My cat's rear legs and muscles are wasting away

Hi, we have a feral 10 Yr old tabby cat. Recently she has lost a lot of weight and her rear legs are wobbly. Her muscle is also wasting away. Can't get her to travel so never been to a vet. Any advice please? Thanks

Hello - I often see posts like this.  It can be extremely stressful to take some cats to the vets, both for the owner and the patient.  I can understand owners' reluctance when they (the cats) are old, ill and fed up.  However, I would also argue that cats have a right not to feel chronically painful, weak or sick and weight-loss and a wobbly back end would likely involve at least one of these.   In an ideal world, as I think you are hoping, I would read the symptoms, tell you a treatmemt and you could do it at home.  However, there are two good reasons why even your own vet can't do that.  First, there is quite a range of explanations for these signs and treatment for any one of them is not really appropriate for the others.  Possibities include arthritis combined with liver disease, kidney disease or pancreatitis.  Also, heart disease (weakness to back end d/t inadequate blood pumping), anaemia, Spinal injury or disc degeneration, other neuromuscular disease eg central or originating from the neuromuscular junction.  An examination really would start to narrow the possibilities down and your vet will come up with a differentials (possibilities) list.  Meanwhile, it sounds as though it may be unfair for your cat to carry on as they are - your vet will help to assess their quality of life with you.  They might offer tests or trestments and they might also, if asked, supply a prognoais.  'How likely is it that you will find sonething you can successfully treat' is a good question here, and another good question - sadly but unavoidably relevant in most cases - is 'how much is it likely to cost to investigate / treat' and also, 'considering the likely outcome and stress involved, would you?' I know that I can't answer your question, but hope that something there is useful. Wishing you all the best - please do let me know how you get on.  

Please note, on rereading this I see that I used the word 'cost' so I would like to clarify, that when a cat despises the vets, costs are not always only financial.  Best of luck.