Worried about my boy...neurological symptoms

[Brenlee129]

My Sphynx is acting very very strange and it is getting progressively worse. Hoping someone here can help me. He has always had a head tilt, which was diagnosed as vestibular, secondary to an "infection" he had as a kitten. He's always been a strange boy compared to my other Sphynx, but over the last few months it has gotten worse. He is eating, drinking, and urinating fine, but he is crying and walking the house aimlessly. Even when we call him and reassure him it's OK, he continues to cry. He appears healthy, is sweet and loving otherwise. When I say cry, I mean scream like he's in pain. FIP? Brain Tumor? Help. My vet didn't seem to think this is an issue to worry about, but it's very startling when our boy starts crying like this.

 

[Sillysphynx24]

A brain tumor is always a possibility, but i sure hope that is not the problem. Also some cats with hyperthyroidism can cry out like that, you can do a simple blood test to rule that in/out. How old is he? Some can even get dementia that will cause that. Are you sure he is not in pain for any reason, perhaps he has an inner ear infection again? I hope you are able to figure out what is causing this. Is the only symptom the crying out?

 

[Brenlee129]

Thank you for the fast response! He is about 10 years old. He has actually slimmed down a little in the last year (I thought it was because we switched to a grain free food and moved to a bigger three-floored house where he is more active.) I know weight loss can be a symptom of hyperthyroid, I didn't realize this vocalization could be as well. I gave him a bath today and cleaned his ears real well....no sign of infection. I'm just so worried because he seems so strange when he's crying like that.

 

[sciumi]

My Sphynx is acting very very strange and it is getting progressively worse. Hoping someone here can help me. He has always had a head tilt, which was diagnosed as vestibular, secondary to an "infection" he had as a kitten. He's always been a strange boy compared to my other Sphynx, but over the last few months it has gotten worse. He is eating, drinking, and urinating fine, but he is crying and walking the house aimlessly. Even when we call him and reassure him it's OK, he continues to cry. He appears healthy, is sweet and loving otherwise. When I say cry, I mean scream like he's in pain. FIP? Brain Tumor? Help. My vet didn't seem to think this is an issue to worry about, but it's very startling when our boy starts crying like this.

So sorry to hear he's having such a troubling symptom. It must be awful hearing him crying & not knowing how to help!


Is your vet doing any tests? Did (s)he have theories?

If you feel at all like your concerns are being dismissed by your vet, get a second opinion. Or, talk to your vet again. I think you have every reason to be concerned ---not saying that I know anything at all about his symptoms!!---I mean that any pet owner would be deeply disturbed by inexplicable cries.

I read this in one of my kitten books & I think it's important to remember: you are the most important person when it comes to your kitten's health, not the vet, so trust your instincts & make sure you have a vet whom you personally like and who makes you feel really comfortable asking questions.

 

[Brenlee129]

Thank you so much. I felt very dismissed by the vet. No labwork or X-rays due to his lack of any physical symptoms. We just moved a few months ago and I switched vets...not real happy there so far. I think I'm going to insist on a complete blood profile and T4 and consider finding a new vet (or traveling back to the old one.) I really think something is going on with him!

 

[Sillysphynx24]

Thank you for the fast response! He is about 10 years old. He has actually slimmed down a little in the last year (I thought it was because we switched to a grain free food and moved to a bigger three-floored house where he is more active.) I know weight loss can be a symptom of hyperthyroid, I didn't realize this vocalization could be as well. I gave him a bath today and cleaned his ears real well....no sign of infection. I'm just so worried because he seems so strange when he's crying like that.

Hyperthyroidism can cause a lot of symptoms but a lot of cats become hyperactive or restless and irritable and will yowl especially at night for some reason. Usually it will accompany weight loss and increased hunger but not always. I would recommend having your vet run a full panel that includes a thyroid test. Thyroid can affect the kidneys as well so its important to do a full panel to make sure all organs are functioning well. Also an inner ear infection is not visible while cleaning the ears. It would be behind the ear drum. Most ear infections in animals are outter ear infections that are treated with topical ear meds. Inner ear infections are usually treated with oral antibiotics but are fairly rare in animals but a head tilt can be a side effect from one. If it were my kitty I would start with bloodwork, it will give you the most information the fastest and if it all comes back normal it will give you a little peace of mind and a baseline for any further problems as he ages! Good luck getting to the root of the problem!

 

[Brenlee129]

Thank you! Glad I posted here. If it is an ear infection, do you think he would be scratching or perhaps it's too severe to touch? He's had the head tilt for the 8 years I've had him so it's hard to tell. He does cry a lot at night. He sleeps with my daughter and our other Sphynx and he can usually be found screaming at least twice during the night. I jump out of bed only to find him wandering around looking confused. Poor boy. I'll keep you all posted!

 

[Hairless Blessing]

There is most definately something wrong.
I would go as fast as I could to the Vet and start with blood work and ear.
If I didn't think this Vet was good with sphynx, I would go to one that is.
Sounds like he is suffering and needs help. Let us know.

 

[sciumi]

First, some quick advice: Start a log of his symptoms---especially the crying.
At the very least, track how often he cries, when & under what circumstances.
And any other information that you think might be pertinent.

Anyone have suggestions for other factors to pay specific attention to? All I've got is when & where

Personally, I really really suck at keeping health logs. I've had different doctors recommend it & I rarely follow through----not because I don't think it's important (quite the contrary!), but it's just a lot harder than it sounds, so try not to beat yourself up about it. Any information you collect will be helpful, so be proud whenever you write something down.


