My cat hasbeen diagnosed with the feline equivalent of downs syndrome-help please.

ruthyb

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
5,314
Purraise
16
Location
Derbyshire UK.
Hi, I have always known candy was special, she has suffered since I had her wth a terrible flea allergy and even though she doesnt get fleas as she is treated if she gets bitten by one it really affects her badly. I have been on at my vet for over a year to do further tests as I just knew the flea allergy wasn't her only problem. I was given her by a so called friend that told me she was 8 weeks old, when I got her (and was told by this person she didn't want her back) I took her immediately for a vet check, we were told that she was only 3 weeks old and covered in fleas and riddled with worms, we bottle fed her and reared her by hand, she was our baby.My "friend" didn't give a poo, I soon fell out with her. Candys ehaviour jhas always been a bit odd but we put this down to her bad start in life, th flea allergy was diagnosed 3 years ago and we have this under control but I still wasn't happy, she:

-has very bad coordination, falls down when she trys to jump on things and walks into things-we thought she was blind but has been ruled out
-crys when anyone walks past her for no reason
-has an obsession with bleach, I have had to ban it from the house, she licks it and rolls in it
-sits on her bottom like a human and suckles on her own nipples

There are too many to list but these are the main things. I have always thought she looks slightly different from other cas, she walks with her legs inward and her face looks different to my other cat, my vet really was hard work but after 3 years, blood test and a scan we have an answer and we were told that it is rare in cats but shouldn't affect her life span just that her co-ordination may get worse.

I have found though that my vet had little information on how I can help her as it is such a rare condition and there is hardly anything on the internet on what I can do to help her. Please if anyone has any advice I would be so grateful, thankyou.xx
 

dandi

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
120
Purraise
1
Location
Little log cabin
I had no idea cats could have DS. Sorry, no advice here other than don't assume every symptom is "just due to her Downs Syndrome". There could be several things going on at once. For example, you say she is afflicted with a bleach obsession. That has nothing to due with Downs Syndrome and I'm pretty sure it isn't an illness either. It's just a bit of quirkyness shared by thousands of other cats, including 3 of mine. Just keep in mind that other symptoms may be something other than DS and should be checked by your vet.
Candy is very Lucky to have you caring for her and for pushing the vet to investigate further so you have a proper diagnosis.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

ruthyb

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
5,314
Purraise
16
Location
Derbyshire UK.
The bleach just worries me that i could do more harm than good, thats why I have stopped using it. I have googled Downs in cats but there really is not much info available and the only info is on the co-ordination side which says that they can get worse as theyget older but no reason why a cat with downs shouldn't live as long as a cat without. which gives me great hope. I think most of candys problems are that she had such a bad start in life but there is alot I think that isn't do do with downs, she really is just a unique cat and does some strange things but thats just Candy and I love her. I had never heard of downs in a cat before but honestly looking at some pics I found on the net of cats with downs I didn't realise just how different candy looks from my other cats in her facial features and she is such a dinky little thing. I shall take some pictures of her later.I am just suprised that there is such little info about and even the vets are not that informative.x
 

farleyv

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
4,796
Purraise
36
Location
New York State
I too did not think a cat would have DS. How is her heart. I think DS in humans affects the heart. I hope that is not the case with her.

She is a lucky girl to have you. So many people want "perfect" pets. Not me. I like them a bit quirky.
 

farleyv

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
4,796
Purraise
36
Location
New York State
Sorry, I hit the wrong key and entered before I was done. I do alot of research on the net and will forward anything I find to you. Looking forward to seeing her pics.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

ruthyb

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
5,314
Purraise
16
Location
Derbyshire UK.
Thankyou farleyv, she has just got to go for six monthly checks but at present my vet Paul said that she is in good health, it really is just the co-ordination and the other behaviour which I don't know is to do with condition. She is 6 years old so not a kitten and so I am hoping if she is in good health now, I'm hoping it will stay like that..x
 

jennyr

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
13,348
Purraise
593
Location
The Land of Cheese
I am sorry to hear of Candy's problems, but she is lucky to have you to care for her and love her. On bleach, no one with cats should use bleach based products, as many cats have an affinity for it, and also the smell of bleach can attract cats to pee near it as it smells like urine to them. I gave up using it some years ago after a really bad episode of inappropriate peeing. These days there are many bleach-free products that are just as effective.
 

chelseaaa

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Dec 27, 2014
Messages
1
Purraise
1
Hi, My name is chelsea and i think i may have some advice my cat that suffered the same disorder recently passed away.
If theres anything i've learned is there is no cure for this but all you can do is give your cat all the love and attention it deserves.I found that my cat seemed to do better on days that he was very warm i think this may be due to the fact that he had arthritis towards the end and it made it very hard for him to move around like he use to.good luck and remember your doing everything you can and thats the most important thing.
 
Top