Cat mobility concerns

Acromegaly in cats is a disease caused by a growth hormone-secreting tumor of the pituitary gland. Excessive growth hormone affects the entire body, causing abnormal growth of the internal organs (organomegaly), and sometimes the bones of the face and feet.

Limb fractures are common in cats and typically occur when a bone breaks after an injury such as car accidents, falling from heights, or other blunt force trauma. Fractures can also result from weakening of the bone from conditions such as bone infection or tumors.

Septic arthritis is rare in cats and is described as joint inflammation triggered by infection. Septic arthritis occurs when a joint becomes infected by a bite or puncture wound. Rarely, infection spreads through the bloodstream and infects multiple joints.

Weakness describes a lack of power and energy available to the body. In cats, evidence of weakness includes fatigue after activity, difficulty executing athletic movements, asymmetry in the position of the body, difficulty rising, muscle shaking, and difficulty holding up the head.

Patellar luxation is a condition that affects the kneecap, causing it to dislocate either towards the inside or outside of the leg. In cats, this disorder is usually hereditary and develops gradually with age.

Hip dysplasia in cats describes abnormal development of the hip joint, resulting in excessive movement of the joint within its socket. Hip dysplasia is a lifelong, degenerative condition, where excessive movement of the joint gradually wears away bone and cartilage in the affected joint.

Feline Aortic Thromboembolism (FATE) is a life-threatening condition in which a blood clot lodges in the saddle: the final section of the aorta that provides blood to the hindlimbs of the cat. The cause of FATE is most commonly heart disease, and in rarer cases cancer or other causes.

Feline osteosarcoma (OSA) is a type of cancer that arises from uncontrolled growth of bone cells. OSA is the most common type of bone cancer in cats. The underlying cause of OSA is unknown, but previous trauma, bone infection, or radiation are thought to be possible contributing factors.

Elbow dysplasia in cats is a group of abnormalities that affect the elbow joints of the front limbs. In cats, elbow dysplasia is very rare but can lead to lameness and drastically affect quality of life.

Facial paralysis in cats is a disorder of the cranial nerve that controls the muscles of the face. Possible causes include injury, ear infection, nerve inflammation, and tumors.

Trigeminal neuropathy is a disorder of the cranial nerve that controls the jaw muscles. It is extremely rare in cats. The underlying cause is not yet understood.

Masticatory myositis is a condition of unknown origin where the muscles needed to chew become inflamed, making it painful to open the mouth or eat food. It is so rare in cats that there is no clear consensus among the veterinary community as to whether it is a feline condition at all.

Unexplained weight gain is an accumulation of excess body fat with a normal or decreased food intake. This is uncommon in cats.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where the joint cartilage is destroyed over time.

Joint swelling in cats is the enlargement of one or more joints.

Limited mobility (LM) in cats presents as a reduction in movement or agility. Cats with LM struggle with actions or behavior that were previously considered normal.

Joint pain in cats is soreness localized to the articulated parts of the limbs.

Ataxia means “difficulty walking”. An ataxic cat has difficulty controlling the movements of the head, legs, or torso.

Limping, or lameness, is any disruption of bodily function that affects a cat’s ability to walk, run or jump normally.

Muscle tremors are involuntary movement of the muscular tissue, often appearing similar to shivering or trembling. This symptom is not common in cats.

Exercise intolerance is defined as the decreased ability to tolerate strenuous exercise. Cats with exercise intolerance want to get up and play or run, but aren’t able to keep up without having difficulty.

Collapse is the inability to maintain a normal, standing posture, and is a rare symptom in cats. Cat owners may see their cat suddenly fall or intentionally lie down, then be unable to stand up.

Muscle swelling can be defined as any abnormal increase in size of muscle tissue.

Tick paralysis is primarily a disease of Australian cats with only rare occurrences reported in North American

Lethargy can be defined as having decreased energy and lowered levels of activity. It is a difficult symptom to identify in a cat, since cats typically are not highly active animals

There are many causes that can lead to broken bones in our feline friends, but the most common of them all are falls from major heights and accidents involving cars for cats who live outdoors.