Stroke symptoms?

My 17 year old cat has been sick on and off for the last several months. He was doing really well recently, until this past weekend. Friday morning he didn't come asking for his food in the morning. When he did eat, it wasn't as much as he usually eats. Friday night he kept drinking water. Saturday morning he didn't ask for his food again and he was sleeping all morning. By Saturday night he was walking all wobbly with his head down. Oh, I forgot to mention that for the last couple of weeks he also has not been using his litter box all the time. If there are clothes left on the floor from my kids not putting them in the hamper, he will just go potty on them. Anyhow, Saturday night he looked miserable. Overnight he vomited. We took him to the vet and the vet said his vitals looked good. He said he may have had a stroke. He gave him fluids and said to just keep him comfortable. He said he does not think it's time to put him down yet. Well, he has been laying in his bed everyday, all day. He sometimes goes in the litter box, sometimes not. He only eats a little bit of food, and whenever he does eat, he vomits it up. But it's weird, becuase he doesn't vomit right after he eats. It's usually more than 8 hours later, but it looks like his food, not just bile. Does anyone know if it is normal for a cat to vomit everyday after  a stroke? How long does it take to recover, if ever?

Did the vet do bloodwork?  There could be a kidney issue like CRF.

The vet didn't do bloodwork. A few months ago when my cat was having the same type of symptoms minus the vomiting, they tested his urine and said everything was normal and they tested him for diabetes and that was fine. I don't know what other tests they did, though. The vet said that because of my cat's age he doesn't think we should run all kinds of tests. 

One of my previous cats had a stroke and it was horrible. I came home to find her under the bed (never laid there before) and meowing loudly. She kept trying to stand up but couldn't right herself and kept collapsing, almost like she was drunk. Rushed her to the emergency clinic and they told me she had a stroke, was paralyzed, blind and brain dead. So the symptoms were different. I will say leading up to her stroke she had started peeing in weird locations, on piles of clothes, even on an extension cord which shorted out my light and started smoking! Thankfully I was home. All of this was attributed to old age, slowing down, etc. Nothing came back weird with bloodwork, etc.

No words of wisdom but I'm sure your kitty needs extra love and attention. She is obviously not well and something is going on? Maybe an ultrasound, or X-ray could help?

Considering quality of life is almost always at the forefront of my decision making. It wouldn't matter if he was 17 or 2. I wouldn't want my boy - young or old - to be miserable. If it were my cat, I would have a full blood panel run and another urinalysis. Possibly even x-rays if the cat is vomiting up food so many hours after eating (blockage?). At 17 years old, there may be no cure for whatever it is that might be going on, but there are things that could be done to treat symptoms and keep him comfortable for the remainder of his time.

I am not a vet, but what you describe does not sound like a stroke to me. Walking wobbly with the head down can be a sign of hypokalemia (low potassium). The most common cause is chronic kidney failure in senior cats. There can also be a gastric loss (anorexia and/or severe/chronic vomiting) of potassium resulting in hypokalemia. Since your cat is old and is currently both mildly anorexic with vomiting, you have a triple whammy for him to develop hypokalemia. Here's some information:

http://www.icatcare.org/advice/cat-...blood-potassium-and-hypokalaemic-polymyopathy

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pe...pokalemia-or-low-potassium-levels-in-cats/288

Thanks for the replies. I called the vet again yesterday ( who by the way is my husband's brother-in-law, so I trust his advice). He said it is probably time to put him to sleep. He said that since our cat is so old and has been having on and off sickness for the past several months, and he doesn't seem to be getting any better, it would be better to put him out of his misery than to run a bunch of tests and try to prolong his life. He said from what it sounds like, our cat will not get any better. They gave him fluids and vitamin shots on Sunday and again Tuesday, and that did not seem to help. Last time he got sick like this, a few months ago, he bounced back pretty quick after getting the fluids and shots, but not this time. He is getting worse. Yesterday he vomited about 5 times, even though he did not eat. It was just bile. He is not eating at all anymore. He just lays on the kitchen floor. I gave him a bed, but for some reason he doesn't want it. He looks like he is trying to find a place to hide. I think he is ready to be put down. I hate making that decision, but what kind of life is it for him if he is so sick. He lived a good 17 years. I will miss him, though. He was the friendliest cat I've ever had. We are probably going to put him down tomorrow, unless by some miracle he starts doing better.

So sorry to read that. My brother's 16-year-old succumbed to advanced kidney failure a month ago; she was my favorite kitty, and the one who was the impetus for me wanting to adopt my own little Shelly. So, I've been feeling a sense of loss myself the past few weeks. Worst feeling in the world.

I am so sorry.  Fluids will make a kitty with CRF feel better until it is really advanced.  It sounds like this either isn't anything to do with the kidneys or it's very advanced.  It's always hard to know when it's time.  He is obviously a well cared for and much loved kitty, 17 is a long healthy life.

Jatsk, I'm so very sorry you have to go through this, but it sounds like you have done so much and your cat is not going to recover. Please know you have done all you could, and now you'll take on your sweet cats pain for your own and release him to cross the Bridge in one final act of compassion and love. I'll keep you both in my heart and prayers, please know we will support you in whatever you decide. Bless you for caring so much.

 Rubydoo, I am sorry your cat suffered a stroke, too. Autumn Rose, I am sorry for your loss, too. It is hard. I never thought I would feel this way about an animal, but you get so attached to your pets. They love you unconditionally. 

I'm sorry to hear the direction this is taking. No matter the age, they are still your baby! My current situation is my kitty with cancer. Sounds like ver similar symptoms, though lots of issues have the same symptoms. She lost weight rapidly, threw up bile only (never much of a puker before other than hair balls)' sleeping in weird places, etc. Can only make her comfortable and eventually her cancer will pass the ability of the Predisone to make her feel okay. Is the maybe an option for your kitty? If not, I'm truly sorry

jatsk said:

 
 I never thought I would feel this way about an animal, but you get so attached to your pets. They love you unconditionally. 

Click to expand...

This x infinity!!

I've only had Shelly since February 18, but IMO I've gotten more love and affection from her in 11 weeks than I got in all the 20 years I was "involved" with an SO, and I was going for LTRs! She doesn't have any conditions or expectations, other than "just feed me and keep my litter box clean, and I'll see how far up your nose I can shove my head in the mornings while you're still trying to sleep."  Face-mashing is her version of affection; that, and walking on me to get from one side of the bed to the other.

I'm so sorry you have to make this decision, @jatsk. It is very difficult.