Sister's civvie has strange symptoms, need input...

[Jennifer and Porky]

Hi everyone!

I told my sister I would post here, to mine the wisdom of this group and see if anyone has any insight on her kitty's condition.

Emily is a tiny 17-yr old tortoiseshell, in good health except for her high blood pressure (takes 1/4 of a Norvasc every day). A little over a month ago, she started pacing in large circles around every room in the house, and would get herself wedged into corners underneath things, behind furniture, in bags & boxes, etc. And then she wouldn't be able to get out - it's like she forgot how to back up! She seemed a little subdued and lethargic, and she also stopped meowing and purring - she was a pretty talkative girl. Other than that, she seemed o.k. - eating & drinking & LB action all normal.

The vet thought she might have toxoplasmosis and sent the test in, but started her on antibiotics right away anyway (doxycycline, I think, a full month's course). In a few days, she was back to her normal self - no more circling and pacing and hiding, and she exhibited tons more energy and wanted to play more!

However, near the end of the course of antibiotics, she's started this strange behavior again. And the toxoplasmosis test came back negative, which apparently could be a false negative, so inconclusive, I guess. They took her back to the vet, but I guess they can't definitely say it's something neurological, because she doesn't limit her circling or pacing to one side or direction only. Apparently, though, the vet did say that one of her pupils looks a little larger than the other. Again, other than these things, she's acting normally.

My sister and her husband are keeping her confined to a small area so she can't get herself wedged into an area without being able to get out. And she's on another course of antibiotics (I'm not sure if it's the same one, or a new one).

So, has anyone ever heard of anything like this or experienced it with their cat? What could this possibly be? My sister and her DH are understandably worried about her - she's their precious little tortie that they've had for years, ever since she showed up on their doorstep during a rainstorm...

 

[Hope + (((Baby)))GA]

Two things come to mind.....hyper-T and cardiologist checkup needed.

 

[tuckers mom]

I would check thyroid as Hope mentioned. Hypert can lead to high blood pressure and you've already got some blood pressure stuff going on. High blood pressure could cause vision problems, some cats have gone blind from it. When Tucker(GA) lost his vision for just a day he circled like that and got stuck in all kinds of places. I tried to get him to settle down and rest but he walked probably because he felt so strange. His blindness was caused by his brain tumor swelling. We doubled his steroids and his vision came back next day and he walked normally again.

My sweet little man Henry(GA), he got what seemed like dimensia in the end. He would get stuck in corners constantly. His vision was intact the entire time. He was just very old.

I'm a big fan of checking electrolytes too. Low potassium can cause lethargy.

 

[Linda and Bear Man]

I assume that the vet checked complete bloodwork, i.e. kidney function and everything else. My first thought was that the kitty might be blind, especially with a history of hypertension, and now with one abnormal pupil. The other responses you have received all contain good suggestions.

Circling due to a brain tumor usually tends to be to the same side all the time. Are there any other physical symptoms such as loss of balance, weakness on one side, or back and forth eye movements, or head tilt? These could also indicate a tumor. The vet should have done a neurological check, assessing reflexes, etc. Inner ear/vestibular problems should also be ruled out. A referral to a feline neurologist could be considered once the regular vet has ruled everything else out.

Bear Man used to circle. I have a video of it. He was blind, and when he was anxious (for instance needed to find the litter box), he became disoriented and his circling was worse. I did give him SAMe (for instance Denosyl) which is reputed to help with kitty dementia, if all physical problems are ruled out.

eta: Found this link on toxoplasmosis and possible CNS effects, such as circling and abnormal pupil size:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/toxo.html