Cat has had a stroke

[mrsbeeton999]

Last night my cat started staggering on her back legs then circling and looking panicked. I picked her up and she went all floppy and I laid her on the rug and stroked her. 2 minutes later she got up and walked off absolutely fine. I had a google and it looks like it’s a stroke. She’s only 8 and never been ill but vet did say she has a heart murmur when she had a check up before her jabs. This morning she seemed fine and had her breakfast and went to sleep on sofa. She just jumped off sofa and her back legs were weak and swaying. She then meowed asking to go out in a panic. I laid her down again and she’s fine 5 minutes later. This morning didn’t seem as bad as yesterday. I’ve made vets appointment for 12.30 does anyone know what I can expect as assume stroke treatment is pretty limited. She’s not insured unfortunately.

She’s only 8

This happened to our cat when she was 16. She didn't recover I'm sorry to say and the kindest thing was to have her pts. Prepare yourself for the worst - animals mask how bad it is as they have a very strong survival instinct. It might be a different outcome for a younger cat.

Poor thing, she doesn't sound good. Hope it's not awful news at the vets.

It may also be epilepsy? Which is very treatable with meds.

Don't panic until you've seen the vet. Even if it was a stroke, like with people the severity varies as do the long term effects. Good luck this afternoon!

It could be vestibular disease, obviously dont take that as fact, my cat had it.

vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/vestibular-syndrome-in-dogs-and-cats-fact-sheet/

I hope she is o.k

Has she had a heart scan? If she has underlying heart disease, she could have thrown a clot off which has caused a stroke. Or TIA.

Our cat had this about 3 years ago. Exact same thing. And fine by the time we got her to the vets. He said it happens, nothing they could do, come back if it happens again. It never did, and our daft old girl is 20 and a half now with no obvious health problems bar her age.

Thanks everyone for suggestions and good wishes. She’s asleep and looks fine now I’ll let you know how I get on.

Thinking back our old cat had a similar problem. Was thyroid issue, sure she had an op.

How did you get on at the vet? Hope your little cat is OK.

It was a bit inconclusive. She had blood tests etc. Just got results back and nothing abnormal - thyroid function is all good too. So options now are further tests for toxoplasmosis etc or full scans or wait and if she has further episodes put her on epilepsy medication. I think we’re going to do that so just monitor her for now. So £260 to be told to keep an eye on her but I do feel better about it. It was suggested that her heart murmur could’ve thrown up a clot that will never affect her again so who knows. I’ll just be constantly on edge now thinking she’ll have another one. Pets are such a worry