Kitten Issue- Calling all with Veterinary Brains

Parent Cafe
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<p>My daughter and her fiance have a beautiful 5 month old Ragdoll kitten. He comes from a great breeder with healthy cats. (our 3 year old is from the same breeder). The kitten, Thelonious Monk, has suddenly lost the use of his hind legs. The kids took him to the vet and then immediately (with referral) to the neurologist. D called me in hysterics from the neurologist. He needs to run a bunch of tests (kitten can still feel his feet). Up to and including an MRI it will run over $3K. He will start with the easier stuff (blood work), but this is a real mystery. They have a call into the breeder (cat has a warranty), but obviously we are going ahead with the first round of tests. I didn’t want to retire in this lifetime anyway. </p>

<p>The kitten does not appear sick, is still playful and, of course, is an inside cat. There is so much knowledge on this forum that I thought I would put this out there and see if anyone has experienced something like this or has some thoughts.</p>

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<p>double post.</p>

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<p>Is there another pet in the house? When our cat was a 5 week old kitten he suddenly could not walk and could barely even lift his head. The vet thought it was possibly a head or spinal injury caused by his mother (there was no visible injury). Gave him a shot and said bring him back tomorrow if he is atill alive. He did slowly recover though is the clumsiest cat I have ever met. (which of course makes us love him more).</p>

<p>Poor little thing - I hope he gets better soon.</p>

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<p>Oh how sad. I’m not a vet. Don’t know if you’ve googled yet. But I found this:</p>

<p>[KittenCare.com</a> - Heart Problems in Cats](<a href=“KittenCare.com, Kitten Care solutions for Healthy Cats and Kittens - 404 Error Page”>Heart Disease in Cats...What You Need to Know)</p>

<p>"One thing to consider also is Cardiomyopathy, which is more common in male cats and produces irregular heart activity like fast heart rates, a heart murmur, and/or a gallop rhythm (an extra heart sound). This is a treatable condition, but if left unchecked can result in congestive heart failure or in blood clotting in the aorta. Clotting in the aorta causes paralysis in the hind legs because blood cannot get past the blockage. Both these conditions can cause death. </p>

<p>Symptoms of Cardiomyopahty: </p>

<p>Difficulty breathing
Rapid respiration
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Loss of energy
Weakness or paralysis in the hind legs </p>

<p>Obviously there are other possible causes. Please check out the following for information:</p>

<p>Leukemia
FIP
Cancer
Parasites"</p>

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<p>It sounds like FIP to me. Take the kitten to the vet, do the tests, but don’t send it back to the breeder. It will be killed.</p>

<p>If it’s FIP, there’s not much you can do. just make it comfortable.</p>

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<p>I love kitties. Sorry to hear yours is sick.</p>

<p>But wow…I had no idea there were pet neurologists.</p>

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<p>no knowledge either, but a cat lover – so I’m hoping for the best…</p>

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<p>Not something I’ve ever run into. It sounds pretty bad – keep us posted on what the initial blood work shows and the breeder’s response.</p>

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<p>Thanks, all. This breeder is an amazing young man who we’ve dealt with for three years. Our main interest in contacting him right now is to pick his brain, since he is a true expert on Ragdoll cats. There is another cat in their house, but the kitten came in at 12 weeks old and the old girl didn’t pay him much heed.<br>
This doesn’t seem like cardiomyopathy to me- I did have a Maine Coon die suddenly from that.</p>

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<p>Oh MomofWildChild, I’m so sorry to hear about your D’s adorable kitten. She must be beside herself! I must admit that I momentarily freaked when I read your post. I’ve been thinking seriously about adopting a Ragdoll kitten (that “going limp” thing they tend to do sounds sweet and amusing). I’ve read quite a bit about the breed, and they sound like my kind of cat—very social, laid back and sweet tempered. </p>

<p>Is it possible that this paralysis is somehow genetic, and related to the Ragdoll’s tendency to go limp when picked up? Has your breeder experienced anything like this before?</p>

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<p>We had a ragdoll years ago who behaved like that after he had an ear infection. Cleared up with antibiotics, but he was always clumsy. </p>

