Hi everyone. My 11 year old spayed female cat, Shyla, woke up yesterday morning with her third eyelid out and a smaller pupil. She was also hiding and not acting like herself. We brought her to the vet who told us that she had Horner’s syndrome, which can be caused by many things. She gave her an antibiotic injection as she said that it may be an inner ear infection that she could not see. Shyla is back to acting like her usual self, but she is acting like she cannot hear well. Usually she comes running if she hears the fridge or the cat treats open, but she’s acting like she can’t hear anything. My mom said that she was asleep on the couch and she didn’t realize that my mom was there until she started to pet her, which is unusual. The vet recommended that we just monitor her and recheck everything at her annual appointment in August. Over the past few months, I have noticed that Shyla has been vocalizing more than usual. It’s not constant, but sometimes she will just yowl a few times if there is nobody nearby until somebody goes to see her. She has been completely fine other than that and has not shown any other neurological symptoms. She was also diagnosed with IBD last summer via abdominal ultrasound, but this is well controlled and she is not showing any gastrointestinal symptoms. I have been reading about the causes of Horner’s syndrome in cats online and I am very worried now. I am worried that she could have a tumor in her brain or inner ear that is causing her hearing loss and Horner’s syndrome. It also said online that many cases are idiopathic and a cause is never found. I am wondering if I should just continue to monitor her for the next few weeks or if I should set up an appointment with a neurologist. I know that the next steps would be an MRI and then surgery or radiation if she did have a tumor. I am definitely thinking about the worst-case scenario and I’m very upset about the possibility that this is something that she could die from. Does anybody have any experience with Horner’s syndrome or have any advice? I absolutely adore Shyla and we have had her since she was a kitten. We also unexpectedly lost our 8 month old kitten in April and I can’t bear the thought of something happening to Shyla.
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Horner’s syndrome in 11 year old cat
- Thread starter lynne8832
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Hello - I don't have experience with this, but this previous post lists some other TCS threads;
Horner's Syndrome with Upper Respiratory Infection
Horner's Syndrome with Upper Respiratory Infection
She could have an inner ear infection that is blocking her hearing in that one ear. I believe that happened to at least one other cat here on TCS. Sometimes those infections are so deep that the Vet's can't really see them just peeking inside the ear canal, as your Vet mentioned. IF that's the case, however, I don't really think Convenia will help much, as it's not really for that type of infection. We have used it in the past for a cat who we weren't able to pill, but it required more than one injection.
Did the Vet thoroughly check her mouth to make sure nothing was amiss there? I'm guessing so, if they were good at their job. I would say schedule a neurological visit because it will probably be several weeks out, then if she improves you can always cancel it. But if nothing else, they should be able to figure out what is wrong, even if it's a deep inner ear infection since they can scan her head with either a catscan (no pun intended) or MRI.
Did the Vet thoroughly check her mouth to make sure nothing was amiss there? I'm guessing so, if they were good at their job. I would say schedule a neurological visit because it will probably be several weeks out, then if she improves you can always cancel it. But if nothing else, they should be able to figure out what is wrong, even if it's a deep inner ear infection since they can scan her head with either a catscan (no pun intended) or MRI.
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- #4
Thank you! I will probably do that and schedule the neurology visit because like you said, it could be several weeks. She did a thorough exam and could not find anything else wrong neurologically or with her mouth. I’m hoping that the lack of additional neurological symptoms makes it unlikely to be a tumor.
Let us know, - we'll be thinking of you!
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- #6
Thank you!
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- #7
Hey everyone! Just wanted to give an update on Shyla. She still has the Horner’s syndrome and she is still basically deaf. She definitely cannot hear anything. I could be standing right behind her yelling and clapping and she wouldn’t even turn around, which is completely new. Usually if we open the door to the refrigerator or the cat treats, she will hear it and come running from across the house. She is definitely in good spirits- she is still eating normally and acting totally fine. She isn’t exhibiting any other neurological signs (falling over, circling, running into things, etc.). I did try to touch her ear while she was eating and she pinned it back like it hurt, which is unlike her. I’m hoping that this means that it may be an ear infection that’s bothering her, since it was such a sudden onset. I assume that I would be seeing other neurological deficits if it were a tumor?
