Feline Cauda Equina Syndrome Study Guide

Overview and Clinical Importance

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) refers to the clinical signs resulting from compression or damage to the bundle of nerve roots (the cauda equina) located caudal to the termination of the spinal cord. In cats, the spinal cord terminates at approximately the L7 vertebral level, which is more caudal than in dogs. The cauda equina consists of the L7, S1-S3, and caudal (Cd1-Cd5) nerve roots that travel through the lumbosacral vertebral canal before exiting through their respective intervertebral foramina.

While cauda equina syndrome is relatively rare in cats compared to dogs, it represents an important differential diagnosis for cats presenting with hindlimb weakness, lumbosacral pain, urinary or fecal incontinence, and tail dysfunction. The condition may result from degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS), trauma, neoplasia, discospondylitis, or congenital malformations such as those seen in Manx cats.

Anatomy of the Feline Lumbosacral Region

Vertebral Column

The feline vertebral column consists of seven cervical (C1-C7), thirteen thoracic (T1-T13), seven lumbar (L1-L7), three fused sacral (S1-S3), and a variable number of coccygeal vertebrae. The lumbosacral junction (L7-S1) is a critical anatomical landmark where degenerative changes most commonly occur. Unlike dogs, the feline vertebral bodies are more rectangular and elongated, with thinner, more tapered spinous processes.