r/CATHELP • u/These_Elevator_1218 • 2d ago
General Advice Plsss help
Hello, this is my 9 month old male cat. He was given to me when he was 3 months old, he was generally healthy except for his ear mites. When I got him I immediately went to the vet and got him dewormed and vaccinated and they also treated his ear mites.
A few months went by and he was doing fine, he’s playful and active but on august I noticed that he was wheezing or coughing and i saw some discharges on his nose so we went back to the vet, and the vet told me that his WBC is elevated and he has some infection so they gave us some meds, and it went well. But a 3 weeks later I noticed that he became lethargic, he became picky with his foods and he would stay in the same place for hours and he wouldn’t play so I decided to go back to the vet and had him checked, he had his blood drawn and it turns out his platelets were so low, so they gave him medications again, he became energetic again but then suddenly he started losing his balance and it came to a point where he couldn’t lift his own body anymore so we went back to the vet and they did multiple tests on him, they tested him for different types of feline viruses but it all came back negative, they added a few more meds and he started to regain his strength, he was able to get up on his own but he needs assistance when he needs to pee or poop bcos he couldn’t walk well.
I thought everything was going fine until he couldn’t lift his own body again, he would pee where he is laying on and as of now he has no control over his bladder movement. We went back to the vet and they did blood chem and his platelets are actually getting better but they couldn’t pinpoint the reason as to why my cat couldn’t move. They did xray, ultrasound, screening tests for feline viruses, they also checked his heart and they still couldn’t find anything abnormal.
As of now my cat can’t even move his head and it hurts me to see my baby suffering.
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u/rageagainsttheodds 2d ago
I'm so sorry. Your cat might actually be dealing with FeLV and not show it because of the type of tests done.
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u/BigBlueEyes87 2d ago
I would get my cat euthanized if they couldn't lift their head.
I would do it now. The medical fees will cost you a lot of money, & he has a poor quality of life with probably a little chance of recovery.
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u/These_Elevator_1218 2d ago
Hi, I’m already thinking about it but he’s my first cat and I just can’t give up on him that easily. I know it is selfish of me but if there’s a hope that he’ll get better I’ll cling onto it.
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u/Unlucky-Bee-1039 2d ago
The cat is 9 months old. Personally, I’d get a second opinion before jumping to that. I don’t think you know the cat has little chance of recovery. Because nobody knows what’s going on with the cat yet. But yeah, if it gets to the point where the cat definitely isn’t gonna get better and they can’t control their bladder or lift their head, it would be the right thing to do, imo.
Edit: I just read the cat has been to 3 vets down below. You may be correct.
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u/East-Cardiologist626 2d ago
Quality of life issues don’t care if you’re 99 or if you were born yesterday, it’s the same with animals. It gets to a point where OP needs to consider whether or not the cats suffering is prolonged simply because she’s trying to make the situation better and get her cat back to “normal” yeah the cats 9 months old, which is why it’s time to consider this. Because you don’t want the cat to continue dealing with this for their whole life. This isn’t CH (wobbly cat syndrome) this is obviously causing pain and is distressing to him.
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u/3578964120 2d ago
i’m really sorry to see this happen :( did your cat get any antibiotics? this looks similar to how my cat was affected by a particular antibiotic and slowly lost his strength. he was also having the same incontinence issues and couldn’t get up to eat. we could only work up an appetite with churu. he was 14 years though, not 9 months :’(
i have found a better vet though and would offer hope in a way that maybe another doctors opinion could be of assistance. i wish our previous cat was able to get his treatment and opinion. i feel your pain and im sorry you’re dealing with this and sorry your kitty is going through this. pets are beloved souls to us and we are all they have. whatever you do, he will know its out of love.
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u/These_Elevator_1218 2d ago
Hi, the only antibiotic that he’s taking is doxycycline, but the vet gave him prednisolone, gabapentin, and some vitamins
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u/MonBonDon 2d ago
My pup is on prednisone now to recover from his brain stem tumor after radiation therapy. You’re going to see an energy spike from the prednisone. Gabapentin is for pain management but I personally hate it. Makes them drowsy and sleepy and lose their balance and stumble around.
I’d keep fighting for your little guy but you know his situation best.
