by Thom W. Conroy

Created on: October 27, 2009

Of all the animals found in nature cats are easily among the most agile, and a cat owner can be present for an entire lifetime of a cat without every seeing it come up lame. There are instances, however, when even a cat can become a victim of lameness either temporarily or permanently attributable to a number of causes. While the majority of causes of lameness in cats is short in duration and severity, there are illnesses and diseases that can affect a cat's gait for the remainder of it's life, even with excellent professional intervention.

The most common causes of lameness in cats are due to minor and temporary issues such as a foreign object lodged into a cat's paw. This can be easily remedied at home by a cat's owner gently examining the affected paw and removing the object. An insect bite with or without a stinger embedded in a cat's paw can be tough to spot, but can have a debilitating effect on how a cat walks. Lameness in cats can also be caused by a simple sprained tendon, muscle or ligament that is the result of a jump from a good height or landing awkwardly. Most of these causes of lameness will pass within a week or so with rest and an occasional massage from the cat's owner.

More serious causes of lameness in cats can be due to neurological disorders caused by a brain or spinal cord issue such as an injured spinal disc or vertebrae. Spinal issues can also be associated with nerve damage which will cause difficulty and pain when a cat walks. Tumors or calcium deposits on a cat's bone can cause a fracture, either minor or major in severity, and make a cat limp considerably. Older cats are frequently struck with arthritis affecting more than one joint or leg, making their gait wobble with each step. Minor strokes can occur as well in older cats that may go unrecognized by their owner but result in lameness.

Any instance in which a cat becomes lame for more than a few days should be addressed by a veterinarian. They are numerous tests that can be administered by a professional that can pinpoint the cause of the lameness, and in many instances a positive outcome for your cat is quite possible with proper treatment. Options in treatments range from the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and rest for minor cases of lameness, to surgery in those more severe in nature. In any circumstance, lameness is associative with pain and should be treated immediately to ensure a good quality of life for the cat.

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