Cat lethargic and acting strange

Background on cat-  5 years old, indoor only, current on shots.  Have another cat that is 4 years old that is perfectly fine right now

About two weeks ago cat was sneezing in rapid sucession like 5-6 times and then would be fine.  He would do this a few times a day and had VERY minor discharge around his eye/nose area but that hasnt been observed in the last week or so.   Last 3 days he has been acting very lethargic and laying in places for extended periods of time where he usually doesnt lay down.  He also is walking slower and slightly more hunched over.  He has been eating and drinking perfectly fine and no issues there.  He even hopped up onto our bed Thursday night and laid with us all night.

We took him to the vet Friday night and his breathing and heart rate were perfectly fine although during the exam they noticed his temp was slightly lower than it should be (98.7).  They poked and prodded him and didnt find any noticable lumps or swelled up bladder.  The vet then determined we should get a blood test done which came back mostly normal except a slightly lower white blood cell count specifically the lymphocytes I believe they said.  He said it could be from the body fighting off a virus which to me makes sense because of the sneezing and what not happening 1-2 weeks before.

Just not sure what to do right now.  I love my cat with all my life and he just isnt acting like himself.  I think we are going to take him back in tommorow to get an Xray/Ultrasound done to make sure there is no blockage or something else going on.

Anyone have anything similar to this.  My cat is still eating and drinking, still alert with his gums and eyes completely fine and not dehydrated.  Just seems in discomfort and doesnt want to move from spot to spot and wants to lay down in one spot half the day. 

I havent noticed him go into the litter box today but it does seem like he is in discomfort when moving around as he is slower walking and hunched over lower to the ground.

Still kind of out of it...when I went to pick him up he meowed a little bit.  Have him laying on something soft and put some warm things around him to see if that helps any.

Cleaned out litter box and put him in it but all he did was sit in it for a while and then move out to lay right next to it.  He didnt even try to go to the bathroom

When you say blockage, are you talking urinary or elsewise?  If you at all suspect urinary, he needs emergency help asap, although I''d think he would be TRYING to use the box with little or no output.  If you suspect constipation or that type of blockage, normally they stop eating when it becomes really bad. 

It could be something else.  What is he on shots for?  I definitely agree that he needs to be seen again, because any time there is a change in behavior,it means something is up.  At least he's still eating...that's a very good sign. 

mrsgreenjeens said:

 
When you say blockage, are you talking urinary or elsewise?  If you at all suspect urinary, he needs emergency help asap, although I''d think he would be TRYING to use the box with little or no output.  If you suspect constipation or that type of blockage, normally they stop eating when it becomes really bad. 

It could be something else.  What is he on shots for?  I definitely agree that he needs to be seen again, because any time there is a change in behavior,it means something is up.  At least he's still eating...that's a very good sign. 

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I just meant he is current on all shots...ex...rabies...and the like, just for background info

Im not quite sure what to think.  He ate and drank normally again today but he still seems to just want to lay around and seems bothered or in discomfort to move.  He did walk around just a little bit here and there after eating and drinking but then laid back down again where he hasnt moved from in a while. 

He does seem a bit sensitive on the chest but when the vet examined him he didnt meow or they didnt seem concerned.  They said his breathing was fine. 

The fact he is eating and drinking but I havent really seen him use the litter box is alarming.  I havent seen pee or poop outside of it either.  When I physically put him in it just a bit ago he just turned around and stepped out.  From what I read if there is a blockage from the front end a cat will usually try to puke it out or just not eat.  If it is a problem coming out they usually try to go to the bathroom but cant or go in there frequently.  They did a blood test which would include any kidney related issues so im just not sure what to think.

I think the next step will be to do an Xray but im just at a loss for what is going on

Hes been walking to get his food and water the last few days and hasnt had to be forced to eat.   The vet had said just to keep an eye on him since it might be just fighting a virus since he had a lower temp than normal and lower white blood cell count.   I think we are just going to take him in to get an Xray and then go from there

Did you take him in yet  today?  Keep us updated, ok?

