My cat is swaying, falling, and losing balance. What's wrong?

Beast could be suffering from a metabolic disease like diabetes that can affect balance and neurologic function, for example. I recommend a full workup if this behavior continues, including blood work and potentially radiographs to look for signs of metabolic or neurologic disease, infection, or arthritis.

Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Spookie! I think that Spookie should have a Vet exam. I would have her tested (or re-tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Other causes of loosing balance or walking drunk is Vestibular disease. This is when the center of balance is off. The most common form is peripheral vestibular: issues in the ear (infection) or a nasopharyngeal polyp. Central or brain causes can be from a tumor, metabolic conditions (liver or kidney disease), bacterial causes like toxoplasmosis or something viral like Feline Infectious Peritonitis. The best place to start for a diagnosis is with your Vet examining Spookie. I hope this helps and I wish Spookie a speedy recovery!

Hi. It would be helpful to know how old she is, what your veterinarian has already done. I would be concerned about either a back issue such as a disc, neuropathy possibly caused by diabetes, or someother type of neurologic issue affecting the back legs. I would recommend you ask your veterinarian for a referral to a neurologist. They would be able to imaging of the area to look more closely. I would also recommend a full blood panel to check internal functions and for diabetes. Good luck

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! The loss of balance can be caused by ear infections, tumors, or toxin ingestion. In very rare occasions, antibiotics can cause neurologic damage and this may be an indication of this. These episodes may also be seizures. I recommend having your cat examined by a veterinarian who can perform a neurological exam to see what is causing these episodes. You should try to take photos or a video when this happens to help your vet make a diagnosis. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! These are general signs that can be seen with a lot of conditions. It could be due to a neurologic condition or perhaps an orthopedic condition causing some kind of pain or discomfort. If this continues, I recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to start with a good physical examination and possibly diagnostics to get to the bottom of this so that therapy if any can be started. Have a great day!

Poor Zoey! Unfortunately, the video will not load on the Boop by Petco forum, but I can get a sense for her abnormal gait from your description and the pictures. My first concern would be that Zoey may have cerebellar hypoplasia, but meningitis, toxoplasmosis, congenital lysosomal storage diseases, FIP, FIV, FeLV or spinal cord lesions are all possible. If it has not yet been done, ask your vet about performing a blood test for FIV and FeLV (feline leukemia). Otherwise, hopefully they are able to obtain further insight from a veterinary neurologist or internal medicine specialist. I hope that all goes well!

Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco to address your concerns. I am sorry to hear that Patches is not feeling well. With these symptoms, it is possible she is dealing with something neurological, a heart condition, systemic disease, etc. It would be best to have her examined by a veterinarian and have her blood tested to help determine what the cause may be. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. The sooner she is seen the better. Please let me know if you have any further questions. I am also available via phone or text consultation if needed.

The next steep would be a test for toxoplasmosis and an x-ray of the head. She could still have an inner ear infection. Unfortunately should als suffer from a brain tumor. You may want to get a referral to a veterinary neurologist..

This wobbly gait is called ataxia. It can be caused by trauma, neurological disorders, endocrine imbalances, nutritional deficiency or infection. Sister should be examined by your veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury. Bloodwork (CBC, chemistry/thyroid panels, urinalysis) and x-rays may be indicated after a physical exam.

Thank you for using Boop by Petco! I’m sorry that Shadow isn’t feeling well! The signs you describe are definitely concerning, as they can mean Shadow has a neurological disease, herniated vertebral disc, or toxin ingestion. I recommend having her seen by a vet immediately, as with some of the conditions above, the prognosis decreases dramatically the longer the signs continue. Your vet can take x-rays and perform bloodwork to determine the cause and begin the appropriate treatment. I hope all is well with Shadow!