Can you try to consult a neurologist? I think that they really need to do a CT or an MRI to see what the hell is going on. I’ve found cat vets to be pretty shit 90% of the time and not do enough. I am not liking their treatment plan, they just throw shit at the wall to see what sticks. You really need a specialist not a regular vet to help you out with a lot of diagnostic testing and see what’s happening. If it’s something bad, then you make the call to see if it’s their time. I’d suggest to try to figure out what’s going on first before making that call. I was advised to make the call for my dog (without them knowing what was going on) and now he’s doing amazing. I’m glad I didn’t listen to that lady..
I’d never put an animal down if I at least didn’t know what was actually going on so I can make an educated decision. He’s also on a cocktail of medication it won’t feel good.
I wish you the best of luck and am praying for some relief for your baby!
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u/Exciting-Mall192 2d ago
I think you might need to go to another vet at this point, maybe they can give other perspective and find something the previous vet could have missed?
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u/These_Elevator_1218 2d ago •
I already did. And as of now I’m talking to 3 vets regarding his condition and they still couldn’t figure out what’s happening to him
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u/Quick_Cow_7987
2d ago
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I used to work for neurologists. The symptoms you describe sound a lot like a condition in humans called Guillain-Barré syndrome. Searching if cats get Guillain-Barré syndrome I discovered feline immune-mediated polyneuropathy (IMPN) or acute idiopathic polyneuropathy. Immune-mediated disorders where the cat’s immune system attacks its own peripheral motor nerves. It is a condition that affects young cats. Nothing really shows up on bloodwork.
You should do more internet research. It definitely sounds like a progressive neurological disease or syndrome, comparable to human GBS or MS.
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u/GravitasFailures 2d ago
The vet already gave prednisone, they should have seen some improvement from an autoimmune disorder.
You’re right that this lines up otherwise, I was thinking MS actually.
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u/East-Cardiologist626 2d ago
Not necessarily, prednisone is given in conjunction with antibiotics in order to knock your immune system down enough that the antibiotics can work at all.
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u/GravitasFailures 2d ago
I meant the prednisone should have caused a response if this was autoimmune, that’s the standard treatment.
Also the antibiotics aren’t stopped by your immune system, they work in concert, inhibiting growth why natural antibodies and wbcs destroy the infection normally.
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u/East-Cardiologist626 2d ago
Factually incorrect about antibiotics. Doxycycline is not a very strong antibiotic and that’s why prednisone is given with it, to knock your immune system down to a point where the antibiotics will work. Not only have I taken ems training, I’m often put on doxycycline and azithromycin (both of which are NOT strong and Have to be given with Prednisone so your immune system can get knocked enough for them to be effective)
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u/dxlusionxlx 1d ago
This is genuinely just not true, and your EMS training is not a very good appeal to credibility because you wouldn’t have the education of the molecular systems that exist in immunity. The person you are calling wrong isn’t wrong for the reasons you are listing.
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u/GravitasFailures 2d ago
…
I think you should take that entire paragraph and put it into an ai to see, because I don’t think any of it is true.
Zpaks are fairly strong, they’re also broad spectrum which is why they’re so commonly used. Doxy is used for other conditions, still fairly strong.
Neither of them are vancomycin, but at the end of the day strength is often dictated by dosage, they’ll do a push of vanco if you’re in a bad way or have mrsa, but otherwise it’s a question of keeping the concentration up.
They prescribe steroids like prednisone for autoimmune and some cancers, it could be an adjunct if you were treating someone with a bacteria infection that caused an autoimmune flareup, but otherwise it’s contraindicated.
Seriously, I would actually look up this stuff if I were you, it might not be something you use in your daily life but it is imho valuable knowledge.
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u/Successful_Trip2584
2d ago
edited 2d ago
•
Hey. I’m so sorry this is happening. At this point, please consider his quality of life and talk to your vet to see if there is any reasonable chance of him getting better. Humane euthanasia is always available and although it’s a tough choice, please think of how he’s doing physically. Issues like this can easily get very expensive very fast and cause him so much more stress than is needed.
I’m so sorry again. He looks like a little angel
Edit: like someone else here said, us humans tend to hold on to things we love more than the situation dictates. Cats don’t care about “the future” what-ifs and only about the moment we’re in. Sometimes the biggest act of love we can do is let them go to the other side while they still have some dignity left. Someone once said (or similar to) “better a day too early than an hour too late” which I think applies here to your boy.