Did they check for heart murmur? If they did, did they do it in a quiet room? Our Will's murmur was detected when the vet took him into a quiet room to double check before giving fluids.

mrsgreenjeens said:

 
Did you take him in yet  today?  Keep us updated, ok?

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So we ended up taking him in on Sunday night.   They took his temp and checked his lungs and heart again but nothing alarming.  His temp this time was actually a little high at 102...and last time it was 98.7.  They did an Xray and he had constipation issues it looked like since he had alot of poop stuck in him.  They got some hard chunks out and gave him subcu fluids, antibiotics, some pain meds, and some lactulose syrup to help flush out his system a bit.  I had expressed concerns with a urinary issue but they said there was nothing to worry about from that end by looking at the xray, bloodwork, and just examining him.

When we got home he was close to being back to the cat we know, he even jumped up on the bed with us when we were sleeping and laid inbetween us.  He looked somewhat better and my guess is it had to do with the pain reduction they gave him as that seems to be the main reason he is lethargic.   He has only used the litter box sparingly though, and since then has still been fairly lethargic.  He gets up to eat and move here and there but im just so worried about him.  He just seems so weak and uncomfortable.  Last night he did move around a bit an even visit us by the shower when we were cleaning off which is something he usually does but hasnt lately.  He even came to the edge of the bed again and probably wanted to jump up but didnt want to be in pain from doing it would be my guess.

I have been monitoring him when he goes in and eats but he hasnt been taking drinks from the water bowls that are there.  I even give him fresh water as he is in the kitchen but its still a  no go.  He isnt dehydrated though so we are good on that front.  We have another appointment Friday so hopefully by then he is feeling a bit better.  He isnt in serious condition with meowing or being audible that he is in pain.  

Im starting to worry we might need to do an ultrasound to detect any intestinal, liver, kidney, and other soft tissue diseases but I just dont know what to do.  Maybe im just overreacting and hes just going through being sick and being constipated and it will eventually work itself out but he just isnt himself and has been way more lethargic than usual.

With the lactulose, he should be pooping regularly now.  Is he not?  If he is still not himself, then I think you have every right to worry.  YOU know your little guy better than anyone, and if you don't think he's acting right, then there's probably a reason.  I'm glad he has a follow-up appointment tomorrow.

BUT, I still say the fact that he's eating is a pretty good sign. 

mrsgreenjeens said:

 
With the lactulose, he should be pooping regularly now.  Is he not?  If he is still not himself, then I think you have every right to worry.  YOU know your little guy better than anyone, and if you don't think he's acting right, then there's probably a reason.  I'm glad he has a follow-up appointment tomorrow.

BUT, I still say the fact that he's eating is a pretty good sign. 

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Took him to another vet because my wife was really worried and rushed him to the closest one instead of going across town in bad weather to the one we had the appointment at.  They did an extensive rectal exam and he actually looked normal now as far as that goes.  He has still been eating and we go back there tommorow morning to have some more tests done.  They think it might possibly be some sort of neurological thing though as he kind of had that cat "stretch" when the vet took him and my wife noticed it too in the little box when she was petting him too.  We fear it might have been a mini seizure both times.   We were crying so much when I got home from work today right after she came back home.  They gave him sub Q fluids since he was a little dehydrated and so far he got out of the carrier to the kitchen where he ate a bit then sat down.  He decided to come out to our living room table and has been laying here ever since.  He just looks so uncomfortable and out of energy.  Unfor we may have to put him down tommorow and im heartbroken thinking about it.  He is my first cat and he means the world to me.

Wht happened with the follow-up visit?   I'm hoping the fact that you haven't posted an update isn't bad news     

mrsgreenjeens said:

 
Wht happened with the follow-up visit?   I'm hoping the fact that you haven't posted an update isn't bad news

  

 

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They had him on an IV for 2 days and also sent us home with some steroids to help inflamation.  He actually seemed pretty much like his normal self for about 2 weeks but starting Saturday night til now he has reverted back to being lethargic.  They had done a couple more tests that came back negative as well.

