The Adult Cat's Spine - Facts and Alternative Medicine

I am an ailurophile or cat lover and am fascinated with the cat's extreme flexibly and dexterity. Admiring the cat's ability to arch and elongate its back. Feline vertebrae are held together by muscles. Human vertebrae are joined with ligaments - one reason we are less supple in comparison to felines. Cats have cushioning disks between their vertebrae. These factors give a cat's spine agility, elasticity (to change direction suddenly) and the ability to usually (and hopefully) land on all fours.

A cat's spine, like all mammals, has 7 neck (cervical) vertebrae - the felines only spinal curvature. They have 13 mid-back (thoracic) vertebrae that provide axial support and bear the ribs. Cats have 7 lower back (lumbar) vertebrae and 3 sacral bones that form one bone (sacrum). The sacrum connects to the feline's tail, which has 21-23 caudal bones.

Cat tails often let you know if they are annoyed by whooshing back and forth. Tails straight up are indicative of a happy domestic cat. More fun facts - cats show they trust you by rolling on their back. Depending on personal preference of the feline, you may rub their belly. Wild cats hold their tails horizontal or between their legs.

The cat's spine protects the nerves that form the spinal cord. The feline spinal cord acts to coordinate movement, muscular activity, and reflexes. There are many feline spinal cord diseases and alternative medicines for treating cat's spinal cord problems.

Common feline spinal cord diseases include: those secondary to trauma, vertebral column neoplasia, lymphosarcoma (LSA) and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in cats under two.

There are many alternative medicines for treating feline spinal cord diseases or problems.

Acupuncture has been used for over 3,500 years in China to treat an array of disorders.

Chiropractic or spinal manipulation could help if your cat experiences spinal cord trauma, arthritis, painful joints, neck pain, muscle spasms, or pain. Veterinarian David W. Ramey's article notes, "No scientific evidence that any animal ailment is amenable to spinal manipulation." The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) provides a list of DVM's that have completed chiropractic training.

Nutritional therapy focuses on a proper diet and natural supplements for a healthy immune system and to help arthritis that could be affecting your feline's spinal cord.

Herbal (botanical) medicine should only be practiced by a qualified holistic or botanical veterinarian and may help bone, joint pain and feline spinal cord problems.

Sources:
UW-L, Zoo Lab: A Website for Animal Biology, Cat Skeleton
CatHealth.com, Cat Health Topics: Complementary and Alternative Medicine