I wish I understand cat talk...PLEASE HELP.

Yes,

Thank you by the way for talking with me through this, I don't have much moral support around here so I very much appreciate it. I will get liquid steroids tomorrow and will update with what I can find through vet calls.

I never asked, but did your vet check the base of your cat's tail for any type of injury, specifically a bite from another cat or animal?  Is your cat indoor only?  And are there other cats in the home?  He MAY have been bitten at the base of his tail, and could have an infected abscess.  That might or might not show up on an x-ray.  But it would explain why the cat is experiencing so much pain and distress.  If you are able (if your cat will allow it) you might gently check his lower back and base of his tail for any swelling, or hat areas.  If you should be so lucky as to have it be an abscess, antibiotics should take care of it!  But it will need to be diagnosed.

I sure do agree with some of the others' comments - I can't understand why your vet isn't treating this more seriously.  I hope you find some relief for your poor kitty.

She kind of swept over the entire tail but focused more on the tail rather than the base, but I don't think it was bitten. I can't see anything that indicates a bite. He's both indoor and outdoor, but only outdoor to urinate and get some fresh air. Although lately, he's been going out and he looks like he wants to pee but digs and I don't think anything comes out (he might be incontinent?) I sure hope not. :/ And, he is the only cat in resident.

Thank you, and I am hoping I find another vet who knows what's going on or who's dealt with this before. 

Good thought however an abcess is not painful like what her kitty has going on, and it wouldn't cause the limp tail.

 Plus he has been seen already, and surely the vet would have seen something.

He may have got caught and squirmed about and caused trauma to it, or yanked it and dislocated it......impossible to know now.

Youre welcome, glad to be some help to you. Please let us know what tmrw brings

Will you please do me a favor and NOT allow him to go outside? At least for right now.

You really need to keep him inside, for one, you need to know whether he has full control or not.

Two, he is felv positive, which can be transferred to other cats, mutual grooming, food/water dishes, and so on.

Wouldn't you hate to find out that another cat got felv from allowing him to go outside?

Please consider this. It's a danger for him, as he does NOT have the strong immune system that a normal cat does, and there are too many things out there for him to catch, which then will require more vet visits, and you never know, he can catch something that is too much for him to overcome.

Just saying.....

I understand. However, I live with my family and although I tell them not to let him out...he still manages to get out and I'm not at home all the time. :/ It's just a difficult situation to be in. 

I will let you know. On the other hand, it's definitely not a good thing that Miballs is hissing at nothing right? (I mean, I know it's not nothing, but nothing seen I guess). Gah! 

tisjaeso said:

 
She kind of swept over the entire tail but focused more on the tail rather than the base, but I don't think it was bitten. I can't see anything that indicates a bite. He's both indoor and outdoor, but only outdoor to urinate and get some fresh air. Although lately, he's been going out and he looks like he wants to pee but digs and I don't think anything comes out (he might be incontinent?) I sure hope not. :/ And, he is the only cat in resident.

Thank you, and I am hoping I find another vet who knows what's going on or who's dealt with this before. 

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Actually, if this just happened in the last day or two an abscess wouldn't have had time to fully form.  There would only be a bite mark.  It would require shaving the affected area in order to find it.  In many cases a bite will actually swell shut (That is why they abscess).  They can be hard to find, and especially if no one is looking for them.  But it would cause your cat to hang his tail that way.  And it would also be painful and cause him to growl.  It's something worth checking when you get him to another vet.

Did you tell your vet about your cat having difficulty urinating?  That's very important!  Did that start at the same time his tail problem started?  I don't know if they are related or just a coincidence, but the vet needs to know about the urinating problem pronto!  PLEASE don't wait!

It did start at the same time his tail issue began. I might have to express it for him, and though I have no problem doing that...I'm not sure he wants be touched at all right now. Well, maybe a pet or two.

AllMomsKitties, you are correct, but this started close to a week prior to this thread, the first one is "Is my cat okay?" in the health forum.

