My Cat is having issues.....

moving her back legs and she has an eye that is really red. Took her to the vet two weeks ago when she was only having the issue with her eye. She was given some eye drops that my vet thought would clear up. Two weeks later her eye hasn't cleared up and now she is having issues moving her back legs and limps gingerly around my house. Took  her to the vet yesterday and they think that she could have an infection thats gone to her brain that effects her neurological system or she has a brain tumor.

Its all kind of sudden for me, she still eats and uses the litter box but they are recommending that I put her down. She is 16-17 years old (Tabby) but we opted to give her some medication to see if its an infection or not. Her blood is good, no issues at all there. I don't want to put her down, she has been a part of our family since she was 1-2 years old. Any idea if this will improve over time or should have do what the doctors recommends and put her down?

I am not a vet, but I would guess your cat has had a stroke. Quality of life should be the first consideration about whether it is time for her to be euthanized. How is she at home? You said she is still eating?

Is she showing interest in her life? Or does she appear to have given up? Cats can recover from stroke, if it is not too severe.

See how she does on the antibiotics. Maybe she just has an inner ear infection. Vestibular disease, it's called, and the antibiotics will get her back to normal.

It's very important that she continue to eat through this.

Welcome to TCS and please keep us posted!

She appears to still want to eat (she loves that and her cat milk) and stuff and she will leave her bed to walk around for a bit but its not often. two weeks ago when I took her in for her eye she did give me ear and eye drops to give her twice daily. Right now she is only on the pill antibiotic. I really hope she turns this around, the thought of putting her down just makes me want to burst into tears.
 

Yes, it hurts very much to lose a beloved family member. It's devastating. However euthanasia is a blessing for a cat suffering. If it comes to that (hoping it won't of course) it is the bravest most generous loving act of all, letting her go to end her suffering.

I know you will give her excellent care while waiting to see if the antibiotic is going to help her. That she still takes pleasure in her food is a great sign.

Make sure she has easy access to her litter box, and shower her with love. To help keep her circulation up while she isn't moving much you can do gentle massage on her, or brush her a lot if she likes brushing. Check her whole body daily for mats, a cat who is spending a lot of time in bed tends to mat up on the pressure points, or her underside (tummy, and armpits, for example)

Oh, and talk to her, a lot. Tell her what is going on, why she is taking pills, why she doesn't feel good. Tell her all she has to do is tell you she's had enough, and you will let her go. That you would miss her, but you will be okay, she shouldn't worry about you. But stay cheerful as much as possible in her presence.

:heart3:

Her bed is like 4 feet from the liter box so access is certainly easy for her. Lots of prayers for her, really hoping she is able to pull through this.
 

Day 1 appears to be zero change but cat was happy to lay in my lap all night and ate like a champ. Still holding out hope....

That she is eating, and staying out on your lap are both very good signs. When cats are really suffering, or want to leave us, they tend to withdraw. All paws crossed for her, thanks for keeping us posted.

Day two, eye looks slightly better still the same as far as everything else goes. She ate very well!

Day 3, legs look worse but she is moving and eating well. Her eye looks better.

Sending vibes to you and your kitty. Best wishes for a full recovery.

for you and your sweet kitty!

How is your beloved little girl doing now?

Prayers for you and your cat.

By the way, I've just been reading a thread about diabetic neuropathy, with symptoms that present the way you describe your little girl. Did your vet do blood work, I don't know why I didn't think to ask before. I hope everything is okay.

otto said:

By the way, I've just been reading a thread about diabetic neuropathy, with symptoms that present the way you describe your little girl. Did your vet do blood work, I don't know why I didn't think to ask before. I hope everything is okay.

Click to expand...

Even if no blood work was done, do you know a human diabetic that has a glucometer? Most human glucometers will come within 20 of a feline glucometer for checking blood sugar. You can get blood from the ear (put a cotton ball on other side so you don't pierce yourself) or from a paw pad.

Guys thanks for the vibes and such but this morning I made a decisions that I feel I had to make before things just got worse. I took her to be put down, one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make in my life. My heart is just absolutely broken but she had gotten to the point where she couldn't move much at all (her back right legs just wasn't functioning at all). Managed to spend an hour with her this morning just petting her and did the same as they sedated her. Didn't have the heart nor nerve to watch them give her the 2nd shot.

She will be forever missed! I can still remember the first time I saw her when I was 13 (29 today) as a stray cat that just showed up as I was playing Basketball. As with any loss, you regret that you didn't spend more time with her. Worried that my other cat (hasn't been the same really) is going to do without her, she hasn't been very playful in her absence. She have reverted back tot he cat that she was before we brought Gray over to my house from my parents.....

Oh I'm so sorry for your loss. Please allow yourself the comfort of knowing you did right by her, you absolutely made the right choice for her. It's called the Final Act of Kindness, your last gift of love to her, release from her suffering. Your other kitty, her bonded companion can be expected to grieve for her loss too. Give other kitty as much attention as she can take in, take comfort from one another. I'm so sorry.

Otto:

My other poor cat is already in a state of grieving I believe. We have been trying to give her as much attention as possible. Its been really hard to deal with all of this and having our newborn child in the NICU at the hospital at the same time. I am going to have to try harder to spend more time with Sassy with him at home now. I did choose to have her cremated so we can bring her home with us again.
 

otto said:

By the way, I've just been reading a thread about diabetic neuropathy, with symptoms that present the way you describe your little girl. Did your vet do blood work, I don't know why I didn't think to ask before. I hope everything is okay.

Click to expand...

Blood work was done and came back clean on everything. Its bizarre but it all started with her eye and then we noticed these bare patches of no hair on one of her front legs and on both of her back leg (on the inside of back ones). Then the leg issue started about 2 and a half weeks ago and got worse. Vet called Virginia Tech and they wanted to bring her up there for testing which we didn't want to do since she was old and we didn't want her to become a science project and the 1.5 hour drive to get there to see her. They told our vet that outside of a brain tumor it could be a severe infection so they gave me some stronger pills to give her.

She was taken to the vet due to her eye and the bare spots that were red/pink and then later once we first observed the limp.

I'm very sorry for your darling cat. May she rest in peace...