Cat Balance

[garnetalon]

My cat of 6 years old has a really bad balance problem and keeps stumbling and falling over. We have had himchecked out by the vet but they cant diagnose the problem without us spend huge sums of cash which is not available. He is a bright as a button in himself but cant seem to shake this problem.

Any ideas !

Thanks Garnetalon

[WILLIAMSON_P]

i had a cat yrs ago that had a similar prob, at first the vet ruled out any ear probs, as this can affect balance, and it was discovered he had had a mild stroke he lived quite happiley to 18yrs

[Rebecca666]

If You love Your cat...get Him checked out...it could be nothing, but then it could be something bad...You'd probably never forgive yourself if he gets really ill & You could've helped him but didn't coz of money.
Some vets take installments. Or if You're on a low income, the PDSA can help.
Hearing does affect balance as P_WILLIAMSON said...but so can a brain tumor.
Hope He gets better.

[kaylamay]

I have a female cat named Wobbly that i rescued. I noticed she walked like a drunk Sailor leaving the bar at closing time. She always seemed healthy and ate and drank and used the litter box so i was not worried. I took her in to the vet to be spayed and I mentioned her strange symptoms and the vet recommended i not have her put under anesthesia in case whatever neurological disorder she had caused her to die during surgery. It was suggested i take her to a Vet Neurologist to see what was wrong, but it would have costs $$$$$$ and i just could not afford it. She was healthy and was luckily now and indoor only kitty so she could be kept away from unfixed males.
Because of a huge Vet screw up, they said they fixed one of my males, only to find out they hadn't(long story!!!) Well Wobbly ended up get pregnant. I called the vet as they knew her situation and when they realized their mistake with the male kitty they agreed to take care of Wobbly during her pregnancy. She went a week over due so the vet said she needed to C/section her and we would have to risk the anesthesia. She survived(thank goodness) but 3 or the 4 babies died shortly after birth. 2 were severe siamese twins and one looked perfect but died. The 4th is now a rambunctious stinker that i hand raised(Wobbly abandoned him) from birth. The point of my story is the new vet said that Wobbly was probably born to a mother that had distemper while pregnant. There is a name for Wobblys condition, but i would need a college degree to know how to pronounce it. It caused some neuological and is the reason her kittens were mostly abnormal. Wobbly was spayed during the c/section and we did get her delightful little boy out of the experience. She is as Wobbly as her named would suggest still, but is healthy and happy so i dont worry. Her one surviving kitten, named "Kitten" has no health issues beyond that he has a love hate relationship with his own tail! go figure!?

[kaylamay]

Another opinion. I would suggest that you keep your kitty in doors and not allow him out as he may not be able to get away from a bad situation like a normal kitty could. Wobbly(see above) is expected to live a long wobbly life so unless your vet thinks your kitty needs immediate medical intervention then i would just love him and take care of him and let him live out his life in comfort. They adapt to their wobbliness as they know no other way so it is "normal" for them.
You can email me if you like.
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