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Question

Our elderly cat(16+ yrs.) is having bad balance,looks like her back hips are out of sinc, and is having difficulty getting up and down and balancing to eat her food out of the dish....she puts her mouth to the milk but just lifts her head without drinking and leaves the milk to dry on her chin....seems like she had a stroke or something...doesn't make any noise like she's in pain... just moves very slow and seems out of it....planning on taking her 1st thing to our vet in am ....waiting since this is Sun. and she doesn't seem to be in pain...don't know tho...Rose

Submitted: 55 days and 15 hours ago via PetPlace.
Category: Cat
Value: $9
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Pet's Gender: Female

Posted by Terri Riba 55 days and 15 hours ago.

Info Request

Hi Rose,

 

How long is she like this?

What and when did she eat last?

 

Indoor kitty?

 

Thanks,

 

Terri

55 days and 15 hours ago.

Reply

Hi Terri, Thanks for taking time for this....She is only THIS bad for the last 24 hours...she has had minimal balance issues and looking feeble since our last vet visit- about 4 weeks ago...Our vet said all her issues were 'geriatric'....to keep her hydrated feed her whole milk (which she LOVES) we slip laxatone in her food- she's on dietetic cat food-wet- for about a yr. now...last vet visit she was constipated and he 'cleaned her out' and kept her overnight for that....he also said she was dehydrated...wasn't drinking her water.
She will only drink whole milk and has had that steady for last 2 days...minimal wet cat food yesterday...a few licks...nothing much...has NOT had a BM today...small one yesterday.....
An indoor cat since we adopted her 16 yrs ago.

Accepted Answer

Dear Rose,

 

I am sorry your girl is not feeling well.

 

Milk ks fine for constipation. Let her have as much as she wants.Also offer tuna water for hydration.

This is great for arthritis:

 

 

 

http://www.drugs.com/npp/deer-velvet.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Deer

She may just have become deydrated or hypoglycemic or hurt herself.

 

Strokes are rare in cats:

 

http://www.petwave.com/Cats/Cat-Health-Center/Brain-Spinal-Cord-Nerve-Disorders/Stroke/Treatment-and-Care/Treatment/Treating-a-Feline-Stroke.aspx

There is also a less serious condition that mimics stroke/seizure called Vestibular syndrome:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_vestibular_disease.html

 

Feed pate` only - no foods with chunks, shreds or pieces.

 

 

Cats are attracted to smelly foods - the stronger the better. If she wants tuna, give it to her You can also try fancy feast, clam juice or baby food.

 

human baby food in meat flavours (check that there are no onions or garlic in the ingredients) and mix that with warm water and offer that, or syringe it in little bits into your cat's mouth. Beech Nut makes a line of baby food that has nothing but meat (beef, chicken, turkey or veal) in it. Here's a link: http://www.beechnut.com/Our%20Baby%20Food/Results.asp If you cannot find this, you could find another meat baby food - just read the label carefully to be sure there are no onions, onion powder, garlic, or garlic powder in it.

.

 

If her tummy needs a rest, feed baby food with no onion or garlic for a few days.

If she wont eat, and your cat is not diabetic begin by giving her two droppers (cc size) of unflavored pedialyte every ten minutes for an hour. Next water down(plain water) canned cat food or baby food chicken or turkey with no onion or garlic and give only one dropper every ten minutes for another hour. Wait two hours and repeat both. When she feels hydrated she will lick up the gruel on her own.

Give her droppers of unflavored pedialyte a few times a day to make sure she stays hydrated.For diabetic cats use tuna water or milk.

Please let me know how she is doing. I will always be here for you.

I hope she feels better very soon.

Sincerest best wishes,

Terri

 

 

 

Picture
Expert: Terri Riba
Pos. Feedback: 99.9 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 9/27/2009

Feline Healthcare Expert

Expert in feline health and behavior. 20 years experience with cats.

55 days and 15 hours ago.

Reply

Terri~ thank you for the info...could she be dehydrated if she is drinking alot of milk and pee-ing alot?.....she can't step up into her catpan so we made a shallow pan out of a basic cooking tray , but she is pee-ing wherever she wants and not always in the tray....twice right outside the tray on the floor....seems confused.....this is why we didn't think she's dehydrated this time(plus her skin doesn't pull away from her like the Dr. showed us last time) How do you know when a cat is dehydrated? I think we're confused on this issue...thanks for your help~Rose

Accepted Answer

Hi Rose,

 

She may have renal issues. In that case the kidneys steal all ingested fluids leaving her feeling thristy. She will then drink in a despirate attempt to restore her fluid balance.

 

She may have urinary tract infection or cystitis causing the soiling out of box.

Haave a sample analyzed by her vet.

 

I would force feed today since you cannot get in before tomorrow.

 

But if her confusion gets worse she may have high blood pressure and should be seen in the ER.

 

Please let me know how she is doing.

 

Best wishes for her,

 

Terri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture
Expert: Terri Riba
Pos. Feedback: 99.9 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 9/27/2009

Feline Healthcare Expert

Expert in feline health and behavior. 20 years experience with cats.

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