Worried about my cat:(

tiamaria

Hi, I don't know what's wrong with her:(

She's having trouble walking, very slow, painfully, falling towards the right side. She's shaky and obviously uncomfortable.

Took her to the vet who has no idea really? Gave her a painkilling injection and some liquid painkiller for her to eat with food at home, only thing is she hasn't eaten or drank all day. Hasn't been to the toilet at all. She's sat listlessly behind the sofa all day, not moving.

Vet said bring her back Monday if no better but I'm a bit concerned with her not drinking or anything. How long can a cat go on without water?

She's about 12-13 yrs old. A similar episode happened to a lesser degree a few months ago and all tests came back negative.

bluebeary

maybe take your cat to another vet, if my vet had no idea really, i wouldnt be confident in them and certainly would not be paying them

tiamaria

You have a point there - she did say an MRI scan would find the problem but it's 2k which we can't afford.

Mice_Elf

She sounds a bit like she's had a mini-stroke? I've had rabbits who've had these & they list to one side & just aren't interested in anything. Not sure if cats can have them as well. Will she lick any water from your fingers?

I would ring the vets (even a different one) again, she sounds like she's suffering...

juliebunny

Yes agree with poster above, could be a stroke.

My sisters cat had one (we think) and amazed us all by recovering really well within 48 hours. The vet didn't actually say she didnt know what it was, as bluntly as your vet, but she pretty much said that was what she would think had happened.

Cant remember what treatment she gave him but I think he mainly just rested up. He was an old boy but lived for about another year.

juliebunny

tiamaria wrote: »

You have a point there - she did say an MRI scan would find the problem but it's 2k which we can't afford.

Or more accurately - it MAY find the problem - or may not!! If you don't have pet insurance, I would think this would be a last resort at such a price.

Tiddlywinks

bluebeary wrote: »

maybe take your cat to another vet, if my vet had no idea really, i wouldnt be confident in them and certainly would not be paying them

I'd go to another vet and ask for a second opinion - if an animal is not drinking then that is worrying (and dangerous). The vet should not have suggested going so long without another check-up. Not eating is usually OK for a couple of days but not drinking as well needs attention.

An old cat of mine had a stroke and she had wobbly back legs for a couple of days and her face looked different - can't really describe it but I looked at her and knew from her face that something had changed.

Then again, another of my old girls had muscle wasting in her back legs and she fell to one side sometimes... there are so many things it could be... I'm so sorry to hear that you are going through this; it's worrying when you don't know what to do isn't it?

RuthnJasper

Despite being a dog-owner, TiaMaria - I am SO sorry for you and your beloved pet. I suspect that the posters who suggested a stroke might be correct. If there was a trickle of blood from her mouth and nose, then I'd have suggested that she could have been struck by a car, but what you have posted does point towards a stroke.

A second opinion is always worthwhile - is there another vet within the same practice who could look at your feline friend?

If your cat has had a stroke, she might be drooping at the right side of her eyes and mouth and possibly dribbling a bit from that corner of her mouth.

If it IS a stroke, it doesn't necessarily mean the end for your cat - I know of some pets and LOTS of humans who have had strokes (some very severe) and continued to have a long and worthwhile life.

Will your cat allow you to look into her mouth? If so, you could check that she hasn't got a badly-rotten tooth or abcess on her right gum or throat-passage. That might make swallowing food or water very painful and dizziness/stumbling may have resulted from a while without nourishment or liquid.

Whatever the case - I do hope that all turns out for the best, for you AND the cat. How lucky she is, to have such a loving, caring, human friend like you.

Best wishes. xxx

tiamaria

A stroke seemed the most obvious but her the vet said no as her eyes are fine.

She's just been outside, went to the toilet(think she may have diarrhoea, but of course, she's unwell), she's come back in, when she walks (which is as little as she has to)she props herself against things to keep her upright, sofa etc.

It's definitely her back end giving her trouble.

Still won't eat or drink:(

rising_from_the_ashes

So sorry to hear your wee one's unwell - sometimes it would be so handy if they could talk!

Re getting her to drink - do you have a syringe at all? You could try getting some water into her using this.

tiamaria

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

So sorry to hear your wee one's unwell - sometimes it would be so handy if they could talk!

Re getting her to drink - do you have a syringe at all? You could try getting some water into her using this.

Hi, yes I've tried this with the syringe that came with her meds(which I can't give her as they go with food), she won't drink - maybe I'll have to be more forceful:(