Our little domestic felines are generally the kings of balance! It is therefore always surprising and worrying to see a cat that falls easily, staggers, or even runs in circles... This phenomenon has a name: ataxia. Generally caused by damage to the nervous system, this disorder should not be taken lightly.
Indeed, in addition to the significant deterioration in the quality of life that it causes for the cat, it can be the symptom of an even more serious problem. Discover cat ataxia and the explanations for certain related loss of balance.
What is ataxia in cats?
Ataxia is a disorder of the coordination of voluntary movements. It manifests itself by an abnormal or unsteady gait, and loss of balance which can lead to a fall.
It is not a disease strictly speaking, but a syndrome, that is to say a series of symptoms that can correspond to several distinct diseases. Most of the time, ataxia is due to a neurological problem: depending on the case, it is located in the brain or the spinal cord.
Inner ear damage can also cause ataxia. Depending on the cause of the disorder, the evolution is more or less favorable. Some ataxias may disappear spontaneously within a few days, or be resolved by the administration of veterinary drugs. Others require major surgical interventions, or prove irreversible.
The origins and different types of ataxia in cats
There are three types of ataxia in cats, depending on the part of the nervous system that is causing the disorder:
- vestibular ataxia, which is due to a dysfunction of the vestibular system;
- spinal cord ataxia, which is caused by an injury to the spinal cord;
- cerebellar ataxia, which is caused by damage to the cerebellum.
Vestibular ataxia
The vestibular system is made up of a series of organs that help maintain balance. Its main constituents are the inner ear, and the vestibular nucleus located in the brainstem.
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We speak of peripheral vestibular ataxia when the problem is located in the inner ear. This is the part of the ear located behind the eardrum and ossicles. The inner ear participates in the functioning of hearing, but also plays a major role in maintaining balance.
Indeed, it coordinates the movements of the eyes and those of the head, and informs the brain about the position of the body in space. Damage to the inner ear therefore leads to an imbalance. Indeed, the brain no longer receives coherent information, and can no longer correctly regulate body posture.
Idiopathic ataxia is a specific form of peripheral vestibular ataxia. It occurs when the inner ear stops functioning, without any of its components being damaged.
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When the vestibular nucleus is affected, we are faced with central vestibular ataxia. In this case, the inner ear sends accurate information to the brain, but the vestibular nucleus does not process it correctly. It is this defect in the processing of information that creates the imbalance in the cat.
Bone marrow ataxia
Spinal cord ataxia originates from an injury to the spinal cord. In order to regulate body posture, the brain must receive precise information transmitted by nerves. This information allows it to know the position of the limbs, and the shape of the ground on which the cat walks.
In return, the brain sends signals to the muscles to constantly correct posture. This communication between the nerves and the brain necessarily passes through the spinal cord. When this is damaged, information no longer circulates correctly. The brain therefore no longer receives reliable data, and the muscles are no longer adequately controlled.
Walking is affected, and the cat has leg weakness. Spinal cord ataxia is also called proprioceptive ataxia. Indeed, it affects proprioception, that is to say the perception of the position of the body.
Cerebellar ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia is alnost caused by damage to the cerebellum. This part of the brain plays a crucial role in the synchronization and coordination of movements. When it is damaged, whether by trauma, a tumor or an infection, it ceases to properly perform its function. This results in a constant state of imbalance, whether the animal is moving or stationary.
The causes of this balance disorder in cats
As the forms of ataxia are numerous, their causes are just as numerous! Accident, stroke, infection… Multiple factors can lead to deterioration of the inner ear, brain or spinal cord.
Idiopathic ataxia
Idiopathic ataxia occurs suddenly. The inner ear suddenly stops fulfilling its function, for no apparent reason. In this case, treatment aims only to relieve the symptoms, while waiting for the inner ear to restart. The evolution is positive in the majority of cases, and the cat's condition generally begins to improve within three days.
Trauma
The nervous system can be damaged during a fall, a collision with a vehicle, or a confrontation with another animal. If the lesion is located at the level of the vertebrae, it will cause spinal cord ataxia. In the most severe cases, the hindquarters can be paralyzed. If it is the brain that is damaged, this will cause cerebellar ataxia. Significant paw injury can also cause proprioceptive ataxia.
Stroke
A stroke happens when blood flow stops to part of the brain. This causes more or less serious damage to the affected area. Various disorders can result, including neurological problems leading to a lack of coordination of the cat's movements.
Infections
Various infections can attack the cat's nervous system, whether viral, bacterial, or even parasitic. These include feline infectious peritonitis, FIV, leukosis, toxoplasmosis, and rabies. Many of these infections are fortunately preventable. To do this, simply vaccinate your cat and carry out boosters, and deworm it two to four times a year.
An ear infection can cause temporary vestibular ataxia. If poorly treated, damage to the inner ear can unfortunately be irreversible.
Tumors and polyps
Tumors or polyps can develop in both the brain and spinal cord, causing ataxia. Depending on the location, only the hind legs are affected, or the entire body is affected.
