Paresis in the cat: what to know about this condition in the feline


Paresis in cats, a serious condition in which our furry pet may find himself as a result of a neurological problem. Let’s try to understand what can happen to the animal and how to intervene to help it.

As strong and resistant as it may seem to us, capable of reacting to any physical impact or accident, the feline is a delicate animal like any other. In his life, the cat can also suffer from neurological diseases that can generate dangerous consequences on the motor functions of their furry cat. Let’s see, together, what is paresis in cats and how this condition is characterized, together with advice on how to act.


Paresis in cats: what is it and what are the symptoms

Paresis in cats is a different condition from paralysis, as it varies the severity of the disorder in the animal. Let’s read more about what it is here in the article.

Sometimes, our furry pet can find himself in situations of serious neurological diseases or have the misfortune of experiencing accidents that can upset his habits. Kitten can be affected by a problem that is the result of a neurological disease, such as paresis. But what is paresis compared to paralysis?

These two conditions are not similar in the animal. Paralysis, or plegia, is the total loss of motor ability, which consists in the complete absence of movement in the limbs and when its legs appear motionless. The paresis, however, indicates the partial loss of voluntary motor function in the feline. The stage of paralysis, in fact, is much more severe. Two types of paresis can be distinguished.

There is walking paresis, in which the cat is still able to walk and stand on all fours; The paresis not ambulatory, where the hairy must be supported and helped to be able to walk and even stand up. All this based on the location and severity of your disease.

Paresis or paralysis can affect all four limbs of the feline, the forelimbs, the hind limbs or only one limb. As we have said, depending on the severity, weakness spreads in the animal and some symptoms appear, such as:

  • Uncoordinated movements
  • Decrease in muscle tension
  • Increased muscle tension
  • Loss of muscle tone in the cat
  • Intestinal disorders
  • Incontinence in cats
  • Pollakiuria in cats

The feline and paresis: diagnosis and treatment

A cat with paresis therefore suffers from a deficit in basic movements and suffers from it for the smallest step. Let’s see how to behave in this difficult situation for kitten.

If general weakness and movement difficulties occur in the cat, together with physical pain, immediate intervention by the trusted veterinarian is necessary, so that a complete check-up of the animal can be carried out.

When there are various symptoms caused by injuries to the nervous system, such as very short strides, difficulty in sustaining exercises, breathlessness, hypometry, tremorsconstant need to lie down, until the cat is seen limping, there could be serious damage to the nerve roots, caused by the presence of a neurological pathology.

The doctor who will take care of him will need his entire medical history. The feline will undergo a series of checks: urine tests, complete blood count, biochemical profile. In addition, the cat will be tested for some infectious diseases, such as feline leukemia (FeLV) in cats.

The doctor may also decide to do an MRI and X-rays of the feline’s spine, which can be helpful in detecting fractures, inflammation in the cat, and brain tumor in the cat. Regarding the care of the hairy, its treatment depends on the cause of the problem that will come to light.

Kitty can be hospitalized if trauma is the cause. Physiotherapy at home is very important, for its fast recovery, in prevention of other muscle damage. You can choose to have it treated at home or by a veterinary physiotherapist. He will be the one to provide the details on how to manage the feline during the recovery process and his health.


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