Can cats throw thier backs out?

Question
I have a 20 year old cat who sleeps on the top of the couch cushion (where a persons back would touch if sitting normally). Any how she was in a very deep sleep and started to slip off the top cushion on to the bottom cushion. I caught her on her back half way down and her body naturally wanted to flip over on her feet but she was still in my arms. When I placed her on her feet she fell on her side and kept doing this for about a minute...she was also still waking up and still seemed disoriented from her deep sleep, like she didn't even know that she fell. Then she sat up and walked slowly into the bedroom and sat in one spot for about 15-20 minutes. She seems ok but I'm worried she might of thrown her back out or something. I don't understand why she kept falling on her side after she first fell. Do you think she is hurt? Should I take her to the vet? She is moving slowly but she always does because of her age. I don't know what to do. Help!

Answer
Cari,

At 20 years old your kitty's roughly equivalent to a 96 year old human being. Given that fact she may be stiffer than usual due to arthritis or general aging. I think that it would be a good idea to have this kitty checked over by a vet just to make sure that she hasn't had a stroke, broken ribs or some other serious problem come up. I can't really offer judgement about whether or not your cat is hurt, I'm not a vet and even if I was I can't see your cat. I would say that it's far better to visit the vet and be told that everything is fine than to wait and see and have something go seriously wrong, especially given the age of your cat.