I can't help regarding your specific question, but there might be other information here:
The Deaf Cat – TheCatSite Articles
The Deaf Cat – TheCatSite Articles
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- #9
I called the vet today since Shyla is still completely deaf and has been making some upper respiratory noises. She thinks that she may have a nasal polyp and we are going to do a sedated oral exam and x-rays. I am so anxious that she could have cancer somewhere in her head or neck.
No need to think cancer at this point. I know it's hard not to worry, but try not too until you absolutely know there is something to worry about
. When is she going in for this sedated exam? Please keep us posted.
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My last cat had Horners when an ear cleaning went wrong and punctured her eardrum. The eardrum healed and the Horners went away. She also had neurological symptoms without Horners the next year. In that case, she had such bad ear infection that she needed a surgery up through her jaw to drain her inner ear. It was that or puncture the eardrum again. She was recovering well from the surgery. If that was all that was wrong with her, she probably would still be here today. But she also had IBD that had progressed to GI lymphoma. She would pass a couple months after that surgery from a bladder infection that proved too much for her steroids and chemo-weakened body.
When she saw the neurologist at the ER the night she fell off the bed, threw up, and stumbled around like she was too weak or too dizzy to get to her feet, the neurologist said it could be one of these things:
1. A tumor or a non-cancerous growth
2. An infection
3. Stroke
4. Idiopathic (just don't know)
The neurologist also said there would be no way to know which it was without an MRI.
It doesn't have to be cancer. But you won't know without X-rays and quite probably an MRI. If it is an inner ear infection, discuss the surgical options. The inner ear is technically outside the body and very difficult to treat with antibiotics alone.
When she saw the neurologist at the ER the night she fell off the bed, threw up, and stumbled around like she was too weak or too dizzy to get to her feet, the neurologist said it could be one of these things:
1. A tumor or a non-cancerous growth
2. An infection
3. Stroke
4. Idiopathic (just don't know)
The neurologist also said there would be no way to know which it was without an MRI.
It doesn't have to be cancer. But you won't know without X-rays and quite probably an MRI. If it is an inner ear infection, discuss the surgical options. The inner ear is technically outside the body and very difficult to treat with antibiotics alone.
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- #12
Thank you so much. I am definitely jumping to the worst possible conclusion. I believe we are going to schedule it for sometime next week. Since it’s a sedated exam, it will take longer than a regular sick exam, so I think her vet has to find a time where she will have enough time to sedate her for the exam and do x-rays, which is why it may not be until next week. She seems okay otherwise, her personality is the same and she is still eating great.No need to think cancer at this point. I know it's hard not to worry, but try not too until you absolutely know there is something to worry about
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- #13
Thank you for your reply. Shyla was actually also diagnosed with IBD last summer via ultrasound, but she has not shown any gastrointestinal symptoms. She has gradually lost weight - she used to be about 11-12 lbs. and now she is about 9.5 lbs. but she is not vomiting or having any diarrhea. She has been well-controlled on a hydrolyzed protein diet. It does make me wonder if her IBD could have progressed to lymphoma, but I'm not sure if the Horner's syndrome and hearing loss would be connected to that. She is still eating great. I am not sure why she suddenly lost her hearing, it is really strange. She has always had great hearing, but she is completely deaf now. I wonder if that could indicate that she has some kind of inner ear infection, like your cat had. I'm not sure if this is correct, but I suspect if it were a brain tumor, we would be seeing other neurological signs? I am really hoping that it is something treatable as I'm very worried about her.
