Cat with sudden paralysis

Yesterday morning, my 9 month old cat suddenly became semi-paralyzed. She could only pull herself across the floor on her side. I immediately called a cat vet in the area, who scheduled me for much later in the day. Looking back, I probably should have gone to a different vet at that point, but it's a highly rated clinic, and I figured if they didn't think from my description that it was an emergency, it'd be all right to wait.

Anyway, by the time I got there, she was much worse. Her head was lolling back, and she wasn't moving at all. The vet did some blood tests, gave her steroids, an antibiotic, and some fluids, and sent her home. I was honestly kind of unhappy with their treatment; for such a highly rated and pricy vet, they really didn't look much at her, no light in the eyes, no taking her temperature, just a glance in her ears. Today the blood work came back negative. They have no other suggestions, other than a CAT scan, which they indicated would be expensive and largely pointless.

She doesn't go outside, she hasn't had an accident that I've been aware of, and there aren't poisons in the house. For the past month or so she's seemed a bit klutzy, but I chalked it up to being a growing 9 month old cat. She was found in a ditch when she was a newborn by a coworker, who couldn't take proper care of her, so maybe she didn't have good nutrition as a youngster. She's alert, and she purrs and stretches when I pet her, but she can't move more than that. She had a brief period this morning when she wobbled to her feet, but tonight she seems back to being her weakened self.

She's the sweetest thing in the world, and I will do anything in my power to help her. If anyone can offer suggestions, please do. I'm desperate and heartbroken.

yokitty said:

Yesterday morning, my 9 month old cat suddenly became semi-paralyzed. She could only pull herself across the floor on her side. I immediately called a cat vet in the area, who scheduled me for much later in the day. Looking back, I probably should have gone to a different vet at that point, but it's a highly rated clinic, and I figured if they didn't think from my description that it was an emergency, it'd be all right to wait.

Anyway, by the time I got there, she was much worse. Her head was lolling back, and she wasn't moving at all. The vet did some blood tests, gave her steroids, an antibiotic, and some fluids, and sent her home. I was honestly kind of unhappy with their treatment; for such a highly rated and pricy vet, they really didn't look much at her, no light in the eyes, no taking her temperature, just a glance in her ears. Today the blood work came back negative. They have no other suggestions, other than a CAT scan, which they indicated would be expensive and largely pointless.

She doesn't go outside, she hasn't had an accident that I've been aware of, and there aren't poisons in the house. For the past month or so she's seemed a bit klutzy, but I chalked it up to being a growing 9 month old cat. She was found in a ditch when she was a newborn by a coworker, who couldn't take proper care of her, so maybe she didn't have good nutrition as a youngster. She's alert, and she purrs and stretches when I pet her, but she can't move more than that. She had a brief period this morning when she wobbled to her feet, but tonight she seems back to being her weakened self.

She's the sweetest thing in the world, and I will do anything in my power to help her. If anyone can offer suggestions, please do. I'm desperate and heartbroken.

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You certainly need a second opinion, and as quickly as you can manage.  You doubtless know that the two most common causes of rapid onset rear limb paralysis in cats are Clostridium botulinum - Botulism - generally from eating uncooked meat - and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (an aortic embolysm).

Do your best to have her seen by a qualified Vet, and best wishes for her recovery.

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Y yokitty
Is there a veterinary ER near you? If your kitty isn't walking, she isn't eating or drinking, and that can lead to other critical health problems. Do a web search for emergency or 24-hour vets near xxx (zip code or city) to see what is available near you. You can feed her soup made with pate wet food and water with a syringe or eyedropper. That might help stabilize her until you can get her to a vet. It's important to react sooner and not later
Let us know how you both are doing

I'm heading to the ER. I'll let you all know what happens.

Thanks.

yokitty said:

I'm heading to the ER. I'll let you all know what happens.

Thanks.

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Hoping for some good news on her today.

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Sorry for the delayed update.

I took her to the ER, as stated. They fed her some high-calorie food, gave her a steroid injection, some more fluids, and sent her home. I took her to a third vet this morning, with a similar unsatisfactory result. This vet mentioned the possibility of FIP, which was pretty much exactly what I didn't want to hear.

The thing helping her most seems to be the steroids. She can sort of walk, shakily, for several hours afterwards. Then slowly her mobility diminishes until the next steroid dose.

I will keep doing what I can, and go back to a vet on Monday. I hope it's not FIP.

yokitty said:

Sorry for the delayed update.

