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-   -   Cat has a hard time walking (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=213575)

  • May 7, 2008, 01:03 PM
    turtlegirl16
    Cat has a hard time walking
    Last year my cat got hurt and we didn't take her to the vet because we had plans that day. We have hardwood flooring and she doesint do to well. My mom thinks her claws should be trimmed but I think different. Every time she gets to the hardwood parts of my home she slips and slides and her body kind of twists. It doesint seem to hurt her but I am really worried. My biggest fear of taking her to the vet is that she would be put down. She is the only cat I have left and my dad won't let me get another. He thinks its some sort pf kitty Lukemia and that is pretty scary to think about that as an option. Don't tell me there is no such thing as kitty Lukemia because we had another cat have it. What do you think of it?:(
  • May 7, 2008, 01:37 PM
    N0help4u
    How does she walk on other floors?
    Why does your dad think it is leukemia are there other symptoms?
    Some animals just have a hard time walking on hardwood floors
    I know my mothers miniature pomeranian's slide all over them.
  • May 8, 2008, 04:10 PM
    turtlegirl16
    She does fine on carpet most of the time. She can't get up on the counter anymore, we have to pick her up to get up and down... what does that mean?
  • May 8, 2008, 07:24 PM
    froggy7
    Has the cat been to the vet at all since the accident? It sounds to me like she is either dealing with a badly healed broken bone or possibly a soft tissue injury. But I'll be frank... it sounds like your cat is suffering. She should have been to a vet long before this, and they will be able to advise you on how to take care of the problem. The bad thing is that the time delay may have made a relatively easy fix much harder, if not impossible. (Especially if it's a broken bone that has healed misaligned, in which case the treatment would involve rebreaking the bone.)
  • May 9, 2008, 12:10 PM
    turtlegirl16
    But doesint that hurt? It does not seem to hurt her. My mom is scared that we will be charged with animal abuse. And if that happens, I will never have another pet until I move out... and that is a long time from now... I am only fifteen.
  • May 9, 2008, 12:12 PM
    turtlegirl16
    And I don't think she broke a bone because she didn't act like any body part hurt her at all.
  • May 9, 2008, 08:04 PM
    bushg
    Turtlegirl, cats normally hide their pain. In the wild if they show pain they will end up as another animals dinner so just because she doesn't show it does not mean that she is not hurting.
    Please get your cat some treatment. Believe me the vets do not want to take your cat away they have enough to deal with.
  • May 13, 2008, 01:16 PM
    turtlegirl16
    I am not worried about the vets taking her away I am worried that they will call animal control and they will take her away. And she has showed piain to me before, why would that change now?
  • May 13, 2008, 02:58 PM
    bushg
    Turtlegirl, if they see you are getting help for your cat everything should be fine. Regardless, don't you love her enough to do what is right for her?
  • May 19, 2008, 12:24 PM
    turtlegirl16
    This happened over... a... year ago. But what is right anymore? I do love her but I don't want her to be youthenized.
  • May 19, 2008, 01:00 PM
    bushg
    Turtlegirl Wha is "right " is to not watch your cat suffer, to put aside your fears or wants and to do what she needs to have done.
  • May 20, 2008, 01:21 PM
    HSK
    I have never heard of a cat being taken away from an owner and put down unless it had rabies, and was not properly confined when the house was inspected by authorities. Your vet may suggest that putting the animal down is in its best interest, but only you or your parents can make that decision. Pleas take your cat to the vet to see what the problem might be. It could be something very simple to fix. If you cat does indeed have FIV or FeLV, you vet can't just put her down, and with no other cats in your home there is no worry of infecting other animals. Both diseases are deadly, but cats can live several years with the disease. Both can be treated with certain medications to prolong the cats life to the fullest. Please do not be afraid to take your cat to the vet for a check up.
  • May 20, 2008, 01:34 PM
    wildandblue
    There wouldn't be any pain in a bone that broke that long ago, it would have healed badly and possibly be limiting mobility. I'm thinking it's in her hip joint seems to be wobbly and could be arthritic in nature. She wouldn't have constant pain only occaisional stiffness. This kind of wobbly gait in a young animal could even be mad cow. She is a very compassionate young lady that cares about her pet and her responsibility even when the adults in charge are letting her down. That's a poor example for her. This is your cat and you are a young girl. Later in life you will be responsible for a lot more, like the health of your own children. Always do what is right and you have nothing to worry about. Take her to vet and explain the situation, even explain that you can't pay. They will work something out for you.
  • May 20, 2008, 08:55 PM
    carolbcac
    You don't mention the cat's age. As they get older many cats develop a low potassium level for some reason. This can cause the cat to walk "flatfooted" on the hind feet rather than up on her toes. Low potassium also causes weakness. (I must have been a cat in a former life, my doctor can't keep my potassium level normal.) When it is low, I feel like a wet dishrag.
    Go to the vet, you have already imagined all sorts of horrible diseases, and it may be something that can be easily managed. Worst case scenario, the cat has something serious and you have the peace of mind knowing you did everything you could to help her.
  • May 22, 2008, 10:05 PM
    morgaine300
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by bushg
    turtlegirl Wha is "right " is to not watch your cat suffer, to put aside your fears or wants and to do what she needs to have done.

    With all the more information we have available (i.e. a lot of guessing on original poster's part and no real facts), this is not really a judgment you can make to say what is "right" in this case.
  • May 23, 2008, 05:43 AM
    bushg
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by morgaine300
    With all the more information we have available (i.e. a lot of guessing on original poster's part and no real facts), this is not really a judgment you can make to say what is "right" in this case.



    M. I don't see why I shouldn't make this judgement. She plainly states that the cat hasn't been to the vet in over 1 year even though they suspect many things that could be wrong with her. She also stated that the cat can not get up or down by herself, to me that suggest a real health problem.

    Turtlegirl I believe your cat needs to be seen by a vet. I know when you last posted on the 19th that you still had not taken her, but I hope you have or will soon.
  • May 23, 2008, 10:29 PM
    morgaine300
    bushg, I may have misunderstood what you were saying by doing "the right thing." From your reply to me, I see you may have just meant that the "right thing" would be to take her to the vet, regardless of her fears of the possible consequences. And I totally agree with you there. Usually when someone says "the right thing" they are meaning PTS, and that is what we cannot judge without knowing what is actually going on here, i.e. without that vet trip to find out what the heck the problem is.
  • Jun 5, 2008, 08:58 AM
    turtlegirl16
    Comment on HSK's post
    She got trapped under the garage door... I don't think it's a disease but thanks for your opinion:)
  • Jun 5, 2008, 09:04 AM
    turtlegirl16
    Thank you all for the advice;)
  • Jun 6, 2008, 03:30 AM
    pompano
    I recently adopted a cat that has a luxating hip,and he has all the same issues you see in your cat.He was neutered and the vet pushed the hip back into place,and gave him a strong injection for pain and infection.Unfortunately this only lasted a few weeks,so now we are doing pain management in hopes that the joint may eventually heal as he matures.He takes medrol,which is a anti-inflamatory that is safe for a cat on an as needed basis.I will not put this cat down,because he is happy and I feel he is part of the family just as you feel about your cat.You are in control of how your vet handles your cats issues,and more than likely she just needs some pain relief for the days she has trouble with her injury.You can read up on the effects of dealing with pain and injuries on a cat and weigh your options after the vet checks her leg.

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