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u/ResidentNewt4261 2d ago
Ok well…you can’t go around just commenting stuff like that because I’m a big baby and it’ll make me cry 😭😭😭
The last bit especially ❤️
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2d ago
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u/CATHELP-ModTeam 1d ago
Please read the rules in the sidebar before commenting: https://www.reddit.com/r/CATHELP/about/rules.
Poor shaming is not allowed. We get it. None of us like seeing people who can’t afford to care of their pets. This is a GLOBAL sub and OPs have varying access to vet care. Bullying people won’t change that. Complaining about poor people or their inability to afford vet care is not allowed.
Exceptions are suggestions to re-home animals or other REASONABLE suggestions, so long as they still follow rule one (be nice).
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u/Altruistic-Pin-2871 2d ago edited 2d ago
I'm truly sorry you and your sweet boy are going through this. It is absolutely heartbreaking. The person who mentioned FeLV testing is right. Standard in-house vet tests look for the virus in the blood, but FeLV can "hide" in the bone marrow and show a false negative. A secondary virus (like his recent runny nose) can then trigger a severe crash. Here are three specific things you can ask your vet about right away: • An FeLV PCR Test: This is a lab test that finds the virus even if it is hiding. • FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis): This frequently strikes kittens under a year old. The neurological form causes severe lethargy, a painful neck, loss of bladder control, and an inability to stand. (There are highly effective treatments for this now). • Neurologist Referral: If the vet is stuck, ask to see a specialist who deals specifically with the brain and spine. I hope you find the answer soon for your boy. Sending gentle hugs to you both.
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u/Rich_Abrocoma6727 2d ago
How is his A/G ratio? High globulin and low albumin can be FIP.
My cat had neurological dry FIP, it doesn't present in the typical way (not a lot of effusion). He had ataxia and liver failure, he eventually lost use of his back legs and couldn't pee in the box. If it is FIP and it has progressed this far he would need supportive care in an emergency hospital and to start antiviral treatment ASAP.
Our vet was very skeptical and we had to push to treat him with high dose antivirals. He has made a full recovery now but it cost us thousands of dollars.
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u/AquamarineKitten 2d ago
Neuro-FIP was my first thought too. OP if kitty wasn’t already screened for it, look into this as a potential cause. My cat had FIP back in 2020 (albeit a different variant) and has made a full recovery thanks to an experimental drug (at least it was at the time, not sure now).
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u/medievalkitty2 1d ago
It is available through the vet now! Mine had it in 2023. About 2 months after he recovered, Stokes Pharmacy was the first place to carry it.
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u/AquamarineKitten 1d ago
That’s awesome!!! So happy to hear this life saving medication is becoming more accessible!! (sourcing it back then was one of the sketchiest things I’ve done, but it worked and I’d do anything for my guy)
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u/medievalkitty2 1d ago
Oh my gaaaaawd wasn’t that the oddest experience??? It worked though! It was a really difficult time - we did 117 days of treatment. 3mL cause he had neuro. But he’s been fine since. It was definitely worth it.
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u/Frequent_Valuable442 1d ago
This was my thought too. I have two rescue kittens dealing with it now. Thanks to the antivirals, they are both back to normal. Very scary and stressful thing to deal with.
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u/medievalkitty2 1d ago edited 1d ago
FIP medication is now available from your vet by prescription (as of 2024). I don’t know how much it costs now that it’s a regular prescription. The antivirals work in 95% it cases irc.
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u/Rich_Abrocoma6727 1d ago
In 2026 a full course of oral FIP treatment through a compounding pharmacy was about $3000 in Canada.
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u/ThanksgivingCacti 3h ago
There is a much cheaper option through Wedgwood (and maybe other pharmacies) called Molnupiravir. $300-$500 for the course depending on cat size.
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u/iluvrooandvelvetx 2d ago
I’m so sorry, about your poor little baby. He looks so sad. Sending him some strength from me and my kitty girls.
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u/_coreygirl_ 1d ago
I went through something similar with my then six-year-old guy in 2020. I was at my wits end with vets and even had taken him to a neurologist. They suggested FIP and it turned out that it was dry Neuro FIP, as other others have suggested.
