I'm so very sorry for the loss of your baby, but sometimes the most loving decision is to let them go and ease their suffering. My IBD kitty did not develop weakness. Sometimes, that's indicative of a blood clot.
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14 year old cat with IBD declining - what to do moving forward
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We had a cat who had presumed IBD/lymphoma (she was too frail to be diagnosed properly but had all the symptoms) and she had trouble walking in her final days, too, because of weakness in her hind legs.
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This seems to be what is happening with Shyla, too. At first I was worried that it was something neurologic-related, but it makes sense that it would just be hind leg weakness because she is weak, muscle wasted, and not eating as much. She does not have any other neurologic signs, so it makes sense that it would just be related to her IBD-related decline.
I've witnessed recent "eposides" with my IBD cat and I don't know of if it's really hind leg weakness or if he's just upset about the litter box and dragging his bum or appearing weak since it seems to follow that. He'll seem normal after that and even jump up on the couch. But nerves affecting muscles can be spotty like that too. I have herniated discs in my back that make my left ankle roll out occasionally. I wonder if IBD also affects cats if the bowel nerves are close to the rear leg nerves?
I'm so sorry. 
Sadly, it could even be a combination. All these symptoms seemed to worsen very quickly for our cat, too.
Thinking of you on this difficult day.
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Hi all. Thank you all for your kind words.
Unfortunately, yesterday we said "see you later" to our sweet Shyla girl. We have had 14 wonderful years with her, and we knew that the least that we could do for her was to provide her with a peaceful transition as our final act of love to her. Her passing was very peaceful and today we received her cremated remains, some fur, and her pawprints, so she is back home with us.
In the last few days, she started to drip urine without noticing, and her hind legs were wobbly. She would take a few steps, but then sit down and kick her legs out. She could walk, but she was very unbalanced and uncoordinated in both back legs (her front legs were unaffected). She was still eating and seemed like herself, but I did find it a bit odd that her back legs began to be wobbly and she was leaking urine. When we got to the vet yesterday, I asked her about these symptoms, and she said that they seemed neurologic, but that it was likely something in her spine since only her back legs and bladder seemed to be affected. She was due for her rabies vaccine at the end of July, so she was about 5 months overdue - it just got overlooked when she started to have medical problems, but we are usually really good about keeping everyone up to date. I mentioned rabies to her vet, but she said that based on her symptoms and the fact that she has received so many rabies vaccines over her entire 14 years of life, she was not concerned about the neurological signs being due to rabies. I just wanted to check, since she had accidentally scratched me a few times this week when I was giving her medications, but I am thinking that the neurological issues may just be related to how sick she was.
Unfortunately, yesterday we said "see you later" to our sweet Shyla girl. We have had 14 wonderful years with her, and we knew that the least that we could do for her was to provide her with a peaceful transition as our final act of love to her. Her passing was very peaceful and today we received her cremated remains, some fur, and her pawprints, so she is back home with us.
In the last few days, she started to drip urine without noticing, and her hind legs were wobbly. She would take a few steps, but then sit down and kick her legs out. She could walk, but she was very unbalanced and uncoordinated in both back legs (her front legs were unaffected). She was still eating and seemed like herself, but I did find it a bit odd that her back legs began to be wobbly and she was leaking urine. When we got to the vet yesterday, I asked her about these symptoms, and she said that they seemed neurologic, but that it was likely something in her spine since only her back legs and bladder seemed to be affected. She was due for her rabies vaccine at the end of July, so she was about 5 months overdue - it just got overlooked when she started to have medical problems, but we are usually really good about keeping everyone up to date. I mentioned rabies to her vet, but she said that based on her symptoms and the fact that she has received so many rabies vaccines over her entire 14 years of life, she was not concerned about the neurological signs being due to rabies. I just wanted to check, since she had accidentally scratched me a few times this week when I was giving her medications, but I am thinking that the neurological issues may just be related to how sick she was.
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I am SO sorry. I’m no veterinarian, but don't think you need worry about rabies. I did some digging and this could be IBD related. Although it is hard to use the word “gift” in this moment, you certainly did all you could to ease her passing, lovingly, painlessly. That is a gift. That is part of the love you gave to her. If you haven’t already, the Crossing the Bridge thread can be of some comfort.
I’m very sorry for your loss of Shyla. The symptoms that you were describing near the end do not seem to be rabies to me either. There are so many other issues in her case which could cause a neurological weakness that I believe your vet is probably correct. Your vet is also familiar with the rabies vector in your area and it may not even extend to pet cats, vaccinated or not.
When a cat passes, we close the thread out of respect. If you would like you are more than welcome to create a tribute to Shyla in our Crossing the Bridge forum.
When a cat passes, we close the thread out of respect. If you would like you are more than welcome to create a tribute to Shyla in our Crossing the Bridge forum.
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