My cat is walking strangely, a bit like a duck

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Evening everyone, my cat is walking in a really odd way; she’s swaying her hips and turning her paws inwards, with her legs slightly spread... it’s hard to explain, but I found a video where a cat is doing the exact same thing... https://youtu.be/wAVjNUZabsY?t=5

Does anyone else’s cat do this? I’ve tried to find some information on it but I can’t find anything at all...

Translated from French
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3 answers
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  • Gemini01
    Gemini01 Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, you could ask your vet to check if there’s a heart or circulatory issue (like heart failure). Sometimes it’s the only visible sign. In my pet’s case, she’d always walked a bit strangely, with a bit of a sway to her hips, as if she was walking on eggshells. No one ever mentioned anything to me either, but then one day she had a thromboembolism—where small blood clots build up in the heart. It’s fatal in most cases, and even for those that survive, the prognosis is usually very poor. It might not be that at all, but it's definitely worth looking into further just to be sure.
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    Angie_fr Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, have you had any more information since then about your cat’s unusual gait? Mine has the same issue with his back legs. He’s had it ever since we adopted him. The vet told us it might just be because he’s still growing, but I’ve got a feeling there’s something more to it.
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    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there,

    This could be a sign of a neurological issue with the spine or other nerves that control the legs. Your cat might have moved the wrong way or had a bit of a bad landing. It could also be congenital if he’s been like this since birth.

    Alternatively, it might be a joint problem causing him pain or making his legs go out of alignment.

    I think the best thing to do would be to see your vet. They’ll be able to point you towards the right tests to figure out what’s going on, or they might just tell you that it’s his natural gait.

    Kind regards,

    Doriane

    Translated from French
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