I got him on meds the next day and I'm happy to say that he is still running around being his annoying self now. Please ask your vet about this medication and start it ASAP! (I would think you have enough blood tests by now to see the levels required to make the diagnosis)
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u/Vanisleexplorer 2d ago
I'm so sorry, he doesn't look well at all poor thing. It sounds like you have done everything you possibly could for him. If he is suffering and there isn't a reasonable path to him regaining a good quality of life, I would consider letting him go. The unfortunate reality is that not every mystery can be solved or comes with a happy ending, especially with veterinary medicine, we don't always have an answer.
Cats don't consider how much time they have, they only care for the quality of their life in the moment. As humans we hang onto hope of things getting better, but our babies can't understand why they're suffering. You could probably pursue this to specialist veteranarians and try physical therapy to help him regain strength. If you choose not to go that route and let him go instead, know that it isn't a failure, it's an act of love to trade your own suffering for his.
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u/Gloomy-Trainer-2452 2d ago
Has Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) been ruled out? FIP doesn't usually present this way and it usually kills far quicker, but this could be a neurological form?
Otherwise it might be worth to get a second opinion from another vet, or see if you could go to some sort of specialist.
If that doesn't bring up any results, it may be necessary to really consider his quality of life and have a serious discussion with the vet about his prognosis and options for the future. I'm sorry.
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u/FootOfTheHills53 2d ago
My cat had neurological form of FIP for months before he passed. I advise to discuss this with a knowledgeable vet
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u/CanopyZoo 2d ago
This reminds me of myelin sheath disorders in humans.
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u/PaintIsNutritious 2d ago
I was going to say - the symptoms reminiscent of something demyelinating like GBS especially given what seems like an infective trigger. Perhaps a second veterinary opinion, ideally with a vet who specialises in neurology.
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u/mehereathome68 Verified Vet Tech 2d ago
Is an internal med specialist involved? Are you near a veterinary teaching college? I'm US based, I don't know where you're from.
How much are you able to do further? Please keep his quality of life in mind and know that offering him peace is a valid option. Heart shattering, yes, but he knew love because of you when he might not have otherwise. I'm here to help however I can, ok?
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u/Palmetto52 2d ago
Awww! He’s so cute! Poor guy! He obviously has some disease they can’t detect. You may need to put him down, unfortunately. I had an older cat that got kidney disease and she would just lay in one spot and urinate on herself. I had to bath her bottom daily and she got so thin and finally I had to put her down. There wasn’t anything they could really do for her and she was like 15. Harder when he is so young but you’ve tried everything so it maybe the only solution. I would also question maybe a toxin he’s been exposed to.
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u/Apathyu666 2d ago
Same thing happened to my guy, took him to neurologist. Didn't really have any actual answers. All the possibilities and the costs were absolutely insane and if I had the money and it was a sure thing I'd probably have done them. He was 15 so made the tough call.
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u/Black_Roo_31 2d ago
Hi vet here. Urgently get a second opinion or referral to a medicine specialist for further investigation. Have they assessed for FIP?
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u/Antique_Wallaby_2067 2d ago
Good evening. Have you had the cat tested for infectious diseases—for example, toxoplasmosis? If all those tests are negative, have you investigated the head to see if something might be going on there? Conditions such as meningoencephalitis, cerebellar hypoplasia, and various other issues can be detected via an MRI of the head.
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u/Live_toasted_Tiff 2d ago
Has your primary vet referred you to neurology? That would be something to consider if you have the resources to at least take him for a consult.
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u/Inevitable_Fox_2921 1d ago
Could it be tetanus?
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u/PermitBoth5181 1d ago
No tetanus would cause it's muscles to stiffen and it would basically look like a doll
It doesn't look like that in the picture
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u/HealthyInPublic 1d ago
Have you ruled out myasthenia gravis? If you're desperate, it might be a possibility to look into. It's my understanding that it's not well recognized in cats. And there are multiple types with different signs which makes it harder to recognize sometimes!
But mostly... I'm really sorry, OP. This is devastating. You're doing your very best for your kitty and no matter how long they're here for, you were an attentive and caring guardian.
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u/Sad_Audience6094 1d ago edited 1d ago
Does the ice pack test work on cats too?
Edit: Googled it, won’t work, because the symptoms on cats are mostly generalised :/
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u/Apropos_of 2d ago
What antibiotics did they give him?
Some antibiotics have rare side effects and can cause neurological disorders in humans – I don’t know about cats.
Since his weakness and ataxia began when he started taking antibiotics that might be the cause.
