While sudden weakness in your cat could result from either neurological or systemic conditions, these two types of issues arise from completely different causes and have very different Signs. The difference between neurological weakness and systemic weakness can be confusing; however, by paying close attention to how your cat moves and acts, you can develop a better idea of what’s going on.
What Sudden Weakness Means in Cats?
Weakness in cats isn’t a disease itself, it’s an indication that something is disrupting your cat’s body functions. The possible areas affected by weakness in cats are the muscles, the nerve systems, the brain and internal organs. Some types of weakness will develop over time while other types of weakness may develop suddenly. If the weakness develops quickly, you’ll want to observe it closely.
Cats have a tendency to hide their pain. As such, many serious health issues may remain undiagnosed until they reach an advanced stage.
For this reason, veterinarians at a ModernVet often recommend seeking professional assessment whenever weakness appears suddenly, even if the cat seems to recover shortly afterward.
Neurological causes of weakness
These conditions affect your cat’s ability to coordinate her/his self as well as maintain muscle control. Neurological weakness is caused by a problem within the nervous system; this includes the brain, the spinal cord and/or the peripheral nerves.
A cat with a neurological condition may exhibit the following:
- Walking or running in a staggering or uncoordinated manner (ataxia)
- Trying to drag one or all of its limbs along the ground
- A sudden collapse or inability to stand on her/his own legs
- Abnormal head tilts and/or eye movements
- Loss of coordination even when muscle strength appears to be present
It is a hallmark of neurological weakness that the communication between the brain and muscles is disrupted, resulting in a lack of connection between what she/he intends to do and how her/his muscles react. For example, if your cat wants to jump up onto a piece of furniture but miscalculates the height and falls off to the side then she likely has some degree of ataxia. Also, if your cat is walking in circles then this is another indicator that she/he is suffering from a form of CNS disruption.
Some examples of potential causes of neurological weakness include injury, inflammation of various parts of the nervous system, toxins that disrupt the functioning of the nervous system and/or damage to the spinal cord.
Systemic Causes of Weakness
Weaknesses related to systemic conditions are caused by overall health problems of the body and can be due to numerous factors, including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, liver failure, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, anemia and electrolyte imbalances (such as low potassium). In these types of conditions, the muscles have difficulty obtaining adequate amounts of oxygen and nutrients to allow them to contract normally due to reduced oxygen delivery, metabolic disturbances or toxin buildup in the body. The symptoms for cats exhibiting systemic weakness include:
- Lethargy involving all parts of the body
- Difficulty rising to a standing position or reluctance to rise to a standing position
- A lack of strength which may improve slightly when resting, however returns very rapidly
- Pale gums
- Breathing difficulties (e.g., rapid shallow respirations)
- Low level of activity and/or decreased interest in food
The key difference between systemic weakness and neurological weakness is that coordination is normal in systemic cases, although severe metabolic disturbances can sometimes mimic neurological signs.
Key Differences in Real Life Observation
Determining whether a cat’s weakness is due to a neurological problem or a systemic condition can generally be determined through the careful observation of your cat’s behavior. Neurological weakness will generally present itself with:
- Coordination deficits (lack of balance)
- Abnormal postures and head positions
- Tremor and involuntary eye movements
- Asymmetry, such as one side being weaker than the other
Systemic weakness will generally be characterized by:
- Symmetric weakness throughout the body
- Rapid fatigue with movement
- Normal awareness of environment
- Decrease in ability to perform physical tasks over time, rather than a complete inability to use limbs at once.
Overlapping Signs That Can Be Confusing
Sudden weakness in cats can arise due to neurological problems or systemic issues. It is therefore very difficult for pet owners and veterinarians alike to distinguish between these two types of problems when they observe similar symptoms.
Both neurological (brain related) and systemic (organ related) diseases will cause lethargy, lack of interest in food, lessened energy levels, and possibly vomiting or drooling. These are two reasons that all instances of sudden weakness in cats must be treated with immediate seriousness regardless of whether the initial presenting signs seem mild.
Why Sudden Onset Matters?
Another reason that the timing of weakness can provide clues into possible causes includes the time frame within which weakness develops. Acute neurological weaknesses could result from acute exposures to toxins or vascular incidents.
Chronic systemic weaknesses typically represent the progression of chronic disease processes. However, cats do not consistently follow these patterns, and it is for this reason that other clinical signs must be observed, including posture, balance, and level of consciousness.
Conclusion
Distinguishing between neurological and systemic causes of sudden weakness in cats requires close inspection of the mannerisms exhibited by your cat. A general rule of thumb is that most neurological issues will include some form of coordination dysfunction or disorientation along with other forms of unusual behaviors.
Most systemic issues will produce generalized fatigued feelings in addition to a reduction in overall strength. However, cats experiencing systemic issues typically retain their ability to coordinate themselves properly. The ability to recognize patterns associated with the various causes of weakness in cats assists you in better understanding what is occurring.