<p>Dogs can develop rear end paralysis after eating macadamia nuts. It goes away in a few days.</p>

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<p>Ragdolls are generally very hearty- ours acts very much like our Golden Retriever and meets us at the door. This breeder’s cats are very healthy. I don’t think my daughter has talked to him yet. I hope this is something minor.
WildChild and his girlfriend also have a Ragdoll kitten, which is exactly what they needed as sophomores in college!</p>

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<p>A feline Golden Retriever—now, that’s my kind of cat!:D</p>

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<p>MomofWildChild, I am so sorry to hear about this stress. I hope so much that your daughter’s kitten will be okay and I am thinking of you. </p>

<p>I spent much of last year caring for a dear 15 year old cat who had lymphoma. Lots of money, sleepless nights, and tears and he was worth it all. People don’t always understand that cats CAN be as devoted and sweet as dogs, and he was one of those…never in his 15 years did he hiss, snarl, claw, or do anything except love us. All the best wishes and hopes for recovery.</p>

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<p>I don’t know anything about this, but I love cats…I hope it works out for you :)</p>

<p>I want a cat SO BADLY, but I doubt my two labs would agree. heheh. I make due with my brother and sister-in-law’s two cats.</p>

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<p>MomofWildChild,</p>

<p>Depending upon where your daughter is located, her best bet may be to take the kitten to the nearest college of veterinary medicine for treatment. Without a doubt, the best veterinary minds, facilities and treatment will be there. My daughter is at K-State and the College of Veterinary Medicine there treats everything from pet rats to tigers. Here’s a list of U.S. vet schools: </p>

<p>Auburn University </p>

<p>Colorado State University </p>

<p>Cornell University </p>

<p>Iowa State University </p>

<p>Kansas State University </p>

<p>Louisiana State University </p>

<p>Michigan State University </p>

<p>Mississippi State University </p>

<p>North Carolina State University </p>

<p>Ohio State University </p>

<p>Oklahoma State University </p>

<p>Oregon State University </p>

<p>Purdue University </p>

<p>Texas A&M University </p>

<p>Tufts University </p>

<p>Tuskegee University </p>

<p>University of California, Davis </p>

<p>University of Florida </p>

<p>University of Georgia </p>

<p>University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign </p>

<p>University of Minnesota </p>

<p>University of Missouri </p>

<p>University of Pennsylvania </p>

<p>University of Tennessee </p>

<p>University of Wisconsin-Madison </p>

<p>Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine </p>

<p>Washington State University </p>

<p>Western University of Health Sciences </p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>We have cared for ~20 Golden Retreivers over the past five years as a foster family with a Golden Retriever rescue group. I can only think of one dog that was hostile toward our 3 cats – and she had deeper problems that we weren’t aware of. Many of the dogs are curious and want to sniff the cats and the cats will tolerate it for a few seconds. If the dogs approach too quickly or roughly however, the cats can freeze them in their tracks with just a look. It’s so funny to watch an 80-pound dog back off from an 8-pound cat’s hiss.</p>

<p>MOWC – I hope you can get answers quickly. I am all-too-familiar with pet illness and death and it still tears me up.</p>

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<p>The super-vet thinks it is most like polyradicular neuritis. (this is coon-hound syndrome- go figure) He is on Clindamycin to empirically treat for Toxoplasmosis. He is having increasing fatigue, even of the front paws, and so it is most likely a
systemic neuromuscular problem. Most likely spending more money on
tests will confirm the presumptive diagnosis and will not alter the management plan.
They are going to leave him at the hospital over the weekend at his current level of care (no new tests or anything), which includes steroids, anti-inflammatories, and an antibiotic in case it is an infection. The vet is most concerned about T’s inability to urinate on his own because it can cause a bladder infection or permanently distend his bladder muscles, which is more serious. T is doing better today than he was last night. T definitely has feeling in his tail and feet, which is a good sign. Hopefully treating him at the hospital over the weekend will further improve his condition.</p>

<p>Thanks for all your good thoughts!</p>

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<p>Oh, I hope he feels better soon! I feel connected to all cats in the world and I can’t stand to have him suffering :(. All the best and keep us posted!</p>