Dilema with heavy heart

[kai bengals]

I've been trying to stay upbeat here by posting funny pictures of our bengals and injecting humor into threads. Therapy for myself mostly.

It helps me deal with what one of our cats is going through. His name is Kahekili, and his picture is found below. Kahekili was the name of the last prince/king of the island of Maui.
Kahekili is only one year old and he can longer walk at all. We've been struggling with his condition for 3 months now. He got better for a short time, then took a nosedive for the worst. The vets can't find anything physically wrong with him. All his tests check out fine. I'm at a loss to what is wrong with our beloved boy.
He's been a trooper through all of it....the shots, the needles, the tests, the vet visits, the indignities suffered by cats who can't use the litter box on their own, the fact that he has to eat supported by one of us, etc etc. Never has he complained or fussed.
Everyday he puts on his best face and meows encouragingly, purrs and gives us love. I watch him steadily lose muscle mass in his limbs and I grieve. My wife sobs daily, she can't speak of it without crying.
I don't know what to do, he is so happy to be around us, but is this any life for a cat who was so vibrant, so full of life, so young?
I don't think he will get better, the vets are grasping for straws now. I can't bear to see him like this and I can't bear to put him down.
I need to find the strength somewhere to make a decision. It is so very difficult.

 

[amandaofcols]

Would a kitty wheelchair help at all? I know they can be fashioned for dogs who lost function in their back legs, I'm sure they can make one for kitties too!!
My prayers and thoughts are with you!!

 

[antares]

Kai, what do you think to contact a homeopath? Maybe could be an idea. All the best.

 

[hopehacker]

Oh, this is breaking my heart. He is such a beautiful cat. I know how vibrant and active Bengals are, so I'm sure it's not easy to watch your precious boy, so helpless. I would take him to a specialist. If it isn't something easily found by the vets, maybe a specialist could give him a CAT scan to check out his brain to see if maybe there is something pressing on a part of his brain, causing him to not be able to stand up. I pray to God that it can be operated on and that he can be back to normal. It seems such a shame to put a young beautiful cat like him down, but I know it is hard to watch him suffer like this. Have you had a brain scan done? Have you had a CAT scan done? It may be costly, but if you can afford it, I would do it. He's such a beautiful boy, and he sounds like such a sweetheart. My heart is with you, and your beautiful boy. I will pray for him.

 

[wellingtoncats]

Oh dear, I have no advice for you just warm hugs

 

[gilly]

Oh that's really sad

But, I actually admire your cats strength & determination - I wish that us humans could be like that.

I hope that you decide on the next best treatment action soon

 

[sharky]

Kitty wheelchair... and a specialist again..

and prayers..

 

[rosiemac]

Please don't give up on him, because where theres life theres some hope

And if you can find a specialist that would be even better.

He isn't in any pain is he?!

 

[turtlecat]

Nial there are some really good specialists if you're willing to drive to Raleigh. I highly suggest the NC state Vetrinary hospital, or VSH in Cary.. When my Dachshund had to have his spine fused, we went to the NC State Vertrinary hospital and they were excellent.

 

[halfpint]

Oh how sad, My thoughts and prayers are with you. What a beautiful boy he is, the best of luck, I hope you can find a vet that can figure it all out.

 

[emb_78]

Don't give up

 

[kai bengals]

Thanks to you all for the support!
It breaks our heart to see him like this. He's always been so active and just full of life.
I refuse to give up on him yet, we're trying everything you can imagine. He just went in for accupuncture yesterday, with no improvement.
We won't let him go if there is any chance of recovery and he's in no pain that I can tell...it just wears on us so bad that we can't do more for him and I know he's not happy in his circumstance.
He's just such a good cat, he tries to make us feel better about the whole thing. Sad.....very sad.

 

[kai bengals]

Originally Posted by turtlecat

Nial there are some really good specialists if you're willing to drive to Raleigh. I highly suggest the NC state Vetrinary hospital, or VSH in Cary.. When my Dachshund had to have his spine fused, we went to the NC State Vertrinary hospital and they were excellent.

Thank-you! I will give them a call and see what can be done!

 

[sunnicat]

I'm sorry that your beautiful boy is going through such an ordeal. It must make you so very proud of him as he faces each day with strength and courage! Sending you a hug and hoping that this is something that can be resolved, in one way or another. Good luck to you.

 

[kai bengals]

Originally Posted by sunnicat

I'm sorry that your beautiful boy is going through such an ordeal. It must make you so very proud of him as he faces each day with strength and courage! Sending you a hug and hoping that this is something that can be resolved, in one way or another. Good luck to you.

Thank-you! I am proud of his courage..very much so. He's just amazing. I will take him to NC state for more evaluation. Hopefully something can be done for him.
Thanks for all the encouragement from everyone....that's what we needed!

 

[rosehawke]

And please keep us updated, Nial, yes?

 

[ravin]

what a beauty, this is just a guess but when i was younger my mom got a retired police dog and he started doing pretty much the same thing we found out he had arthritis (sp?) real bad, he lost all function of both bacl legs. It took awhile before we found it out. Just an idea.

 

[fatkitties]

Oh I hope he gets better soon! That's so sad. ((hugs)) for all of you.

Amber

 

[stormy]

That is so sad

I hope you can find some answers soon. Sending lots of good vibes to Kahekili.

 

[lndscpsam]

Originally Posted by Kai Bengals

Thanks to you all for the support!
It breaks our heart to see him like this. He's always been so active and just full of life.
I refuse to give up on him yet, we're trying everything you can imagine. He just went in for accupuncture yesterday, with no improvement.
We won't let him go if there is any chance of recovery and he's in no pain that I can tell...it just wears on us so bad that we can't do more for him and I know he's not happy in his circumstance.
He's just such a good cat, he tries to make us feel better about the whole thing. Sad.....very sad.

Has your vet suggested a scan? It could be a tumor somewhere along the spine or maybe a herniated disk pressing on the spine. I only suggest this because it happened to a dog of mine last year. Turned out he had a slipped disk that was causing him to be paralyzed. Just some food for thought. Good luck!! Your kitties are sooooo beautiful!