15yo cat walking oddly

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

My 15yo female Stimpy has started to walk with her back legs bent it reminds me of how a German shepherd walks IYKWIM

I am wondering why she would be doing this. She dosnt appear to have pain and she can stand up right and their is no limp. Is this a normal thing for such an old cat or what could be going on?

[phatchristy]

She could be in pain, honestly sometimes you can't tell. Cats hide pain so well! I had a cat once that had a broken tooth and abscess (which did wind up getting pulled) and I had no clue other than the drool.

I've never had anything like that with a cat, but I'd worry about back/arthritis/slipped disc issues.

[dylan1984]

I would be thinking either a tendon issue where, if memory serves (haven't worked at the vet clinic now for about 7 months) I think the tendons can get stretched or something and it will cause that "hock" area to drop? Terrible description and may not be too accurate but the gist is possible tendon issue, or I might be thinking something neurologic, but it sounds like balance and mentation are fine so maybe not. Also agree with the PP that there may be some pain she is just hiding really well - cats are genius at hiding pain, so that could be pain in the lumbar spine or hips or something. I'd recommend a consult with the vet just to rule out anything serious.

[SophieAnn]

I would recommend a vet consult as well. The vet might be able to easily diagnose, or might frankly say that it would take some really expensive tests to diagnose (at which point you might decide not to do the tests).

We had something similar.

My cat (who stayed with my parents when I went away to school/moved out) had some problems with her back legs too around that age (14 or so). It started with some stiffness/weakness in the back legs. She was falling over while trying to use her litterbox. It got to the point where she could hardly walk.

The vet was honest, and said she didn't know what it was, and that it would likely take some very expensive tests to diagnose, and then it might not help anyway (suggested it might be neurological). It might be something incurable, or it might be something that the treatment would be prohibitively expensive.

The vet suggested she be put down, but my mom wasn't ready to do that. Through this all Mom set up the cat's bed, food and litterbox all in one room (the kitchen) and kept a close watch over her (stay-at-home-mom). When Mittens could hardly walk and was falling over in her litterbox, Mom would help her in and out and hold her up so she could use the bathroom.

After a couple weeks (no treatment, just love & support), she made an excellent recovery and was able to walk again and no longer needed support to stand in her litterbox. She lived for another year in good geriatric health.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Thank you all for the thoughts I was thinking much along the same lines but wasnt aware that cats hide pain well

She is a very vocal cat and loves to talk so I assumed she would let me know if something was wrong.

She was rolling around on the floor last night playing with a rubber band her favorite toy she will even play fetch with one.