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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Stroke in cats

27 replies

Polyethyl · 22/12/2019 11:53

My mother's cat has had a stroke this morning. She's 10yo and siamese. They live rurally so there's no Sunday vet and anyway there's not much treatment for a stroke.
But the cat won't rest or settle down, just walking in circles. Is there anything they can do to calm her?

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 22/12/2019 12:22

They need to go to the nearest emergency vet.

Toddlerteaplease · 22/12/2019 12:23

There will be one. They should phone their regular vet, they will have an answering marking that gives details of the out of hours surgery.

Toddlerteaplease · 22/12/2019 12:24

It could be an ear infection?

Fluffycloudland77 · 22/12/2019 12:44

All vets are reachable 24/7, they cannot leave an animal like that.

Original poster
Polyethyl · 22/12/2019 13:07

There is no treatment for stroke in cats.
What is the point in finding an emergency vet in a rural location when there is no treatment.
Anyway....has anyone nursed a cat through a stroke?

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 22/12/2019 13:35

What if it needs to be euthanised?.

Chemenger · 22/12/2019 13:42

How do you know it has had a stroke? It could be something else which could be treated. The cat needs to go to the emergency vet. This will be covered by insurance. I cannot believe she would rather just let the animal suffer.

Original poster
Polyethyl · 22/12/2019 13:56

The vet will be available tomorrow. But there is no treatment for stroke in cats so the vet will just (presumably) confirm our amateur diagnosis.
There is no benefit in bundling a distressed cat into its crate and subjecting it to an hours car journey to see a stranger vet today. When her normal vet will be available in her own village tomorrow. And neither the stranger vet nor normal vet will be able to give her any treatment.
And suggesting she needs to be euthanized! She's walking in circles! Hardly reason to kill her today.
How unhelpful you have all been.
The answer is of course obvious, and what my parents are doing, keep her comfortable, warm, bring her food and water to her, make a litter tray for her, stay nearby and wait for tomorrow.

OP posts:
Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 22/12/2019 14:26

I have to be honest OP and say that under these circumstances I would get to a vet as soon as possible. You may be right in your diagnosis assumption, guess but equally the cat could, for example, have ingested poison.

Chemenger · 22/12/2019 14:36

The answer is indeed obvious, you need actual veterinary diagnosis, not amateur guessing. It could be something else entirely. But obviously the best thing is just to make a stab at what’s wrong and hope that she doesn’t die before you get round to phoning the vet at your convenience.

Beetle76 · 22/12/2019 15:05

My cat had a stroke. If your suspicions are correct there is support she might need that a vet can provide - my cat needed oxygen, fluids and seizure control meds. (Obviously each case is different which is why I agree with others that she really should see a vet today) The “doing nothing” part that you are thinking of came much later once she was stable and that was 6 weeks of crate rest with physio twice a day. I know it’s lousy living rurally at times like this but please go to an out of hours vet.

Beetle76 · 22/12/2019 15:20

I also thought I would mention that circling was a symptom experienced by my other cat and in her case, that was high blood pressure. If left untreated, it can spiral and cause blindness. I know you want to protect your mum’s cat from the stress of an unnecessary car journey, but to me it sounds like she really does need to go to the vet.

HappyHammy · 22/12/2019 15:55

Poor cat. Of course you need to take it to see the emergency vet. It could be a number of things and it needs professional help.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/12/2019 15:56

I'm not sure why you asked the question as you clearly think you know best. I don't understand how any responsible cat owner could guess that their cat had had a stroke and then leave her until the next day. The poor thing needs the vet sooner rather than later.

Boristhecats · 22/12/2019 21:19

It could be in huge amounts of pain!!!!

SecretWitch · 22/12/2019 21:22

Of course the poor cat needs care ASAP.

When our sweet old boy had a stroke the emergency vet gave him clot busting medication. To be fair, it was very expensive but the other option was to put him to sleep.

Pannalash · 22/12/2019 21:24

Really can’t believe you’re not seeking professional advice OP.

PostNotInHaste · 22/12/2019 21:30

Ours had a stroke last weekend. We took her ti emergency vet miles away who did bloods to rule out organ failure etc. Options were to leave her for monitoring, bring her home to monitor or have scans, she came home.

Next day she got worse and I thought it was game over. Vet suggested boiling tuna in water to get her to drink. Gave her tuna and rice to eat which she could just about manage with help. Wasn’t able to use the litter tray at first.

Then improved a lot after the first 24 hours and is doing ok though still wobbly. We have Feloway plug in which hopefully helps.

titchy · 22/12/2019 21:37

Are you a vet then? Seeing as you are so certain the cats had a stroke. Hmm

Angie6868 · 22/12/2019 21:42

Sorry, but you're being cruel, albeit unintentionally. Are you a vet? I assume not otherwise you wouldn't be posting. You just keep saying "there's no treatment for stroke in cats" and then have have a go at anyone who's sensible enough to say the cat needs to see a vet ASAP. You don't even know that it is a stroke. You sound really selfish and unwilling to listen to perfectly reasonable advice. That poor cat.

LynetteScavo · 23/12/2019 08:38

Actually I think you did the right thing not taking the cat to the vet yesterday. Driving a cat for an hour to a vet when not absolutely necessary is cruel.

MN always just says take the cat to the vet immediately, when overall the vet can't do much immediately rather diagnose or euthanise.

I'm think case you'll get much more help from Google Ethan MN.

I hope the cat is OK and the village vet can help today. Please let us know how it goes.

wowfudge · 23/12/2019 08:46

I have to disagree. Who is to say the drive is not necessary? Cat owners on this thread have given examples of treatment given for strokes. Animals do not have the same outward pain responses as humans and will try to carry on. This does not mean they are not in pain or distress and can wait to see a vet.

LynetteScavo · 23/12/2019 09:12

Actually I just reread and the cat wouldn't calm or settle. In that case I probably would have gone to the vet.

The OP was asking how to calm the cat, and I don't think that actually would have been possible.

Vinorosso74 · 23/12/2019 10:11

The OOH vet should have been contacted. They could have advised over the phone what to do and they would have said whether to take the cat in or not. The phones are generally manned by qualified vet nurses or they are available to speak to.

Original poster
Polyethyl · 23/12/2019 15:32

The village vet has today confirmed that it is a stroke and has sent her home to be nursed to whatever recovery she can make.

OP posts: