Weakness in Hind Legs

Question
Hi Jessica, I have a 13 yr. old male Siamese (indoor), and just recently he started dragging his hind legs.  He's in good health otherwise, on Science c/d diet and is pampered.  He can still jump onto the windowsill, and eats/drinks OK. What do you think can be the problem?  Thank you, Susan

Answer
Hi Susan.  One common reason for hind leg weakness is diabetes.  Longterm high blood glucose can cause diabetic neuropathy - damage to the nerve endings in the legs.  This causes a certain degree of paralysis in the hind legs in cats.  Some cats will completely recover if diagnosed and treated early enough, but sometimes the damage can't be repaired.  Also, since little glucose is making it into the cells where it's needed for energy, the cat quickly becomes exhausted from walking.  So a cat with diabetes may walk on his hocks, or take just a few steps and then lie down for a rest.  As it happens, male Siamese may be more at risk for diabetes than other cats, and the disease is very common.  I have three diabetic cats myself!

A blood clot can also be responsible for dragging the hind legs.  A common place for them to become logged is in the arteries that supply blood to the hind legs.  Without sufficient oxygen, the legs go limp.  They may also feel cold to the touch, and the paw pads may be pale or gray in color (this may be difficult to tell with a Siamese).

I also had a cat who occasionally dragged his legs because of luxating patellas - kneecaps that slipped out of place.  This happened only once in a while, and when the kneecaps slipped back into place on their own, he was fine.  But he was a young cat, and should this be the case with an older cat, I'm not sure the ligaments would be as resilient.  

It would be the best idea to start with a vet visit, especially since some possibilities could be so serious.