12 Year old kitty cannot walk

kittymomofmany

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Hi I have a 12 year old orange baby named Tigger who until yesterday morning seemed to be doing just fine.  He fell down two sets of stairs and then drug himself to hide under a chair across the room.  Scared me half to death, he didnt look good at all so I rushed him to my vet...they ran a plethora of tests and have found no cause for his condition. My vet definitely thinks it is something neurological that has happened to him... He still cannot walk, anytime he tries to get up he falls over and looks completely awkward... He couldnt close his eyes yesterday and his mouth would stay open as well... the vet took his blood pressure and it was normal so he does not think it was a stroke.  He will lick food off a spoon if I give it to him and I have been giving him water out of a syringe to keep him hydrated.  He seems to get "stuck" in one position or another very often..He is acting so strange and unless I can come up with $1000 to do an MRI, the vet doesnt seem to be able to find an answer for me :( I have gone to him for many many years and trust him with all my heart, and truthfully cannot afford to go to a different vet to start all over and see if they can find something different.  I am worried sick about him, he just lays in the rubbermaid container I got for him (lined with blankets) and stares off into space most of the time..Today he can open and close his eyes and I dont notice his mouth staying open like yesterday. He will scoot himself away from where he urinates but barely moving otherwise... He has been on meds for pancreatitis for a long time.  The doctor tried giving him steroids yesterday but they didnt seem to have much effect on him.  I refuse to give up, he doesnt seem to be uncomfortable or in pain that I can tell..other than not being able to move much at all...I guess I am just hoping and praying that time will help heal whatever has broken in him...anyone else ever seen anything like this?  Any input is very much appreciated..thank you.
 

tjcarst

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Saddle thrombosis?  Very painful and usually not curable.

Someone else on these forums mentioned recently (this week) that something similar happened and a tumor was found on the cats spine.

Can you massage his back and hindquarter area to help with blood flow?  It does sound like a stroke (which is also what causes a saddle thrombosis).
 
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kittymomofmany

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My gut tells me no because he does no seem to be in pain. He can move all his legs and his tail..he has no balance though : I will massage his back area though and see what happens.thank u for your input!
 
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kittymomofmany

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I did notice he is always on his left side..he can lift his head when he is laying down...I tried carefully to put him on his right side and he seemed very uncomfortable and could not life his head...so upsetting to see him this way :(
 
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tjcarst

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Is he any better today?  Is he able to eat/drink? 

Make sure he is getting food to eat so you don't also have hepatic lipidosis to worry about.  You can thin some canned cat food and syringe it into his mouth if needed.
 
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kittymomofmany

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He is actually eating better today than yesterday...I am giving him soft food on
a spoon that I added water to to make it soupy and be sre he stas hydrated..he is showing small signs of being more alert and trying to move a bit...my dr. Put him on pain meds and a steroid (pred) to see if that helps (he has previously been on this combo for his pancreatitis with good results)....its definitely a day by day kinda time..thank u for asking!!
 

blueyedgirl5946

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I am glad your cat is doing some better. Usually the steroids can help them.  Keep us posted.
 
 
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kittymomofmany

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I am happy to say that after tumultuous week, Tigger is slowly getting back to his old self...the vet thinks he had a annorism (sp?) He is walking, not gracefully but he can even get up and down the stairs..I am so thankful for the  miracle of my sweet Tigger's recovery!!  thank you all for being supportive and informative... after a lot of time, patience, and love given, I know that I made the right decision to not put him to sleep!  [emoji]9829[/emoji]
 

tjcarst

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Glad Tigger is doing better!

Did your vet find any issues with your kitty's heart?  Any medication that may be needed.  Or is this something that rarely happens a second time?
 
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