And I totally agree! The vet absolutely needs to know asap about his urinating problem, this is very serious and especially with male cats.

Incontinent means no control over going, they just go when their body tells them to, but thinking he tries to go and does not, that is a big urgent problem!

That is a blockage or bladder infection, and male cats get backed up fast, it can kill him before you really were even sure something was wrong.

Anytime you see your cat attempt to go pee, and doesn't go, or stays in the peeing position for an extended amt of time, or see him try to pee repeatedly or very often, he is in trouble and needs to be checked asap.

PLEASE contact the vet first thing in the am. If it were me, I would drag his butt to the emergency vet right this minute.

catwoman707 said:

 
AllMomsKitties, you are correct, but this started close to a week prior to this thread, the first one is "Is my cat okay?" in the health forum.

And I totally agree! The vet absolutely needs to know asap about his urinating problem, this is very serious and especially with male cats.

PLEASE contact the vet first thing in the am. If it were me, I would drag his butt to the emergency vet right this minute.

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Ah, I forgot about the other thread in the Health forum.  Thanks for reminding me.  Tisjaeso, please get your kitty to the vet ASAP!  The urinating problem is probably more urgent than the tail issue at the moment.  It's hard to know if they are related, but it's not important.  The urinating problem is URGENT!

Hello everyone.

So after Miballs' third visit on the issue, he is still not diagnosed with anything. This vet said that the only thing that would give me an answer is an MRI and I unfortunately do not have that kind of money. He said his bladder is fine and that he very well might be urinating, I guess I have just not seen it physically.

Along with the pain, his left eye is getting cloudy and it might be due to an infection? Therefore, I'm waiting for the results of a taxoplasma lab test. Or it could be due to FeLV. The vet said that it's his lower back to the top of his tail that is hurting. It could be something internal because the vet more than likely ruled out physical trauma.

So...now he is on liquid steroids and eye medication (doxycycline). He is due back for a checkup on Friday.

Wow, that's not the best news, is it?  Is this the same vet you have been bringing him to, or have you found a new vet?  I wish I had some more thoughts about this to help you, but I think I've run out of ideas.  Your poor kitty is going through so much, it just breaks my heart. 

I just wanted to wish you well and to let you know I'll pray that you find health and happiness for your Miballs.Surely he is on the road to recovery, he and you have been through enough! Please keep us posted and give him a kiss for me!

Hi all,

I cannot believe I didn't post something on here about his last vet visit. So sorry about that.

Well, here's a quick recap...the third vet doesn't know what's going on either. Though he sort of ruled out physical trauma so it COULD be his FeLV or so,etching from within. He's on steroid and doxycycline (for his eye) and he seems to be getting better (walking more), but he's not walking on the flat part of his hind legs and I hear his claws when he walks.

He peed today but sort of had to force it? When I took him in, the vet said that his bladder was fine and that there was anal tone so I didn't have to worry. He kept touching his bladder and said it wasn't full or anything.

So now I'm giving him meds, but what is they run out? I don't want to give up on my baby, but when do you know if the pain outweighs his right to live? I wish I understood cat.

Oh, he's losing weight fast. His lower back is all skinny now and looks sort of elongated...but idk if that's just cause it's skinny. He's not eating as much, but is drinking lots of water.

He did do bloodwork, but have not gotten the results yet. 

And sorry about the second post on the third vet visit, my phone didn't sync correctly. :/

We might find the answer with the blood results, I am anxious to see what they look like.

Hopefully you will be able to post the results on here.

Unless of course the vet diagnosed him with something that is proven in the blood work results.

Hoping for something good here.....hang in there.

Thank you for your responses.

Today, I took Miballs to the vet and I have made the heartbreaking decision to have him PTS. The vet said he might have a tumor developing near or on his spine and the root of the cause might be the leukemia. I brought him home today just so my family can say one last good-bye to a member of our family. 

Please keep us in your prayers.

Thank you.