Need some opinions - sick cat

My 18 month old cat is sick. It started 6 days ago. We took him to the vet 3 days ago, who suggested we monitor him over the next few days. There was some blood work done, but she didn't seem too alarmed over the results or his symptoms. I'm wondering if there was something missed and maybe get a second opinion. I'll try to be as thorough as possible in describing the issue.

His food and water intake appears to be normal.
Stool appears normal, also seems to be relieving himself normally.
There has been no change in his diet or surroundings. 
Food is mostly canned wet food supplemented with dry food and treats.
Very lethargic, just laying around sleeping most of the day.
Not grooming.
Not active and playing with the other cat like he normally does, he growls at her when she tries to play with him.
Does not cry out or show pain when picked up, pet or handled.
Nose is warm and dry.
No abdomen distention.
No vomiting/coughing/sneezing.
He appears to be walking stiffly, I'm unable to discern whether it's front or back legs.
Fully UTD on vaccines, tested negative for FLV.

I'm not sure what to do. Dr suggested it could be a viral infection that has to run it's course. His condition has not changed either way since we first noticed his lethargy. I'm wondering if we should wait longer or go spend hundreds of dollars on tests.

Hi and welcome to TCS!

The vet could be correct that it is a virus but I would say that if your gut is saying it isn't (and it seems the case) you should go with your instincts.  Do you have access to a feline only vet in your area?  I have personally had a great deal of success working with them.  If not I would be searching for a second opinion.  Did the previous vet perform x-rays to rule out an injury? 

I can't say it's a gut instinct but rather my being fairly new to cat ownership. This guy was a feral that I rescued in -20 temps in January, he was shivering and too cold to run away. I have some experience with dogs, but I learned very quickly that felines are masters of deception.

Unfortunately there are no feline only vets in my area that I've been able to find. My current vet didn't do any x-rays. She ran a CBC and explained the results to us, a couple fell in the low category but she said she wasn't too concerned with them because they fluctuate greatly. I'm concerned that he isn't getting any better, but relieved that he's not getting worse. He's alert and responsive, and his demeanor is completely normal other then just laying around all day and not grooming. He's extra cuddly and doesn't act in pain other then the stiff legged walking. I'm at a complete loss as to what might be wrong.

I was considering getting x-rays and/or an ultrasound done, but I would hate to do it if it's really just a virus or something minor. His symptoms confuse me.

I would say if he's acting out of the ordinary, a second opinion certainly wouldn't hurt if it's within your budget. It sounds like he's getting his necessities, but just doesn't feel "right", which in all honesty could mean a whole slew of things.

A lot of vets have specials where the first exam is free. Ask for a copy of the bloodwork (it's your property, you're entitled) and take it to the exam.

Hello Steve

One of my cats started acting like that when he developed a heart disease ( triggered by thyroid probelm).... Did your vet check his thyroid and ordered a full body x-ray some place else since she does not have x-ray?? ( both things should not get over 200$ total. Change vet if they tell you it is more) 

Best of luck and keep us posted,

PS Vraiment Français?

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to bring him to a different vet as soon as I can get in. I'm really stumped as to what it could be and he's not going in either direction, which makes it more confusing for me.

A friend suggested some of the symptoms could point to diabetes, which I will mention to the Doc. Is testing for that similar to a human test?

Mimicatmom said:

PS Vraiment Français?

Click to expand...

Sorry, no My little buddy is named Steve French. It definitely raises some eyebrows when people find out haha.

SteveFrench said:

 
Thanks for the replies. I'm going to bring him to a different vet as soon as I can get in. I'm really stumped as to what it could be and he's not going in either direction, which makes it more confusing for me.

A friend suggested some of the symptoms could point to diabetes, which I will mention to the Doc. Is testing for that similar to a human test?

Click to expand...

Diabetes is tested with a simple fructosamine blood test. They could've already done a blood sugar test. I would think that if there were no abnormalities on that one, it would be unnecessary to proceed with the fructosamine test. More typically cats get stressed out (it can happen just from the fact that they are taking a blood sample), and that produces an artificially high blood sugar test. If the vet suspects diabetes, they recommend doing the fructosamine test. My vets have told me that they don't suspect diabetes until the first blood sugar test gets way high, like over 300 or 400. Otherwise they write it off to stress induced results.

The vet office I go to has four doctors and one is considered the "cat doctor" even though she does see all kinds of pets. When it came to my cat I think she was just a little bit more in tune to cats and how they react, sickness etc. You might see if you have a vet that has a doctor that specializes in cats even if its not a cat only vet. Just a thought...

