Intraventricular Cyst In Persian Cat

[Varya]

Hello there,

My kitty is Persian, she is 13 yrs old (approximately, since I found her in the street when she was around 7-9months according to the vet)

Recent years were really hard for us with chronic pancreatitis/food allergies and dental problems. Half a year ago she still had a problem with drooling, so I took her to vets, dentists everyone was saying that I am making it all up and the cat is fine. Still I wanted to make an MRI cs her gums were itchy, she had drooling and I could see that she looked unhappy. It turned out she had some inflammation in her nose but more importantly as an accidental finding- a cyst in the lateral ventricle of her brain ( the diameter was 1.1 cm if I remember correctly). We were advised to repeat MRI after 6 months. But I find it useless since there is still no real treatment other than symptomatic (anti convulsants) if she develops tremor. And I do not want her to undergo unnecessary anesthesia.

Could someone please tell me if they had the similar problem with their brachycephalic cats? I can not find any relevant info on the internet. Now she looks sick to me. I notice that she does not put her head on the floor when sleeping rather she keeps it in the air.
I love her more than life and really want to know more about this health issue and to talk to someone about it

Thank you in advance

 

[duckpond]

I dont have information on this. I just wanted to say i am sorry that she is having this problem. I bet keeping her head elevated makes it easier to breathe? My cats dont have problems with this but i know they like to sleep with their head elevated sometimes. If i have a blanket folded up on the bed i sometimes find them using it like a pillow. Maybe something like that would help your girl?

I have also read, it was for nausea, but it might apply to breathing as well i dont know. that elevated water and food bowls are good. so the cat can walk up and eat or drink without bending down?

I hope she continues to do well, sending you guys my best wishes!

 

[neely]

Could someone please tell me if they had the similar problem with their brachycephalic cats?

First, I would like to welcome you to TCS! However, I am terribly sorry your 13 year old Persian's health problem is what brought you here. Bless you for rescuing your girl from the street when she was 7-9 months old.

I have a Persian cat also and two previous Persians. As I'm sure you are aware, being a brachycephalic breed they are prone to certain health issues. Unfortunately I have no personal experience with the problem your cat is currently experiencing. I don't blame you for not wanting to subject her to anesthesia especially at her age. The few times one of my cats needed to be sedated I was very specific about the type of anesthesia used due to their breathing, i.e. narrow nasal passages. Do you live anywhere near a veterinary medical school that would have the appropriate specialist for this condition?

I'm hoping posiepurrs will see this post and be able to weigh in with more help and support. Sending special thoughts and healing vibes your way.

 

[posiepurrs]

I am sorry that you are having this problem, but I have no experience with it. I would also seek out a specialist if possible at a vet medical school. May I ask how it was determined it was a cyst without a biopsy? Probably a dumb question, but like I said I have no experience with this.

 

[Varya]

I dont have information on this. I just wanted to say i am sorry that she is having this problem. I bet keeping her head elevated makes it easier to breathe? My cats dont have problems with this but i know they like to sleep with their head elevated sometimes. If i have a blanket folded up on the bed i sometimes find them using it like a pillow. Maybe something like that would help your girl?

I have also read, it was for nausea, but it might apply to breathing as well i dont know. that elevated water and food bowls are good. so the cat can walk up and eat or drink without bending down?

I hope she continues to do well, sending you guys my best wishes!

Thank you so much for your kind words and wishes. Yes, I am totally aware of the nausea thing since we had pancreatitis in the past and she had nausea often. It is not that bad, she still sleeps with her head down or eats putting her head down in the bowl, it is just that often she keeps her head up. I do try to underpin a pillow or smth, thank you for your advice

 

[Varya]

First, I would like to welcome you to TCS! However, I am terribly sorry your 13 year old Persian's health problem is what brought you here. Bless you for rescuing your girl from the street when she was 7-9 months old.

I have a Persian cat also and two previous Persians. As I'm sure you are aware, being a brachycephalic breed they are prone to certain health issues. Unfortunately I have no personal experience with the problem your cat is currently experiencing. I don't blame you for not wanting to subject her to anesthesia especially at her age. The few times one of my cats needed to be sedated I was very specific about the type of anesthesia used due to their breathing, i.e. narrow nasal passages. Do you live anywhere near a veterinary medical school that would have the appropriate specialist for this condition?

I'm hoping posiepurrs will see this post and be able to weigh in with more help and support. Sending special thoughts and healing vibes your way.

Thank you, Neely for welcoming me here and your kind words. Yes, we did MRI in the local vet school but as far as I understand there is no real treatment (at least for cats) for it. To solve the problem , I mean. So they just said if she develops seizures or other symptoms treat it accordingly but without symptoms, nothing is needed.. they also suggested to repeat MRI but if there is no treatment , I see no point... generally, it can be fixed surgically in human medicine but it is too deep in the brain and in vet science they do not do these kind of surgeries

 

[Varya]

Thank yo

I am sorry that you are having this problem, but I have no experience with it. I would also seek out a specialist if possible at a vet medical school. May I ask how it was determined it was a cyst without a biopsy? Probably a dumb question, but like I said I have no experience with this.

Thank you, Linda, for your reply.
Well, I hope I did not confuse the term in english... so in brain there are 4 ventricles, two on the sides from the medial axis, and in one of them we have a problem. Generally, these ventricles are full of liquor. In our case the wall of one of the ventricles started to peel off and the liquor got inside and started creating a sphere ( so - called cyst if I am not mistaken) and it is full of liquor, so can be visualise on MRI that it is not just solid tumor. It already increases the intracranial pressure since the ventricles are enlarged but she has no obvious symptoms. Well, only those that I can observe (but not real seizures)

What I got to know that this problem may arise in persians, it can also be congenital. Or posttraumatic. But not a lot of literature which can be found. In humans possible diuretics can be taken, those which decrease amount of liquor in the brain and thus volume and pressure of the cyst..but I do not know whether they can be used for cats. Or maybe some holistic stuff could help us, here it is not really common, these types of meds

Sorry for my long boring response