I took her to the ER, as stated. They fed her some high-calorie food, gave her a steroid injection, some more fluids, and sent her home. I took her to a third vet this morning, with a similar unsatisfactory result. This vet mentioned the possibility of FIP, which was pretty much exactly what I didn't want to hear.

The thing helping her most seems to be the steroids. She can sort of walk, shakily, for several hours afterwards. Then slowly her mobility diminishes until the next steroid dose.

I will keep doing what I can, and go back to a vet on Monday. I hope it's not FIP.

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I'm very sorry to hear this report.  Since you're seeing a Vet on Monday, you might consider asking her or him about  hypertrophic feline muscular dystrophy, which is basically a dystrophin deficiency-induced form of rhabdomyolysis, just to rule the possibility out.  Not trying to second-guess your Vet, but it's not a possible diagnosis which might spring immediately to the mind while doing an examination.

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Unfortunately, she said it's more likely FIP.

Is there a possibility it could be from a tic?  I know you said she doesn't go outside, but is it possible a tic got on someone's clothes and then on her?  I'm just hoping for anything but FIP.

There was a case of a dog who became paralyzed really quickly and was at the vet's to be put down when the tech noticed a tic on the dogs ear.  After the tic was carefully removed, the dog's symptoms resolved within less than a day.  I can only hope something similar is going on here with your kitty.  

Also, can you get a consult to see a neurologist?  Admittedly, I don't know much about FIP, but it sounds like a neurological problem to me.  

I've felt over her, and didn't feel any tick. I don't know much about tick-borne diseases, but would it not show up in the bloodwork?

The vets seemed to all indicate that neurological testing would be a waste of time, since they mostly think it's FIP. But (and I say this guardedly, trying not to raise my hopes, or anyone else's) she seemed a tiny bit better today. She has a very good appetite, she can make it to the box okay, her stool is solid, and she actually tried to play pitty-pat with my other cat under the door (I have her quarantined, and I think she's bored.) She still falls over all the time, and her legs don't work right at all, but mentally and emotionally she seems in a good place.

I'm not sure if it'd show up in blood work or not.  I think that was why they were going to put that dog to sleep, because they'd done blood work and all kinds of tests and nothing showed up.

Sorry but her symptoms still don't sound like FIP to me.  I wouldn't think she would be eating well at this point, nor using the litter box normally.   I would get a 2nd opinion if I were you.  Also get a 2nd opinion from some of the advisors here at this site about FIP.  Ask Margd.  You could pm her.  If she doesn't know the answer she could help you find someone who does.  Keep us updated please.  I wouldn't give up yet though

Thank you. I PM'd them. Unfortunately they're as stumped as the rest of us. But they agree it seems she's getting better, if slowly.

That's good news if she's getting better  Please keep updating us.

Wow. I gave her a stuffed toy mouse, and she actually is PLAYING with it. She's biting it, and wooling it with her hind legs (as best she can, obviously).

I'm over the moon.

That's great!!!

Well, things are progressing. She's even "running", periodically, and even managed somehow to climb into a clothes hamper. She's very bored, and wants to go on a zoomie rampage, but her muscles won't let her. Along with the steroids, I've started adding a B vitamin supplement.

I took her once more to yet another vet, who said he doesn't think it's FIP. He mentioned cerebellar hypoplasia, but I thought that usually manifests much earlier?

I can't for the life of me figure this thing out.

That sounds much more likely than FIP.  Whatever it is, it sounds like kitty is doing ok for now.  I hope she continues to improve and fool her vets!

Can you post a video of her?

I'll have to borrow a phone from a friend, my old flip phone doesn't do video. It might take a few days but I'll see what I can do.

I have a cat who, 2 years ago, suffered similar symptoms though with slower onset.  I wouldn't describe it as paralysis, but he suffered extreme weakness and atrophy of muscles in his back legs to the point of barely being able to walk, had a low-grade fever, and almost no appetite.  Vet diagnosed it as dry FIP and said to put him down but it just didn't fell right to me.  2.5 years later, he's completely healthy.  While the symptoms you describe sound like FIP, my understanding is that cats rarely get better, only pause in the onset of their symptoms.  So I think it's a great sign she's playing and seems to feel much better!  Not sure if this is helpful, but I managed to get my boy to eat more by soaking high-calorie dry kitten food in KMR kitten milk replacer, which is also high calorie and fortified with vitamins.  I did that for about 3 months while he recovered.  Hope your little one continues to improve and makes a full recovery!