They thought he might of just had a virus and just needed help fighting it and maybe he still is and just regressed? 

He actually ate and drank a bit Sunday afternoon on his own accord and acting somewhat like his normal self but went downhill from there.  He also had used the literbox and peed and was having a hard time pooping but he did poop although it was hard.

Not sure whats going on with him.  We hope its not something around his head like a tumor or cancer or something which maybe the steroid helped reduce the pressure and swelling on. 

The symptoms he shows is just being lathergic and not wanting to move around all that much.  Laying more hunched over and curled in instead of relaxed.  When he tries to walk he dips his body and more specifially his back legs are fairly low.  At times when you go to pet around his head he cries/meows like it might be painful and at times his whiskers twitch, sort of like a seizure but not really.

He was walking pretty normal and back to normal right after he had the steroid and iv fluids in him though and that had lasted a good week and a half or so.  They said his temp was back to normal too on our followup visit 2 days after he was off his steroid medication.  It had been bouncing lower than normal and higher than normal between a few vet visits.

Right now they are giving him antibiotics and we are going from there.  Just so frustrating of a situation.  We have had blood tests done, xray, and other tests and all havent really showed anything.

Strange that the vet would say it's from a virus if the WBC is down- if you are fighting infection, your WBC should go up.

 Two months ago I almost lost my 2-year old cat and we still don't know what caused her issues. She was weak, lethargic, not eating, lost weight, her hind legs seems to be dragging a bit, not playing, and hiding under the bed which she never did before. She had a few strange 'seizure' type of twitches that would happen once in a while. She was also licking the tile /concrete floor and trying to eat litter (called Pica, usually a sign of a deficiency or anemia). Unknown to me at the time, these are all symptoms of anemia; I took her to emergency and they saw her gums were almost white (should be pink) so they ordered blood work- she had 1/5 of the normal red blood cell count of a healthy cat so her entire system was badly deprived of oxygen (of course this also means her brain, which may have accounted for the mild seizures). We still do not know if her bone marrow was shutting down or if it was a toxin, an infection, or an autoimmune condition. She has been on Dexamethasone (steroid) for two months and is now almost 100% again thankfully. 

Her WBC was also down, which the vet could not explain. She had also previously been having sneezing, coughing, and had mild eye discharge from when I first got her.

Not sure if any of this is helpful but I wish you well and good luck!

Is your baby still constipated? a lot of this could be from constipation.. have they done another x-ray? 

Hate to say it, but an enema could help if it is constipation.. 

the low WBC is disconcerting. 

so sorry you are going through all of this.. is there a Vet school near you.. you could take your baby there for a consult.. 

I feel for you and your wife.. and your baby.. 

((hugs)))

CatDaddy007 said:

 
Strange that the vet would say it's from a virus if the WBC is down- if you are fighting infection, your WBC should go up.

 Two months ago I almost lost my 2-year old cat and we still don't know what caused her issues. She was weak, lethargic, not eating, lost weight, her hind legs seems to be dragging a bit, not playing, and hiding under the bed which she never did before. She had a few strange 'seizure' type of twitches that would happen once in a while. She was also licking the tile /concrete floor and trying to eat litter (called Pica, usually a sign of a deficiency or anemia). Unknown to me at the time, these are all symptoms of anemia; I took her to emergency and they saw her gums were almost white (should be pink) so they ordered blood work- she had 1/5 of the normal red blood cell count of a healthy cat so her entire system was badly deprived of oxygen (of course this also means her brain, which may have accounted for the mild seizures). We still do not know if her bone marrow was shutting down or if it was a toxin, an infection, or an autoimmune condition. She has been on Dexamethasone (steroid) for two months and is now almost 100% again thankfully. 

Her WBC was also down, which the vet could not explain. She had also previously been having sneezing, coughing, and had mild eye discharge from when I first got her.

Not sure if any of this is helpful but I wish you well and good luck!