Ear Stuff:

Okay! So, I was going to research "head tilt" online, but then I remembered that I had *just* gotten a veterinary book that I had completely forgotten about. It's "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" and it's very good! Thanks for reminding me I own it

"Head tilt" seems to be a fairly common and specific symptom, actually, because a tilted head suggests some sort of problem with the "middle ear" (as opposed to "inner ear" problems which cause symptoms having relating to balance and coordination).****

From what I've seen, "head tilt" symptoms point to the ears, not the brain, so that's pretty good!

The conditions mentioned in the "Handbook" related to head tilt are: ear infection (which member have suggested above), fungal disease (neurological cypyococcosis), and vestibular disorders (which are usually idiopathic, so, it basically means "ear problem, none of the above"). I'm going to copy some of the info on vestibular disorders below, because it sounds most consistent with what you've described (in my wwwwaaaaaayy non-professional, non-expert opinion!!):

"Vestibular disorders are common in cats. The vestibular apparatus (called the labyrinth)...is stimulated by gravity and rotational movements. It plays an important role in balance and orienting the body in space. Inflammation of the labyrinth is called labyrinthitis.
A cat with labyrinthitis has a problem with balance. The animals wobbles, circles, falls and rolls over, and has trouble righting [himself]. He may lean against the wall for support and crouch low to the floor when walking. The cat often shows rapid jerking eye movements (nystagmus), and his head will usually tilt down to one side...Idiopathic vestibular syndrome is the most common cause...The onset is sudden and the cause unknown. The signs include head tilt and nystagmus, and cats may have difficulty walking...
Treatment: With cases of idiopathic vestibular syndrome, in two to three days, the cat begins to recover on his own. In most cases, the cat is well in three weeks, although some cats retain a permanent head tilt."

Now, the ears are very close to the brain and the eyes, which is scary, but it seems to me that you would definitely be seeing *some* inner ear symptoms (problems w balance) if whatever is causing the head tilt (middle ear) had gotten to the brain.

Hope this helps


**** "Structure of the ears" from the "Handbook"
"Your cat has an ear problem if you notice ear scratching, repeated head shaking, a bad odor emanating from the ear, or large amounts of waxy discharge or pus draining...Diseases of the middle ear cause head tilt and hearing loss. Diseases of the inner ear affect the balance center: the cat wobbles, circles, falls and rolls over, and has trouble righting himself. The cat may also show rapid jerking movements of the eyes."

 

[sciumi]

I just wanted to highlight one of the sections I wrote---I would have put it in bold, but I don't know how

Here it is:

"Treatment [of Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome]: With cases of idiopathic vestibular syndrome, in two to three days, the cat begins to recover on his own. In most cases, the cat is well in three weeks, although some cats retain a permanent head tilt."

 

[sciumi]

Okay, this is pure speculation, but, if he only cries at night....could it be some kind of sleep disorder? Or nightmares?

I didn't find anything significant to back up this theory, but I saw some anecdotal evidence online. One cat "advice columnist" (?) talks about her cat crying out at night after a traumatic experience (feline PTSD??) http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/do-cats-have-nightmares/250. Elsewhere, I saw some theories about night terrors in kittens.

Just wondering if anyone has ever heard of such things...

Anyway, I do hope that you have a really good experience with your next veterinary visit!!!

 

[justmom5]

My 3 year old sphynx always walks with a head tilt. I got him a month ago and since then had him to two different vets. Both of which said it was probably something that happened when he was a kitten either a trama or a hematoma. We tried abx and they didn't help. The vets both assured me he wasn't in pain and that it shouldn't effect his life span and that is just a special quirk of our little man.

 

[susi794]

Is he intact?

 

[Nofuratu]

Um, a good vet would have suggested bloodwork.

seriously....as a retired vet tech I have to say that if a patient came in that was a 10 yr old cat that was perfectly healthy, they should have suggested geriatric bloodwork to you simply as preventative care that should be done at that age whether there is something wrong with your cat or not!!! Usually around age 8, vet staff start offering a small blood workup to check kidney, liver and thyroid function....because that is the age it usually shows up.

so a 10 yr old cat with symptoms of "not being quite right" or weight loss or acting funny??? And they didnt suggest a geriatric blood profile?? (which includes a t4 btw).

I think you should take this as a sign that you need a better vet.

 

[Boonecat]

I would either find a different vet or return to your previous one, if you were comfortable with him/her. I'm a firm believer that, 'Mother Knows Best'. Follow your instincts, & please keep us posted. I hope your baby feels better asap!

 

[sciumi]

Um, a good vet would have suggested bloodwork.

seriously....as a retired vet tech I have to say that if a patient came in that was a 10 yr old cat that was perfectly healthy, they should have suggested geriatric bloodwork to you simply as preventative care that should be done at that age whether there is something wrong with your cat or not!!! Usually around age 8, vet staff start offering a small blood workup to check kidney, liver and thyroid function....because that is the age it usually shows up.

so a 10 yr old cat with symptoms of "not being quite right" or weight loss or acting funny??? And they didnt suggest a geriatric blood profile?? (which includes a t4 btw).

I think you should take this as a sign that you need a better vet.

That's a really good point!

 

[IsisDot]

I used to get so freaked out and worried about Isis because she has the saddest most alarming meow. When she was a kitten I thought something was wrong because she would run around the house wailing. The breeder said it was probably because she was looking for her brothers and sisters (they were all raised underfoot). Well, she still does it and it's totally for attention. She gets a little crazy when my husband and I are gone for a normal work day. She is just obsessed with us and wants attention all the time! Still, when she does it at night, I get freaked out that my other cat is killing her or something.

That said, it sounds like your baby has actually had some health problems, so I would get it checked out.