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Original poster

Sudden confusion and disorientation in my cat

28 replies

PurpleSky300 · 11/09/2022 16:46

So, I have an older cat who used to live with my neighbour and was passed on to me about six years ago - I'm guessing she's around 10 years old.

She was absolutely fine until Thursday night and then seemed suddenly disorientated - stumbling into things, putting her feet in her water bowl accidentally, seeming lost etc. She stopped using her litter tray and started walking round and round for hours. She doesn't seem to be able to lift her head up / look up, and is sleeping with her neck at a strange angle.

We took her for an emergency appointment at the vet and haven't got very far. Initial bloods ok, eyes looking ok, they gave her IV fluids for slight dehydration and told us to watch and wait for a few days. We're going back on Tuesday for scans of her brain.

Does anyone know what this sounds like? Google is throwing up all sorts, from vestibular disease to feline dementia, but I've never seen these symptoms in a cat. Any advice would be great.

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 11/09/2022 16:50

Aww my cat was like this, he was 18 years old though, he had had a brain event sadly, he was PTS. I hope things end better for your cat, 10 is young. Good luck OP Flowers

SirVixofVixHall · 11/09/2022 16:52

Could be vestibular. I assume they checked for poisons ? Could be a stroke. I hope she is ok OP.

eggandonion · 11/09/2022 16:54

It sounds very like vestibular disease in dogs, our ddog needed a week of rest before starting to recover. I hope your cat gets well soon.

amylou8 · 11/09/2022 16:58

My first thought was a stroke or brain event. I hope she's ok ❤️

Original poster
PurpleSky300 · 14/09/2022 21:21

So, I thought I'd update with a bit of good news!

The vet doesn't think it is a stroke or brain event, and there are no problems with the kidneys. We haven't nailed down an exact cause for the confusion yet but there are a few little things that have been picked up in the course of the investigations - a bit of wax build-up in the ears and some hearing loss / an abscess on the tail from a cat bite / and apparently the cat is a bit overweight.

After 3 days of antibiotics, some painkillers for the abscess and a 'cone of shame', moggy is doing much much better - still pacing around the house and a bit "out of it" but toileting normally again and looking much more alert, and eating well. We've got a check-up again in a week.

We also found out that... she's a he. Which was a shock. 😂

Sudden confusion and disorientation in my cat
OP posts:
eggandonion · 14/09/2022 23:03

Poor pussy, I hope s/he continues to stay perky! Is a name change needed?😀

KnickerlessParsons · 14/09/2022 23:05

We also found out that... she's a he. Which was a shock. 😂

You've had the cat 6 years and never raised it was a male cat?? 😮🤨

Roselilly36 · 15/09/2022 06:30

So pleased to read your update, absolutely gorgeous cat btw.

PotatoHammock · 15/09/2022 06:34

Lol, ginger cats are always Toms 🤣🤣

Glad he's feeling better. My money would have been on poison, possibly from a poisoned rodent. Sometimes kittens find and chew blister packs of human medication, but I don't imagine an older cat would do that.

Original poster
PurpleSky300 · 15/09/2022 16:48

KnickerlessParsons · 14/09/2022 23:05

We also found out that... she's a he. Which was a shock. 😂

You've had the cat 6 years and never raised it was a male cat?? 😮🤨

Neighbour told us the cat was female and we never questioned it. He must be neutered and has long fur so I never saw a need to inspect, haha. We also have 3 other cats, all females, who he gets along with really well - and I guess I thought they might reject a male? I thought he was one of the girls. 😂

OP posts:
eggandonion · 15/09/2022 17:57

Is he still feeling better, ginger cats are lovely.

SirVixofVixHall · 15/09/2022 18:08

True Gingers are always male I think, and tortoiseshells are female.

Roselilly36 · 15/09/2022 18:32

PotatoHammock · 15/09/2022 06:34

Lol, ginger cats are always Toms 🤣🤣

Glad he's feeling better. My money would have been on poison, possibly from a poisoned rodent. Sometimes kittens find and chew blister packs of human medication, but I don't imagine an older cat would do that.

Not always, I had a ginger female cat when I was growing up, and owned a ginger female, who was such an intelligent cat. I love ❤️ ginger cats.

Original poster
PurpleSky300 · 20/09/2022 20:14

So, we're back to the vet tomorrow. I am expecting more tests and hoping for answers, he's not right. Toileting inconsistently - sometimes just scrapes the litter and walks away. Circling endlessly around furniture, for hours. He only stops circling when he is eating or sleeping. Sometimes I pick him up and try to settle him for a nap on his cushion, but he soon starts circling again.