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Thats the weird thing though.  His gums were perfectly fine as well.  He also has had ZERO discharge from his eye and hasnt even been sneezing or coughing lately.

They gave us antibiotics and steroids to use for the next few weeks and he is allready feeling like his old self again, although still a little bit cautious and slower.

They actually said they saw SOME crystals in his urine but they didnt seem overly concerned about it.  We got him special food for it anyway though since they wrote a prescription but hes been peeing normally.  He peed twice today and there was a decent ammount of it.

It SEEMS like the steroid is doing a really good job so he must have some sort of inflamation somewhere.  My wife thinks it might be swelling around his brain area related to a tumor but that is something we havent looked into.  I mean right now I can pet all around his head and he doesnt meow or act like hes in pain so idk, im at a loss

Artiemom said:

 
Is your baby still constipated? a lot of this could be from constipation.. have they done another x-ray? 

Hate to say it, but an enema could help if it is constipation.. 

the low WBC is disconcerting. 

so sorry you are going through all of this.. is there a Vet school near you.. you could take your baby there for a consult.. 

I feel for you and your wife.. and your baby.. 

((hugs)))

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The first time we took him in they did an xray to see if there was anything and he was constipated but since then pretty much everytime we have brought him in they havent noticed constipation or issues with that.  The WBC was also just slightly low the first time we took him in about a month ago but I dont think we have retested it.

Like I have said latelythere is no issues with vomiting, coughing, sneezing, he has been eating and drinking all this time too.  He is SLIGHTLY overweight at 13 or so pounds but he is also a slightly larger cat.

They said he was slightly dehydrated again when we took him in yesterday which I dont understand since he had been drinking a decent ammount and also had wet food added here and there into his diet.

Yesterday they did an internal organ function screen and a urinalysis but all they came up with was he had SOME crystals in his pee, but like I said they didnt sound overly concerned about that.  He also has been peeing this whole time and hasnt been in pain or straining to pee

So far

NEGATIVE FOR

Toxoplasma IgM Antibody, Toxoplasma IgG Antibody

Heartworm

FIV

FELV

Urine WBC

Urine RBC

Urine Ketone

Urine Cast

Urine Bacteria

POSTIVE FOR

Urine Cystals- but Urine PH was normal

ABOVE NORMAL URINE PROTEIN

NORMAL LEVELS of

Glucose

Cholestorol

Calcium

Amylase

What is his potassium level?  Do you have copies of his bloodwork?  Low potassium causes them to walk on their "hocks" , general weakness, can cause lethary, constipation, twitches, a stiff neck, even hoarseness. 

Why does your wife suspect a brain tumor?  just a gut feeling? 

BTW, our Vet told us that pretty much all cats have a small amount of crystals in their urine.  Said this was normal.  .

My cat caught the same thing. He likes to  be outside in summer .  But, likes to push the limits and got sick. He also wasnt up to date with his shots. He was sneezing often and was getting sick fast. so i went on line and  found that could give him lower doses of amoxicillin. In his daily soft food.  I also found i was able to give him prednisone 5mg  i gave him once a day for 5 days . And finished the amox in 7 . Thank God he is better now. Shots are important . They protect. Letting them by the woods at the end of summer beginning in fall isnt good . For some reason there are germs that seems to form with the mold .  My guy is on a leash. but not allowed to be on that leash towards the end of summer.  Hope that Helps

P.S. He was at the point of coughing up blood. Thats why i did the drastic measures

mrsgreenjeens said:

 
What is his potassium level?  Do you have copies of his bloodwork?  Low potassium causes them to walk on their "hocks" , general weakness, can cause lethary, constipation, twitches, a stiff neck, even hoarseness. 

Why does your wife suspect a brain tumor?  just a gut feeling? 

BTW, our Vet told us that pretty much all cats have a small amount of crystals in their urine.  Said this was normal.  .

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It says 4.100 mmol/L and the range for normal is 3.500 - 5.800 mmol/L? I believe