Metabolic disorders
Dysfunction of certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, can lead to brain damage. These can result in spinal cord ataxia.
Poisoning
Our little felines are very curious! Unfortunately, it happens that their instinct to explore brings them into contact with toxic products. Among these substances, insecticides are particularly likely to cause neurological problems, including proprioceptive ataxia. This is the case, among others, of permethrin, used in dogs as an anti-flea treatment. Certain plants that are toxic to cats can also cause neurological disorders.
Congenital diseases
Some kittens are unfortunately affected by central axonopathy, a nerve disease that causes weakness and lack of coordination in the hind legs. This disease particularly affects the Sacred of Burma.
Symptoms to tell if my cat has ataxia
Ataxia is a syndrome of loss of balance. Depending on the organ affected, this can result in different symptoms, of which here is a non-exhaustive list. If you observe some of these symptoms in your cat, it is strongly recommended to consult a veterinarian quickly:
- abnormal gait, with steps that are too short or too long;
- unsteady gait, cat staggering as if drunk;
- hindquarters imbalance;
- clumsy jumps;
- pressing on the tops of the fingers when walking, dragging the paws;
- loss of balance, frequent falls;
- cat that turns in circles, and falls on its side;
- weakness of legs;
- fear of moving, limitation of movement;
- head tilted to one side;
- tremors;
- nystagmus (saccadic, uncontrolled eye movements);
- vomiting;
- signs of general discomfort: stress, unwanted meows, etc.
How to tell the difference between a cat with ataxia and a clumsy cat?
Most cats are particularly lively and dexterous. They move with ease, climb well and jump perfectly. However, sometimes cats behave clumsily and fall more often than their peers. This is particularly the case with kittens, and in certain individuals it can persist into adulthood.
But, when faced with a cat that falls, how do you know if it suffers from ataxia, or if it is just clumsy? Only an animal health expert can make a reliable diagnosis. However, if your cat's behavior does not change, and the frequency of falls does not increase, there is no reason to worry.
On the other hand, if we notice a negative evolution of the situation, with more frequent falls or the appearance of other symptoms, it may be ataxia. In any case, it is better to consult a veterinarian if you have the slightest doubt.
How to diagnose this cat balance disorder?
The causes of ataxia can be very diverse, and the symptoms are varied. The diagnosis is therefore not always easy. In order to determine the cause of the problem, the veterinarian first relies on observation of the animal.
Certain behaviors are in fact specific to a particular form of ataxia. It also questions the cat's master, who is then a valuable ally. Indeed, it can often precisely describe the chronology of the appearance of symptoms, and report a possible accident, or potential poisoning... The ideal remains to take a video of your cat and its strange behavior, in order to share it with the veterinarian.
Based on these elements, the practitioner is generally able to construct a first draft of the diagnosis. Indeed, depending on the symptoms, it can determine which organ is affected: the inner ear, the brain, the spinal cord, etc. To refine his diagnosis, the veterinarian then uses different examinations:
- blood tests to detect viral or bacterial infection, or metabolic imbalance;
- x-ray, MRI or CT scan to locate a tumor, a vertebrae problem, etc. ;
- collection of cerebrospinal fluid;
- sampling by puncture from a tumor…
How to treat ataxia in cats?
The treatment of ataxia is carried out on two levels. It aims on the one hand to reduce the symptoms, and on the other hand to treat the cat's illness or the disorder causing the problem. In the event of severe dizziness, anti-emetic medications may be prescribed to prevent the animal from becoming dehydrated.
Depending on the cause of the ataxia, the treatments are very different. Faced with an infectious origin, the veterinarian may prescribe medical treatment: antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, etc. If the origin of the disorder is a tumor or a polyp, an operation will be considered.
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Malignant brain tumors are rarely operable: in this case, it is necessary to resort to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In all cases, the sooner treatment is started, the more positive the outcome will be.
How to help a cat cope better with ataxia?
Cat ataxia is not always reversible. In some cases, the animal unfortunately has to learn to live with this disorder. The affection of his master and appropriate measures can help him.
Adapt the environment
Adapting the environment of a disabled cat can greatly improve its quality of life. The objective is twofold: to guarantee maximum autonomy for the animal, while preventing it from getting injured. It is of course particularly important to limit the risk of falling for a cat who falls easily. But you must also ensure that it has easy access to his bowl, his litter box, and comfortable places to nap, sheltered from other animals.
Help him move
When the ataxic cat is seriously affected, it may have difficulty moving on its own. Different devices exist that help maintain a minimum of mobility. If the hind limbs are particularly affected, it may be interesting to equip the animal with a rolling cart for disabled cats. This supports the hindquarters, and leaves the upper limbs free so that the cat can move around.
Re-educate him
Under certain conditions, the ataxic cat can learn to partially compensate for its disorder. This is particularly the case when it is already present in the kitten. Stimulating him with games that force him to move will allow him to gradually tame his disorder, and learn to live with it without suffering too much from it.