The back leg stiffness concerns me.   I had a 10 year old cat that got a bit stiff in the back legs (very subtle) but it turned out that he had heart disease.    When diabetes gets bad enough to make your cat act really sick, the cat will generally be very thirsty and hungry as well.   

Did the vet address any parasite issues?  I also think that an X-ray would be a good idea.   Good luck with your kitty - please keep us posted on how he is doing!

Diabetes in cat have some symptoms that are usually quite clear ( drinking +++, urinating+++) and then again you or your vet would have seen that on the blood panel.

See here for what a blood panel comprises AT LEAST:   http://www.advancedcarepethospital.com/Blood.Tests.html   

One way or the other, ALWAYS try to get a copy of your cat's records and tests. Believe me it is ALWAYS useful ( take the advice from a person who just got her cat overdosed by a vet. He died.)

By the way is Steve French young or older? Because if he is young and jumping up and down all over the place, he could also have a torn muscle, or if he is older, this could just be arthritis which could explain why he does not really want to groom ( go bend over and backwards when you are stiff)

He's eating and drinking normally so I think diabetes isn't the problem. He's only about 18 months old, so I don't think it's arthritis either. A torn muscle could be possible, we do also have a 6 month old kitten named Fidget who usually keeps him pretty occupied. Our current vet didn't bring up parasites, just told us to monitor him and see how his condition progresses for a few days. 

I'm very particular about getting and keeping a record of everything regarding their care, so bringing that to the new vet won't be an issue. I'll ask if they have anyone who specializes in cats as well, thanks for the idea. There's still been no change in him. I will be bringing him to a new vet on Monday and will report back with hopefully good news.

Keep us posted. I don't know where you are from but if you are in California DO NOT go to UC Davis school of vet med for diagnosis or care. PLEASE. Malpractices cases are numerous there and sadly I have learned this once they have misdiagnosed and overdosed my cat with for a 8lb cat, the dose for a full grown.... MAN of a drug that never received the FDA authorization in animals ( he died). He was there for tests and a one time procedure referred by my vet, he ended up dead...

I feel for ya - I ended up with a 6 month old cat hospitalized with a 105 degree fever for three days.  Two weeks before that I kept bringing him to the vet because he was lethargic and just seemed off.  They couldn't find anything obviously wrong with him and, to their credit, I think they didn't want to put him through a fishing expedition of tests.  Well on Sunday (why is it always on the weekend) he sat there with his face facing the corner of the couch and not moving.  I took his temperature and off to the emergency vet we went.  Long story short, after he was transferred to the regular vet I told them to just run whatever tests they needed to figure it out and to hell with the cost.  He spent two more days in the hospital before he was diagnosed with Bartonella, had a course of antibiotics and it took awhile, but he got back to his energetic, normal self.  So that's my two cents as far as what to test for.  My understanding is that Bartonella is pretty ubiquitous and that one $60 test saved us from a laundry list of other expensive tests. 

I don't know other people's experience, but the vets a lot more nochalant about wait and see than I am, so I can especially relate to that feeling that you should get a second opinion.

So sorry about your cat Mimi, that must have been terrible. Hopefully they were held accountable for that.

We took him in this afternoon. His fever is gone and he acts pretty normally other then the lethargy and stiffness. Blood tests are relatively normal. Dr is fairly certain it's anaplasmosis, which is a bacterial infection caused by tick bites. He was going outside on a leash for a few minutes every now and again when it was nice out, so it's very possible he was bitten, as ticks are quite common in my neck of the woods. We were given a 30 day round of Minocycline and will see if he responds to that over the next few days. We also got a probiotic to help equalize his flora during the meds. 

He does seem to be doing a little bit better as of this afternoon, he was very purry and affectionate. Hopefully the antibiotics will knock this out for him.

Hi SteveFrench,

That's great. Well great... So to speak! At least you have a diagnosis.

Did you ever find a tick on him?Normally ticks are "boarding" a pet and once they are full of blood they let go of the pet, stay in the grass for while and embark on another victim few days later, but it does not happen overnight. They stay onto the animal for a while so it is weird that you haven't seen anything on a light colored short hair cat.... That was an experienced tick! DId the vet say when you are supposed to see a difference and figure out that he is out of the woods?

Glad he seems to be doing better, he is going to be tired for a while the poor thing. Please give him a belly rub on my behalf!