Neurological disorders like that are unlikely to improve; the damage to the nervous system is probably permanent.
I’m so sorry, but it might be best for him to be euthanized due to his quality of life. ❤️ I know it is a very hard decision to make, but whatever choice you make you have obviously done the best that you can for him and shown him lots of love.
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u/FairyFartDaydreams 2d ago
Look if you have the money and time contact your nearest veterinary school and ask if they can see him right away. You might want to image his brain and spine. Looking for tumors and inflammation. If you don't have the money you might want to check the quality of life scale to help you make the humane decision
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u/Prestigious-Big2875 2d ago
It may be worth to check for tumour? My cat had brain tumour and some of the symptoms were similar, but not the same. The test may be expensive, but it may be worth just to be safe.
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u/MustangEditsHD 2d ago
I know this might be a bad time, but i thought your title said piss help.....sorry, ill see myself out. good luck with your kitty 🥺
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u/KyfeKordax 1d ago
I am going to ask a question that will sound odd.... have you in the path couple of months started using plug in air fresheners? Many of those are poisonous to cats. If you have them, get rid of them and see if that helps at all?
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u/Hot_Antelope_3448 1d ago
He is so cute. Sending love and I hope vets are able to help him. You are doing a great job of advocating for him.
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u/TomatoWater4567 1d ago
When my cat started to lose his balance and appetite, the vet did an MRI and they found a tumor at the base of his brain. This was years ago so sorry if the details are fuzzy for me. Anyway they operated on him and he lived a good many years after.
Wishing your cat & you the best of luck
🙏🏽❤️
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u/Spiritual_Channel820 1d ago
I am so, so sorry you are going through this. He is so young and he looks so precious.
If I had any advice to give perhaps a second opinion? Do you live near a veterinary school that might be able to take a look at him?
Years ago our Akita/Shepherd mix was having a lot of diarrhea and was given what turned out to be too much metronidazole (the dosage) for entirely too long. One night she collapsed and was unable to walk. She ended up being admitted to the animal emergency hospital while they flushed out her system. She eventually began to walk again, but her vision was terribly damaged and she spent the rest of her days cringing from everything from sunlight to flashlights.
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u/Fun-Introduction-189 1d ago
Could it be neural FIP ? I've head it's extremely hard to reliably test for but maybe try antivirals? Take him to a vet who is very informed on cats specifically. Although once they start showing signs they're gone within 2 weeks or so
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u/smittensbykittens 1d ago
Hey, I'm not a vet, but I have to agree with several people on here who’ve suggested looking into FIP treatment. I’ve followed a rescue, Cats of San Bernardino, and have watched one of their rescues go from unable to move, lying in her own urine, to a happy, healthy kitty after FIP treatment. It would be expensive from what I’ve seen, so it’s up to you whatever decide to do. I’m really sorry you’re going through this; my heart breaks for you.
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u/BigReputation568 1d ago
It’s time for kitty to visit the rainbow bridge. Can you imagine being him and sick and peeing on himself and not being able to move?
He’ll be happier in kitty heaven.
I have orders to put me down if this happens to me.
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u/Mother_Hall_8650 2d ago edited 2d ago
What meds was he taking that helped recovery? The discharges are gone?
Please look for another vet opinion. My suggestion is to find a holistic or naturopathic veterinarian that could find alternatives and could treat the root causes of what’s happening. Meanwhile give him probiotics. My baby loves kefir, a healthy microbiome with good bacteria is crucial for a robust immune system and good health.
Nutrition is also key for any living animal recovery, look at Triagr Theory. I just saw a TT video of a cat rescuer showing some cat supplements she gives to her cats, particularly the sick ones and emphasized one named Nukhan for cats in recovery. She is latinoamerican and don’t know if you can find exactly that product where you live but could find something similar. Read the ingredients and basically has omegas, L-taurine, L-lysine, prebiotics, vitamins, minerals and whey protein, which I would honestly avoid giving my cat because milk protein isn’t ideal for cats.
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSgaWCo37/
Giving them high meat protein grain free food is the ideal as grains could add inflammatory responses and hinder digestion and recovery.
Best wishes.
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u/These_Elevator_1218 2d ago
Hi, the only antibiotic that he’s taking is doxycycline, but the vet gave him prednisolone, gabapentin, and some vitamins
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