RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Walking is an indispensable daily locomotion and requires highly organized and dynamic body balance which is maintained by visual, vestibular and proprioceptive system. This study was designed to measure the forefoot position and walking speed in normal cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five normal cats were selected and trained to walk over a platform (188 cm long, 65 cm wide) of different upward and downward slope up to 15 degrees in a natural way. When a cat walks, the magnetic field generated from AC generators of two different frequencies through a coil in a cat's shoes was changed. The induced current of detecting coils under the platform was repeatedly measured. The sensitivity (minimal distance required to be separated in a different position) was 5 mm in the right and left axis, 10 mm in anterior and posterior axis. RESULTS: The mean crossing time over platform was 1.9+/-0.3 seconds. Mean walking speed was 648.2+/-76.5 mm/sec without significant differences between individuals or degrees of slope. The range of mean deviation was in between 4.4+/-48.8 mm to the right and 5.6+/-42.8 mm to the left with a different slope. There was a significant difference between 0 degree and upward 10, 15 degrees and downward 5, 15 degrees of slope but no difference between individuals. Walking distance in right-left and anterior-posterior axis were 53.1+/-10.3 and 213.1+/-79.4 mm, respectively, without a significant difference between individuals or degrees of slope. There was no change of foot position in standing 30 degrees upward or 30 dgrees downward. CONCLUSION: These results could be a baseline data for both normal and pathologic cat walking and this precise method will be also useful in clinical settings.