New Disease Turning Cats Into Living Robots in U.K.

By Kelli Bender Apr 20th 2012

As scientists work to advance robotic technology, several cat owners in the United Kingdom are finding that their felines are turning into living robots. According to Catster, at least 21 cats in Northern Scotland are being affected by a new disease that leaves them with a progressively stiff tail and walk.

In this video from Sage Publications, a cat affected by the bizarre disease has vets concerned and confused.

RELATED: Cat behavior questions answered.

So far these felines with a rigid gait have only appeared in the United Kingdom. The illness is not fatal for the cats, but does progress and worsen over time. Some owners shared that their felines' quality of life became so poor that they decided to put down their beloved pets.

See More Scottish Folds:


The only similarity professionals can find between all the affected cats is that each feline is an indoor cat from a rural area that probably offers good mouse and bird hunting. This has led some vets to believe that the disease is transmitted through prey.

RELATED: See furry highlights from the PawNation Pet Rally.

Vets also think that the disease may be an infection of the central nervous system and have been able to rule out many viruses that affect the brain, but have yet to find one that could be damaging the cats. Otherwise, doctors are at a loss on how to treat or prevent the illness.

The onset of the the disease appears to be the same in each cat. The signature stiff tail and awkward walk doesn't appear until the cat is in adulthood and then progresses slowly. Researchers worry that there are hundreds of felines affected by this disease that have not been diagnosed because they have passed away or haven't been taken into an animal hospital.

RELATED: Play the Who's Cutest game now!

For now, all researchers and vets can do is continue to study the illness and hopefully find the cause and cure for these unfortunately affected cats.