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tfnyday · Jul 6, 2008, 07:25 AM

My cat is rather young, about 1 1/2 years old. He is an outdoor cat. I would rather not have him outside, but he insisted. Lol. Anyway, he has come into contact with many things that have caused me concern and I have taken him to the vet. I think my vet feels like I am an over protective parent. Thursday night he was inside laying in the hall crying. I went to him and tried to pet him at which time he cried out worse. He looked up at me and his eyes were odd. They were glassy and mucussy. I stayed with him and talked to him. Not 10 min later, he got up and jumped into a nearby chair. He no longer seemed to hurt but ever since his eyes haven't been right. One eye says dialated and the other is normal. He is eating fine, drinking normally, even playing with the puppy, but his eyes aren't right still. I did notice a couple days before hand that his eyes looked funny, but thought that maybe he had just woken up or something. I recently started using a new flea provention. I have to wait for the vet tomorrow. Anyone have any suggestions?

Rickvn · Jul 6, 2008, 07:53 AM

I'm no vet but I do some human first aid and odd shaped pupils can be caused by, but not exclusively by, stroke. I would have expected some kind of other indication along with it to indicate a stroke... paralysis, drooling... something like that. But... once again... I'm not a vet.

Why did you wait from Thursday if he was already displaying symptoms that confused you? I've had my vet out for emergency consultations twice recently... I really don't care what he or anyone else thinks... I just want by pet sorted out. I would not wait until tomorrow.

tfnyday · Jul 6, 2008, 07:59 AM

If I had the opportunity to take him to the vet I would have. Unfortunately I live in an area that there are no emergency vets. They have been closed all weekend, being the 4th of July. Tomorrow is the first day they are open. And I did forget to mention that he did drool for a short period. His hind legs were also stiff while in the hall before he got up like nothing was wrong. :(

Rickvn · Jul 6, 2008, 08:27 AM

It sounds to me he might have had some kind of a fit/convulsion. A reaction to the new flea prevention? I don't know! Don't use it any more until you've had him checked. Take it with you to the vet too. I'd make sure he stays indoors too until he's been checked out.

It might be worth searching the net to see if anyone else has experienced problems with that flea remedy. Any info you can give your vet will help him too.

Is it possible he may have eaten something that has been poisoned? Like a rat or mouse?

Well I hope it works out for you.

wildandblue · Jul 6, 2008, 10:52 AM

Or some type of head injury like running into a car, or falling out of a tree. He might have drank water that was bad like some with fertilizer or insecticide. You may be able to reach a vet by phone even after hours, many have answering services for emergencies. Never worry about being overprotective! You should see how many questions come in to this site from people who say," I can't afford a vet but tell me what's wrong with my pet" like they think we really want to read about how they are abusing their animals.:eek:

tfnyday · Jul 6, 2008, 11:08 AM

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom. I know the vet situation doesn't make sense, but it is true. I have had emergencies in the past and it is of no use. It isn't about being able to afford the vet, it is about getting there. Like I said fortunately he seems to be eating and drinking and playing well. Hopefully I will find out tomorrow.

wildandblue · Jul 6, 2008, 11:36 AM

You know that game cats like to play where you start up the stairs and they run past you and trip you? One of my cats used to try to play that game with passing cars, wait until one is coming then run out in front of it, the little idiot. Fortunately he quit this. He would also hunt down snakes when outdoors and bring them home. Or do you have horses, he could have been kicked.

tfnyday · Jul 6, 2008, 11:41 AM

No Horses and not much traffic, but he lives in trees. He goes as high as he can get and then gets stuck. He could have fallen. Lots of snakes, frogs, blue salamanders (which I know are poisonous) and the like. It really could be any # of things. I had a cat years ago that had a stroke, but his eyes didn't do this. I am hoping he doesn't go blind in that eye.

morgaine300 · Jul 6, 2008, 01:35 PM

Doesn't really sound the symptoms of a stroke, which are also not that common in cats. Rick, strokes in cats don't work the same as in humans. Normally you'd see seizures, wobbliness, acting a bit drunk, that type of thing. Although, the stiffness might also be a symptom. They are also not nearly as bad for cats as they are for humans.

Of course, that doesn't mean there wasn't some kind of head injury.

You mentioned stiff back legs. Are they cold?

The dilated pupil could be all kinds of stuff. There's even a dilated pupil syndrome, but you haven't mentioned any symptoms that indicate that.

It also may be these things are not related. (i.e. I'm not sure the eye thing is related to the stiffness/pain thing.)

Really, the only thing you can do is get into the vet. Even with any of the stuff I can think of that might be going on here (not really enough symptoms to put anything together), there's probably nothing you can be doing about it yourself in the meantime. Get in early. It may be nothing; it may be serious.

I would definitely be curious to see what the vet has to say on this.

wildandblue · Jul 7, 2008, 08:47 AM

Hopefully a vet in your area will see there is a need for emergency service there and provide it. Maybe a new graduate vet even.

tfnyday · Jul 7, 2008, 09:10 AM

That would be wonderful. BTW spoke to vet this morning and he isn't very worried but he is going to take a look. I will update as to what he has to say. Thank you for all your encouragement and suggestions.

Rickvn · Jul 7, 2008, 05:12 PM

Wow, your vet is pretty casual.

I was at my vet this morning. One of my dogs has just had an operation for a slipped disc (ruptured disc) and he's having physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. I mentioned the symptoms you described to the orthopaedic surgeon who operated on him and his response was that you should have been phoning around for an emergency vet until you did find one! Different strokes I guess... I agree with my guy however. I hope you cat is OK.

tfnyday · Jul 8, 2008, 04:04 AM

Thank you for your concern. Yeah, here in the sticks things are pretty casual. TK (my cats name), seems to be doing well. His eyes are almost normal and he is eating and drinking and playing normally, he is even driving me crazy for attn, like he usually does. Lol I will let you all know today what he says.

tfnyday · Jul 9, 2008, 03:16 AM

So we went to the vet yesterday afternoon. He didn't say much. Doesn't think it was a stroke. His only suggestion was maybe lukemia, (to be tested later) but he wasn't sure. I think he was just grasping for something. The good news is that he seems to be full of energy and is eating and drinking, so I guess there are no worried at the moment. If anything changes I'll come back and let you all know. Thanks again for all your support and suggestions. :D