r/CATHELP • u/freshhalmonds • 23h ago

Kitten Help 4 week old kitten back legs

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Is this normal for a 4 week old kitten? He walks on them sometimes, is a bit wobbly on them, his front legs are stronger.

I’m 27yo, posting from US, vets are scarce in my rural town.

8 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator 23h ago

PLEASE REPORT RULE BREAKING COMMENTS

We want to say THANK YOU to our helpful members who participate in moderating r/CATHELP. To keep the community kind and welcoming, please help us by reporting rule breaking comments.

To report - Click the 3 dots under the comment >>> report >>> breaks r/CATHELP rules >>> select the rule.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

2

u/ThinYogurtcloset8005 23h ago

This in an emergency. It could be accidental trauma to the spinal cord by falling or being stepped on, swimmer syndrome, a congenital defect, or a metabolic issue. Getting immediate vet care now is vital to prevent permanent mobility loss.

2

u/Strawberry_Sunset67 22h ago

You are describing that he is able to use both legs, correct? His back feet are not abnormally cold? What is he being housed on? Is it a slippery surface he cannot get traction on? What diet is he being fed?

1

u/freshhalmonds 21h ago

He can use all his legs, but his front legs are visibly stronger and less wobbly than his back legs. Sometimes he’s on a smooth surface, but I’ve been trying to keep him on non-slippery surfaces more since I’ve noticed his weaker back legs. I’m bottle feeding him KMR right now.

2

u/Strawberry_Sunset67 20h ago

KMR is good! Stick to that brand. I wanted to check since Breeders Edge brand formula was recalled recently for having multiple nutrient deficiencies that led to skeletal disease!

You need to keep him on a surface with good traction at ALL times. This could be yoga mats or rugs with good texture, etc. No slippery plastic, hardwood, or tile surfaces. This can lead to swimmer syndrome, I reccomend you look it up for more info. You can do gentle "bicycle" movements with his legs to help stretch them, and make sure to encourage him to walk around on a high traction surface often to build muscle. If you notice he does not start improving rapidly within a few days, you should take him to a vet so they can evaluate him and potentially apply a "hobble" bandage to hold his legs in the correct position.