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- #14
Hi everyone, quick update for you. Shyla was doing well tonight until she tried to jump up onto her favorite chair. She jumped straight up into the air, missed the chair, and fell down. She then tried again and fell again until I could help her get up onto the chair. Of course, this made me very upset and worried. I ended up taking her to the ER and waiting 8 hours to be seen. The doctor did an exam and didn’t find anything significant. She also did blood work and said that she had elevated neurotrophils and one of her liver enzymes was slightly elevated, neither of which seemed to concern her very much. She also took chest radiographs and said that they looked normal, which is great. They offered to hospitalize Shyla for the next two nights to see a neurologist as an inpatient on Thursday, but I think Shyla would absolutely hate spending the next two days in the hospital. The other option was to wait another 14 days to see the neurologist for her next regular appointment. I chose that option. I’m not sure if it was the right choice, but I figured that waiting 2 weeks to see the neurologist instead of choosing to have Shyla hospitalized to see the neurologist on Thursday will likely not make a difference in the grand scheme of things. Of course, if anything changes between now and then, I will immediately bring her back to the ER to be hospitalized to see the neurologist sooner. She is also going home with an injection of Cerenia to help with any nausea that she may be having. The vet does not seem to think that she is in any pain, which I agree with. The plan is to see how she does within the next two weeks and touch base at her neurology appointment. I know that they will want to do a CT scan at that time, which I will need to discuss with my parents because it is very expensive. I am feeling lots of guilt over this entire thing because I am worried that she will decline in the next few weeks and it will be too late to do anything. I am hoping and praying that this is simply an infection that can be treated and honestly, my mind is completely jumping to the worst-case scenario and I am completely convincing myself that this is something bad and she will be gone in a month. I also noticed that sometimes her meow sounds different as well, it sounds more deep and nasally and she is making occasional upper respiratory noises, which I read could mean that there is a tumor in the sinus/nasal area. I just feel like her constellation of symptoms is pointing to cancer. Dramatic… I know, but we lost our 13 year old cat to aggressive intestinal cancer in 2020 and she passed away 1 month after diagnosis and we unexpectedly lost our 8 month old cat 3 months ago, so this is super stressful. The blood work and chest radiographs did make me feel a bit better, though, since I know that ruled a few things out.
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Now I understand why you are immediately thinking cancer. You have had some very unfortunate things happen, but that still doesn't mean the same thing will happen again 
. The difference in her meow could be because she can't hear right now, so she is trying different things herself to try to hear. Possibly?
And with inner ear stuff, that can certainly put your center of gravity off. If you've ever had an inner ear infection, you have probably been off balance and that would explain her not being able to jump up onto that chair. I'm still thinking it's probably that.
Hold her close and think positively.
. The difference in her meow could be because she can't hear right now, so she is trying different things herself to try to hear. Possibly?And with inner ear stuff, that can certainly put your center of gravity off. If you've ever had an inner ear infection, you have probably been off balance and that would explain her not being able to jump up onto that chair. I'm still thinking it's probably that.
Hold her close and think positively.
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- #17
Thank you so much for your reply. I’m hoping that her balance issues are due to her third eyelid being out and causing problems with her depth perception. I am calling around to specialty centers in my area to see if any of them have a neurology appointment available before the 28th. She is eating and drinking great and seems to be in good spirits otherwise. I just keep telling myself that I’ve taken all of the necessary steps to have her seen by a neurologist ASAP and we will go from there. I know that cancer is not an immediate death sentence and I know that there are probably things that we can do to improve her quality of life.Now I understand why you are immediately thinking cancer. You have had some very unfortunate things happen, but that still doesn't mean the same thing will happen again
And with inner ear stuff, that can certainly put your center of gravity off. If you've ever had an inner ear infection, you have probably been off balance and that would explain her not being able to jump up onto that chair. I'm still thinking it's probably that.
Hold her close and think positively.
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- #19
She is making some sneezing/congested sounds, which is making me even more worried for nasal or sinus cancer. I am just hoping that we can get her into neurology soon to figure out a plan. I am trying not to count her out yet as I know that even if we do get bad news, we don’t necessarily have to say goodbye now since she is still eating, drinking, and relaxing at home.
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- #20
Hey everyone, sorry for so many updates. I was able to find a specialty clinic that’s even closer to home and they’re able to see Shyla for a neurology appointment this Friday. That means I don’t have to wait 2 weeks and the clinic is much closer to home. They said that they usually like to do diagnostic imaging on the same day, so that made me feel better. Even if it is something bad, at least we will know and we will be able to start some type of treatment earlier, even if it is just medications. She seemed to have some difficulty eating her hard food tonight, so I’m heading to go get her some soft/liquid cat food, which I know she will love and it will be much easier for her to eat. I think I’m just so shocked with how soon this showed up. I’ve been trying to think about if there have been any signs or symptoms that there was something wrong and I could have gotten her help earlier. I hate that we are only now seeing that something is wrong after it is causing more obvious symptoms. I just keep trying to remember that even if it is cancer, we don’t have to say goodbye tomorrow, and we can come up with a plan with the neurologist.