It's been nearly 2 weeks now. He has started to become hostile to my other cats, he acts like he has never seen them before. Sometimes he just sits pawing at the wall. It's upsetting to see, he's not in any distress but it's like the lights have gone out upstairs.

OP posts:
Original poster
PurpleSky300 · 20/09/2022 20:17

He can't jump or walk up stairs either. It must be balance related, surely.

OP posts:
eggandonion · 20/09/2022 21:50

I don't know if cats are the same as dogs...they are so nimble and sure footed. With vestibular issues our dog was confused, couldn't focus, and fell over. He had anti nausea medicine, it seemed like he was walking around on a boat with high waves.
I hope you get some answers tomorrow, it's really upsetting seeing them unwell.

Roselilly36 · 21/09/2022 05:54

Sorry to hear you cat still isn’t right, I get what you mean with the circling, that was exactly what my cat did, had to go outside with him as he didn’t seem to remember how to get back home, very distressing to see. Good luck today OP keeping everything crossed for you.

Original poster
PurpleSky300 · 21/09/2022 21:57

Thanks everyone. I came home feeling frustrated and not sure what to do for the best.

In essence, the vet does not think there is anything particularly untoward about the cat, in light of normal bloodwork / urinalysis and an absence of serious symptoms like seizures, blindness or paralysis.

I mentioned the circling, not using the toilet, staring at the wall, not jumping etc, but he had an answer for everything. "A level of pacing is normal. If the cat is not walking in complete circles but sometimes changing direction, it won't be neurological."

"Older cats can be prone to arthritis and can lose the ability to jump"

"Cats can become lethargic when they are bored or tired."

I don't know what to do. The vet thinks that moggy does not meet the treatment threshold for more invasive tests such as an MRI, and even if we insisted, told me to consider what the outcome would be. If an MRI found brain damage, a brain tumour or other serious problem, there would be little they could do except provide pain relief or PTS. If the MRI found nothing, I would have spent huge sums of money for very little. Mog is covered by pet insurance but I have to pay 25% excess due to his age. I don't know whether to insist on more tests, or watch and wait. Back again in a week, as before. What would you do?

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 22/09/2022 05:05

Difficult one isn’t it OP, could seeing a different vet for their opinion, be an option?

You mentioned your cats behaviour had changed towards the your other cats, has that improved?

Does your cat show signs of nystagmus? (Eyes wobbling, shaky)

Has anything else changed, have you moved house recently or any other change (new pet) that may have caused the cat stress or anxiety?

How do you feel your cats quality of life is at the moment?

So many things to consider.

Keeping everything crossed for you and your cat.

Good luck OP, a week is a long time to wait, when you are worried Flowers

eggandonion · 22/09/2022 14:10

Poor puss. I hope things improve over the next few days.
There's a vet near me - Im not in the UK -who specialises in cats. That would be useful for a second opinion.
Im starting to think about dropping the insurance for my dog, who is not as young as he used to be! And just save the money somewhere.

Original poster
PurpleSky300 · 30/10/2022 13:15

A very upsetting update - my little friend has died.

He was eventually discharged from the vet and did improve for 3-4 weeks, became less confused and was walking better, though he wasn't quite the same. He was slower and his back legs weren't great.

We just looked after him at home but he started hiding in different places, he was eating less, seeming very tired, sleeping a lot. Yesterday I was struggling to wake him - he was laying in a strange position with his neck at an angle, was not alert, not interested in food. We went back to the vet who said it was just part of a natural dying process, the heart was slowing, he was turning colder. He looked at moggy's teeth and said he was older than we thought, likely to be 15+. Things were ending naturally but we chose to PTS to avoid distress. I am just heartbroken.

Sudden confusion and disorientation in my cat
Sudden confusion and disorientation in my cat
OP posts:
eggandonion · 30/10/2022 15:52

He was a lovely, cuddly looking lad. I think there is a moment when you know what to do to help, but it doesn't make the goodbye any easier. Look after yourselves, its so hard.

RightOnTheEdge · 30/10/2022 15:59

Aw what a beautiful boy! So sorry for your loss OP.

ooohaaaahjustalittlebit · 30/10/2022 15:59

What a beautiful boy. So sorry for your loss. Rest In Peace dear pusscat 💗

FlowerArranger · 30/10/2022 15:59

So sorry to hear that your lovely boy has gone - but you know that you did everything for him that you possibly could and he had a good life with you 💐