My cat has had a stroke

babyemily

My cat has had a stroke vet has given him some anti inflammatory injection but does anyone know what improvement i should be seeing and how quickly? I am terrified I am going to lose him

walwin

Im so sorry. I can't give any practical advice, but just wanted to know I'm sending very best wishes to pusscat and to you.

rising_from_the_ashes

Oh, so sorry to hear this too. I've no experience of this so can't help either but keeping everything crossed your furr-ball recovers (((hugs)))

Tulip

Sorry to hear about your cat.

ItchyFeet

Sorry to hear about your kitty.

The only thing i can suggest is ringing your vet's and have a chat. Perhaps give the emergency vet a ring now if you're really worried. They won't mind explaining it to you fully, i'm sure.

vyvyan_2

The vet will have lots of experience and practical advice for you.

I knew someone who's cat lived for many years after a stroke and had along and happy life without suffering. For obvious reasons he remained an indoor cat though as he would have too vulnerable outside.

It's the suffering and quality of life factor that you need to think about.

All the best. As a cat lover and owner of many, I feel for you.

Vx

babyemily

Just thought I would share the past few days with you all in case it ever crops up again. When my cat had his stroke he was fitting, walking around in circles and he was completely deaf and blind. The following morning he was still walking round in circles but hearing and sight have returned. We dont know how much has returned though. He had an app at the vets that evening who gave him another injection of anti-inflammatories and also prescribed metacam to keep him from becoming distressed. Its now 4 days since his stroke. He has managed to have a wee but not a pooh, he has stopped walking in circles and tries to walk straighter now but he keeps falling over. The vet today is pleased with him, he is improving just very slowly and thats fine. He is in a very small crate which is in a pen. This is nessecary to keep him secure and he is happier in there. He is sleeping probably 23 hours out of 24 and this is fine too. Nobody knows what will happen, he could have another stroke tomorrow and that would be that. He could never improve and then obviously I will have to make the right choice for him OR he will keep on getting a tiny bit better everyday which is what we want. He will never be the same but as long as hes happy and relativley mobile then thats good enough for us
Thank you all for your kind wishes x

ItchyFeet

Thanks for the update babyemily. I really hope he keeps improving!

babyemily

In the end my poor cat had 4 strokes and each time I thought that was it. He was very very poorly and I did ask the vets to put him to sleep but the vet said not to give up just yet so we didnt. He is now fine or as fine as he will ever be. He is mobile but does veer to the left constantly because of his headtilt. He lost some sight and hearing. He is not interested in going out at all and loves to have snuggles. He cannot eat dryfood anymore which he thinks is brilliant and all in all hes made a good recovery. He has also been diagnosed with Vestibular Syndrome.

I really must add that if your cats ever have earmites then please treat them as earmites can cause stroke like symptoms.

Just in case anyone ever has the same problem there is light at the end of the tunnel

fluffnutter

I guess it depends on age, but when my old cat had a stroke at 21, the vet thought it was kindest to put him down. He was very distressed, kept making an odd howling noise (that I'd never heard before), was walking round in circles and getting stuck in the corners of rooms. Sometimes it's better to let them go

puddy

mine had a stroke and she did recover, she was prescribed tablets for the rest of her life which were impossible to get her to take and really i didnt persevere. a year to the day she then had another stroke and she didnt survive. i keep blaming myself that i couldnt get the tabs inside her but i dont know how much it would have helped. awful to see her when she was ill, the yowling and walking round in circles, in the end her lungs gave out. the first time she lost her sight but recovered it the next day.