Paralysis in Cats: Common Causes and How To Help Your Pet

Paralysis in cats is a loss of motor control of part of the body, typically the legs.  

Paralysis can be frightening for pet parents to witness, but some cats can regain movement with quick diagnosis and treatment of the underlying problem. 

What Is Paralysis in Cats?

Paralysis in cats is a loss of voluntary movement, usually affecting the back end. Paralysis can affect one, two, or all four legs.  

A cat's brain sends electrical signals through the spinal cord and nerves to the muscles, telling them to contract, causing movement. Paralysis is caused by the interruption of these electrical signals somewhere along the pathway. 

Veterinarians also use the term "paresis" to describe partial paralysis, where a cat can still move but is weak or uncoordinated. Full paralysis means a cat can’t move the affected area at all. Paralyzed areas may also lose feeling. 

Types of Paralysis in Cats  

Different types of paralysis can affect cats, including: 

• Paraplegia: Paralysis of the back legs 

• Tetraplegia: Paralysis of all four legs 

• Monoplegia: Paralysis of one leg 

• Hemiplegia: Paralysis of both legs on the same side 

New paralysis or weakness in cats is always a medical emergency and calls for immediate veterinary care.  

Symptoms of Paralysis in Cats

Depending on the type of paralysis or paresis a cat has, symptoms of paralysis in cats may include: 

• Dragging one or more legs 

• Walking with a wobbly, uncoordinated gait 

• Falling over or being unable to stand up 

• Loss of bowel or bladder control 

• Inability to move or lift the tail 

• Back, neck, or leg pain 

• Muscle loss 

• Cold toes in the affected limbs 

Causes of Paralysis in Cats

Several conditions can cause paralysis in cats. The most common causes include: 

• Trauma: Cats can have spinal cord injury from falls, car accidents, or attacks by other animals.  

• Blood clot: Cats with heart disease can get a blood clot that gets stuck in the blood vessels supplying the back legs. This is often called a saddle thrombus. 

• Infections: Infections such as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), toxoplasmosis, and cryptococcosis can cause inflammation and swelling of the spinal cord, leading to weakness or paralysis. 

• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD): Although less common in cats than in dogs, unhealthy spinal discs can press on the spinal cord and cause weakness, pain, or paralysis.  

• Cancer: Lymphosarcoma is the most common tumor affecting the feline spinal cord.  

• Fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE): FCE develops when a piece of disc material blocks a blood vessel in the spinal cord. The condition is rarely diagnosed in cats.  

Young cats are more likely to have trauma-related injuries and infections, while older cats are at higher risk for disc disease and blood clots. 

How Veterinarians Diagnose Paralysis in Cats

Your veterinarian may recommend specific tests to figure out the cause of your cat’s paralysis, or they may refer you to a local emergency department or specialty hospital with advanced imaging and neurologists on staff.  

Tests that may be used to diagnose paralysis in cats include: 

• Complete physical and neurological exam 

• Blood work and urinalysis 

• Infectious disease testing 

• X-rays of the spine and chest 

• MRI or CT scan 

• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis 

• Heart and/or abdominal ultrasound 

At the vet visit, tell the veterinary team when you first noticed symptoms; whether they came on suddenly or gradually; and whether your cat has had any recent falls, has a chronic condition, or takes any medications. 

Treatment of Paralysis in Cats

Treatment of paralysis in cats depends on the cause.  

Some forms of paralysis are curable, while others are not. Permanently paralyzed cats need very specialized care. 

Possible treatments include: 

• Surgery to repair traumatic injuries or damaged discs 

• Pain management, such as gabapentin 

• Anti-clotting medications 

• Heart medications 

• Supportive care and hospitalization 

• Anti-inflammatory medications 

• Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation 

Cats who can’t empty their bladder may need a urinary catheter, or the pet parent can learn to manually empty the bladder by gently pressing it (bladder expression). 

Recovery and Management of Paralysis in Cats

Paralysis in cats needs to be treated within hours to ensure the best outcome.  

Cats who undergo treatments such as surgery can begin to regain movement within a few days, with full recovery in several weeks to months.  

However, whether cats will recover from spinal cord damage depends on the severity of the injury. Cats recovering from blood clots may not regain leg function and may also get more clots.  

Some pet parents may choose hospice care or euthanasia for paralyzed cats who have pain or a poor quality of life. 

Pet parents can improve their cat’s chances of recovery, help keep their paralyzed cat comfortable, and reduce the chances of secondary complications (such as pressure sores or bladder infections) by: 

• Doing vet-prescribed gentle exercises, like range-of-motion stretching and massage 

• Keeping the cat in a small, safe area using a pen or gate, like the MidWest Foldable Dog and Cat Pen, to prevent further injury 

• Placing food and water within easy reach, to encourage eating and drinking 

• Keeping bedding clean and dry by using disposable or washable pads, such as Green Lifestyle Reusable Cat and Dog Pee Pads, and changing them often 

• Repositioning the cat often to prevent sores 

• Learning how to express the bladder 

Some cats with permanent paralysis adapt to using a mobility cart or cat wheelchair, or they may learn to get around using their unaffected limbs.  

Because paralysis can affect quality of life, it’s very important to check in with your vet often.  

Prevention of Paralysis in Cats

You can lower the risk of your cat becoming paralyzed by: 

• Keeping them indoors to reduce the risk of accidents 

• Staying up to date on routine vaccinations and parasite prevention 

• Scheduling regular veterinary checkups to watch for chronic diseases that may cause blood clotting 

• Feeding a complete and balanced diet to prevent nutritional deficiencies