Sick Cat Healing...help

My once outdoor cat came home ill, perhaps poisoned. She had severe seizures for days and high fever, liver enzymes a mess. She came back from the dead. She is now an indoor cat. She is a different cat:

She is fine being indoors thank god
Her meow is different
All she wants to do is eat
She does not sleep
She seems confused at times and stares at things stretching her head in confusion (stares at wall, plant etc..)

I talked to the vet and we suspect some brain damage. I guess I am venting but need your ideas please?

Poor kitty!!! It's a miracle she survived.

How long ago did this happen ? You might want to do bloodwork again if it's been more than 8 weeks since it was last done. Certain liver diseases can cause a few of the symptoms you listed - some cats will even lean their heads against a wall. Your vet should check again for elevated liver enzymes.

It certainly seems possible that if she was in fact poisoned, she could have suffered brain damage. You'd have to go to a feline neurologist to determine this. I can't imagine how you poor baby is able to function without sleep.

Thankfully, she's content being indoors and has an appetite and is able to eat.

All good thoughts and best wishes to you and your cat

It happened 4 weeks ago. She is eating, peeing, pooping and purring...I hate to bring her back to the vet..but if you think I should..

Wow - she does not sleep at all? It does sound like brain damage...I would at least give your vet's office a call and see what thoughts they have - for you and your kitty.

Originally Posted by sushimama

All she wants to do is eat
She does not sleep
She seems confused at times and stares at things stretching her head in confusion (stares at wall, plant etc..)

Click to expand...

She dozes for a minute in the day. At night when I am sleeping I do not know but when I wake she is up..the vet suspects brain damage too...she was blind for a week...now has soem vision

You say she had severe seizures my dog Jake is epilectic and had ( status epilepticus ) seizures which caused him brain damage , you say your kitty stares at things , Jake stares up to the sky the vet says this is because of his brain damage , I hope she is not brain damaged but if she is she will be fine its just getting used to the funny little things they do, Jake has been like it for about 8 years now he is so lovable . sending for your kitty

just a thought you say she was blind for a week do you think she could be staring at things getting used to having some vision back

Originally Posted by sushimama

It happened 4 weeks ago. She is eating, peeing, pooping and purring...I hate to bring her back to the vet..but if you think I should..

Click to expand...

Since she had bloodwork done only 4 weeks ago, don't bring her back to the vet right now. Liver enzymes change slowly, so wait another month to check those.

The liver enzymes being "a mess" would seem to indicate poisoning, since everything coming into the cat's body gets processed through the liver. Elevated liver enzymes occur because of disease or injury to the liver. The good news is that even a damaged liver can regenerate itself, as long as some healthy cells survive. Since Bonita Boo is pooping normally, that's a good sign that the liver is in decent shape.

As I mentioned previously, you might consider taking Bonita Boo to a feline neurologist, if you can find one. A neurologist could tell you if there's been brain damage and to what extent, and if there's any possibility that it will get better. Since she was blind for a week, but is getting some vision back (thank goodness!!!) maybe any other damage will gradually reverse too.

Bonita is one very strong and very lucky girl to have survived whatever it was that made her so ill. I hope she makes a full recovery.

thanks all..we are in the Caribbean so have basic care only. I wish she would sleep...I am trying to play with her...get her tired..

Yes, she is a strong girl..

I wish I had some ideas, but I'm at a loss. Your girl is probably sleeping more than you realize; you can't watch her 24/7. It truly sounds as if her survival is a miracle. Sending all the positive vibes I can to your sweet Bonita Boo.

Cats really don't sleep as much as we think they do, at least not deeply. They are almost always partly awake. If your cat is getting the deep sleep she needs, it may only take a couple of hours per day.

But it doesn't sound normal, that's for sure.

Originally Posted by sushimama

She seems confused at times and stares at things stretching her head in confusion (stares at wall, plant etc..)

Click to expand...

This actually sounds like she is having seizures. There are something like 3,000 different seizures out there. Some are just a blank staring, no movement except breathing. They can last from a fraction of a second to a few seconds to a couple of minutes. We have a student who was having 10 absence seizures a minute.
Another, more common type, is one that presents as a repetative movement.
Even the difference in her howl makes me think of seizures as a possibility.
She will need an EEEG to rule it out. Seizures can usually be treated with medication.

I am not a vet and can't guarantee it, but this would be something to consider.