We have a ten year old Siamese male cat that we adopted last year from
a family with three children.  Although we don't know his history
thoroughly, he was adopted by a single woman before us and then she
decided against keeping him.  When we got him he was so timid and
fearful that he virtually lived in the basement.  Eventually, he
warmed to us, after about six months.  At the time, we also had a
17-year-old female Persian cat, who would not accept the Siamese into
her domain.  The Siamese then suddenly fell ill to a type of
pancreatitis that eventually, thankfully, cleared up on it's own. 
Then, my female Persian died and the Siamese went into a state of what
I can only call deep shock.  He now lives under our bed, coming out
only to use the toilet or eat.  Now, my husband I have have noticed a
disturbing "fishtailing" to his walk, as if his hindquarters are not
strong enough to keep up with the rest of him. The vet claims that
there isn't anything wrong, although when the vet pinched the cat's
tail, the cat didn't respond.  It's been a rollercoaster ride taking
care of this very morbidly sensitive and enigmatic kitty.  Does someone
have any background on Siamese cats and could explain what might be
going on?

We, too, had an elderly Siamese cat, Leela, who began to walk
strangely, sometimes lurching around oddly. It looked for all the
world as if her hindquarters were attached by a trailer-hitch to the
rest of her body, and the load was shifting. Our vet suggested that
chiropractic treatment might help, but we couldn't find a single
veterinary chiropractor in northeastern Oklahoma. California, I
suspect, is different. Have you considered consulting a vet who has
chiropractic expertise?

Hi, Pink,

Somehow I knew we'd meet again.  Well, mmmm, yeah.  We do live in
California, but I think that even here an animal chiropractor would
raise eyebrows. ;o)  And, I'm sure, very sure, that my vet would know
of an animal chiropractor.  What ever happened to Leela?  Kenji isn't
elderly (he's ten), but do Siamese age more quickly than other Siamese
cats?  Are they just plain ol' weird animals?  He's really like the
unwanted redhaired stepchild, except that my husband feels very
responsible for him and there seems to be very little that works of
whatever we try.

I think "plain ol' weird animals" is a great description of Siamese
cats, except that most of them would be quite irate at being called
"plain." :-D

My beloved Leela died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage at the age of
seventeen. But she had been weird for most of her adult life, so I
doubt that the impending stroke was an explanation for the "loose
caboose" problem.

Most folks who've had Siamese cats can tell some stories about the
eccentricities of the breed. They do have a reputation for being wacko
-- and also for being highly intelligent, very vocal, and intensely
loving. Maybe all those things go together? My husband has all those
qualities, bless his soul, and he isn't a Siamese cat.

My cat's ( Albert ) mother was 1/2 Siamese.

He has many of the traits that Siamese cats have. 
He is VERY vocal and *talks* back to me at every opportunity.
He is very, very intelligent and walks on a leash, comes when called
and acts more like a little dog than a cat.
He also has  very unusual colouring. Underneath his dark grey exterior
coat, he is white. Best way to describe it is an inside out zebra ;)

Steph53

I was thinking that maybe ol' Kenji just stroked out.  Could Leela
have possibly had minor strokes as well before the big one hit her? 
Yes, I agree, Siamese are affection hogs.  When Kenji was able to
socialize with us, before Freeway (my Persian), he would often melt
right into whomever was petting him.  It was a little on the sybaritic
side, like he may have been a Babylonian male prostitute in former
life.  ;o)  Well, I suppose we'll just have to chalk it up to weird.

The other hitch is that we have a two-month-old male Persian who is a
real social butterfly.  So far, Kenji hasn't shown any interest, but
maybe the little fellow will make him feel better eventually.

steph,
Kenji was actually quite vocal while Freeway, our 19-year-old Persian
was still alive.  He wanted desperately to make friends with her and
she continuously rebuffed him until the day she passed away.  He would
walk up to her and nudge her on the muzzle with his muzzle and she
would whack him with her little paw.  She was used to having her own
queendom and wouldn't tolerate this interloper.  I "like" Kenji, but
he doesn't feel like mine.  In fact, in line with what you said about
Siamese being like dogs, my husband would probably agree with you,
which is why he is closer to Kenji than I am.

So, now, our dilemma is that Kenji is not talking at all and is in
self-imposed exile from the rest of us.  He was traumatized (as were
we all) when Freeway succumbed to kidney failure and from that day has
just been "sulking" (my husband says, sulking - I tend to think he is
morbidly depressed).  However, the loopy hindquarters started before
Freeway died.  Kenji and I are not good friends, let's put it that
way, because I always deeply cared about my little Persian and her
desire for her own space; but I still feel sorry for the creature and
his abberant behavior.

purrshian...

It sounds like your cat is in total depression for whatever reasons
seem plausable to him...

Sorry to not be able to help more....

Mabe I'll ask my Albert....and get back tp you tomorrow.........

Steph53

Let's face it, he bonds with your husband, but not with you

From my extensive research on Siamese cats, I do reckon that they like
males more than females - partly because a guy will 'talk' back at
them.

The 'fishtail' or weak back legs stuff is not a good omen.

It sounds to me like 'K' time
- introduce a robust kitten and perhaps your /un-named/ Siamese will
get territorial - or possibly avuncular

BTW a cat's behaviour at the vet is indicative of nothing other that
he/she knows about vets, hates them, and goes into a fugue.

frde,

Before we adopted Kenji from his former family, he had a strong
relationship with the human adult female in the household.  There was
also another kitten/cat in the family who was Kenji's best friend,
and, unfortunately, that little one died.  Right after his death, it
was my understanding that Kenji went into deep mourning which took him
close to a year to recover from (if he actually did at all).  As I
said, when he came into our household he was deeply fearful and
troubled, but eventually warmed up to us.  When Freeway died, he
nose-dived again.

My husband doesn't understand how a cat can be so psychologically
tormented, but I think that as animals they may not be any different
than a sensitive human child.  We're doing what we can to give him
extra TLC and attention especially now that we have our new kitty,
Niko.

Even though the vet said that he sees nothing wrong with Kenji, other
than the fact that Kenji doesn't have strong reflexes, I think it
would be wise to look for a cat specialist.  Kenji's left leg has
become slightly wizened which leads me to believe that he may have
experienced something similar to a stroke.

And, the jury is out on the relationship on whether Kenji and Niko
will become buddies or just avoid each other.  Niko shows defensive
posturing when Kenji is around (arching his back) and Kenji will hiss
at him.  I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.  But, I would love
to know if Kenji's hindquarter ailment is typical in Siamese or if it
is typical that Siamese have a tendency toward cerebral hemmorhages
(typical of the breed, for example).

Something makes me suspect that Kenji has been used to being one of
two or more cats - probably not the dominant one.

I agree about animal's inteligence - they can sometimes be astonishing.

The withered leg sounds very suspicious, it might be an idea to find a
website or even beter a forum devoted to Siamese cats.

I'm glad to hear that you have got a kitten, I expect they will settle
down once they establish the pecking order.

frde,
I will definitely make a point to search for a forum dedicated to Siamese cats.  

And, you may be right about the pecking order and Kenji's relationship
to it - he does have submissive behavior even around a 2-month-old
kitty.  Granted, the little guy shoots around like a heat-seeking
missile, but he's as big as my hand!  Oh, well.  Cats!