing signs of weakness or paralysis, your veterinarian will take the following steps to understand the cause of the paralysis.

Let me help walk you through what to expect.

First, we take a detailed medical history. This allows us to understand your cat's overall health and any previous medical conditions that may have contributed to their current situation.

Next, we will perform a physical examination. We'll pay close attention to your cat's movement, reflexes, and responses to stimuli. They may gently manipulate the affected limbs or areas to assess pain responses.

The purpose of the detailed physical exam and neurological assessment is to try and localize where the problem is. Lesion localization helps us focus on specific areas that may be the culprit of your cat's symptoms.

Depending on your cat's symptoms and the suspected cause, we might recommend:

• Bloodwork: To check for underlying health conditions, infections, or evidence of inflammatory processes.
• X-rays: To look for injuries to the spine or other bones.
• MRI or CT Scan: Depending on the symptoms and possible causes, we may refer to a veterinary neurologist to get detailed images of the brain, spinal cord, and surrounding tissues.

Treatment options for paresis and paralysis in cats

When we start talking about treatments, it is incredibly important to mention that treatment depends entirely on the underlying cause of the problem. There is no single cure that works for all cases.

Here are some possibilities of what we may discuss with cat owners, depending on the diagnosis:

• Surgery: Surgery might be necessary to repair injuries to the spine or nerves, remove tumours, or address certain spinal conditions. In cases of laryngeal paralysis, a surgical procedure can be performed to tie back part of the larynx, improving airflow.
• Medications:
  • Antibiotics to treat infections.
  • Anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling and pain.
  • Pain medications to ensure your cat's comfort.
  • Medications to manage underlying conditions like diabetes or metabolic imbalances.
  • Medications to prevent tick infestations.
• Physical therapy: This can be helpful for cats recovering from surgery, or injuries, or those with long-term weakness. Physical therapy helps regain strength, coordination, and range of motion.
• Supportive care: While your cat is undergoing treatment, supportive care is essential. This includes ensuring proper nutrition, comfortable bedding, help with moving around (if needed), and assistance with urination and defecation in severe paralysis cases.

Realistic expectations

The outcome of treatment for paresis or paralysis varies greatly. Some cats recover fully, while others might be left with permanent disabilities. Early diagnosis and treatment may lead to a better prognosis, but unfortunately, it's not guaranteed.

FAQs

Paresis or paralysis in cats are always signs of a serious underlying issue. Whether your cat is dragging its back legs, struggling to walk normally, or seems unusually weak, you need to seek immediate veterinary attention. Early diagnosis and treatment often lead to the best possible outcomes for your cat.

I hope this article was helpful and if you have any questions, please contact your veterinarian.