Old (probably blind) cat "circling"

[nooka]

Our cat has always been rather inclined to pace around quite a bit, but recently he has started almost chasing his tail with the circles he's pacing round and round. His sight has been failing for a while, and we think he really can't see much any more (he often bumps into things). Dh thinks he's just moved to smaller circles so he doesn't bump into things, but I find it quite disturbing. He is about 17 (he came from a rescue centre about six years ago) and no longer in the prime of life (very scrawny, doesn't eat much etc) but I wondered if anyone else had any experience of a circling cat, and what it might mean. I'm a bit worried that if we take him to the vet we won't be bringing him back.

Hi, we have also got a 17 year old cat, who is blind. We took him to the vets last week to make sure it wasnt anything else, and its not, hes ok. Im not too sure about the circling, as it could be a variety of things, including toxoplasmosis. This website should be of some use to you, and it mentions circling on the Toxoplasmosis paragraph. If you think that it could be something more serious with your cat, then you should take him to a vets, as euthanasia is always a last resort. GOOD LUCK!

Thanks mumzyof2. I have been trying to find a good web-site all weekend, and that one looks much better than any I found so far. I did wonder about listeriosis, which has circling as a sympton (but usually with death within days, so unlikely as this is the last week or so, getting worse this weekend). That descripton of toxoplasmosis looks quite possible on the other hand. I think I will ring up the vet in the morning.

If you're looking for more - I just typed in 'circling cat' on Google.
Dont worry about the vets, we didnt think we'd be taking ours home again, but the vet said that aslong as we think he still has a good quality of life, then he'll be fine.

My vet usually expresses surprise that Scamps is still alive! He's a gruff Australian type, and favours euthanasia. I'm not totally sure about his quality of life though, especially as we are due to move to New York at Easter and were going to take him back to the rehoming centre - now I'm wondering if that's an OK idea, but we can't give him to any friends or family because he really isn't very easy to care for, so needs to be looked after by someone who is at home all the time and happy to take on caring for an older cat.

Does he make any sounds when he is chasing his tail or if he catches it?

He's not actually chasing his tail - it's more that the circles are so tight he could catch it. He doesn't make any sounds then, although he is a very vocal cat, and caterwauls a lot, expecially when he get disorientated. It's the obsesiveness of it that worries me really I guess. However he has now gone to sleep in his favourite spot, so perhaps I'm over reacting.

My cat chases her tail as she has an illness but she growls when she does it and there is no mistaking it.

Is that like alien leg syndrome?

No, she has hypoestesias. (sp)

Thanks for advice. We went to the vet today and it turns out the cat has had a stroke. Actually it was quite a positive visit as the vet said he may well recover.