Hello! I’m looking for advice or input about my youngest cat, Mai. She is two years old, eight pounds, and no ongoing medical issues to speak of. Typically, she is energetic, vocal, fearless, and incredibly playful.
On Thursday night, we noticed that she was slinking around as if something had spooked her. By Friday afternoon, she was hiding under an armchair. I coaxed her out to try to get a look at her, and I noticed that from her hips to her tail, she was spasming—just constant rolling/twitching (along with tail flicking) that she endures for a little bit it before she chews at her tail/flank/feet and runs away as if something is chasing her. She can’t sit still or get comfortable. She is also tucking her tail. We purritoed her to look her over and there are no signs of fleas, no irritated skin or lesions, no dandruff, no swelling. We checked her bottom to make sure there was no irritation or poo stuck in her fur (which sometimes happens since she’s long-haired). Nothing going on that we can see.
I took her to the vet Friday afternoon, where they squeezed us in and gave her a half-hearted exam. Didn’t take her vitals. They checked her over briefly and gave her a Benadryl shot, which didn’t help, so I took her back in to the vet Saturday morning. We weren’t able to see the doctor at all; a tech gave her a depo medrol steroid shot. Today, she is still just as bad. I’ve quarantined her in a room with her food and potty to try to monitor whether she’s using the bathroom. She did go about a quarter-sized amount of pee, but is otherwise not interested in the box or her food. That could be because she doesn’t like being confined, though. I’m going to monitor her in there’s overnight.
Otherwise, she is alert and interested in toys and looking out the window. Eyes and nose are clear.
Has anyone experienced this? What did it turn out to be with your cat? I’m beside myself thinking something is seriously wrong and we are battling with the holiday weekend. I would love any input.
Thank you!
On Thursday night, we noticed that she was slinking around as if something had spooked her. By Friday afternoon, she was hiding under an armchair. I coaxed her out to try to get a look at her, and I noticed that from her hips to her tail, she was spasming—just constant rolling/twitching (along with tail flicking) that she endures for a little bit it before she chews at her tail/flank/feet and runs away as if something is chasing her. She can’t sit still or get comfortable. She is also tucking her tail. We purritoed her to look her over and there are no signs of fleas, no irritated skin or lesions, no dandruff, no swelling. We checked her bottom to make sure there was no irritation or poo stuck in her fur (which sometimes happens since she’s long-haired). Nothing going on that we can see.
I took her to the vet Friday afternoon, where they squeezed us in and gave her a half-hearted exam. Didn’t take her vitals. They checked her over briefly and gave her a Benadryl shot, which didn’t help, so I took her back in to the vet Saturday morning. We weren’t able to see the doctor at all; a tech gave her a depo medrol steroid shot. Today, she is still just as bad. I’ve quarantined her in a room with her food and potty to try to monitor whether she’s using the bathroom. She did go about a quarter-sized amount of pee, but is otherwise not interested in the box or her food. That could be because she doesn’t like being confined, though. I’m going to monitor her in there’s overnight.
Otherwise, she is alert and interested in toys and looking out the window. Eyes and nose are clear.
Has anyone experienced this? What did it turn out to be with your cat? I’m beside myself thinking something is seriously wrong and we are battling with the holiday weekend. I would love any input.
Thank you!
Please keep us posted. I think that you are following the right course and if she were my cat, I would consult a neurologist. The odd thing about that is that while they usually charge more, possibly as an office fee (Jamie's cardiologist charges about $150 for just going in) they often can get to the root of the problem so much more quickly that you often are ahead of the game.
