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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

3770.0. "Convulsions in young cat?" by OLDTOM::WALKER () Wed Jul 04 1990 08:51

    I have a small black (spayed) female cat about one year old. She has
    been totally healthy and happy for the last year until last Sunday
    morning. She sleeps on my son's bed at night ( she's his cat really)
    and went up with him as usual on Saturday night. Early on Sunday
    morning my son woke us up saying that Matty (the cat) was frightened
    of everything. He (son) is seven. When I got up to investigate the
    cat was highly excitable, rushing round in circles and making
    strange wailing noises. Every so often, she would fall forwards onto
    her face as her front legs gave way.
    
    All the time she was purring loudly. When I picked her up she hissed
    and spat and growled and tried to bite me. If she heard even a small
    noise she was very startled. We took her to the vet. who said 'that
    this is a perfectly normal cat'. 
    
    During the rest of Sunday she deteriorated and by Sunday evening was
    having full scale convulsions lasting anything up to two to three
    minutes. I thought she was going to die. I phoned the vet. He said that
    since she was normal he could do nothing.
    
    I phoned another vet. and my husband took her over to him at midnight
    on Sunday. He thought she was very sick and kept her in the hospital.
    (By this time her pupils were widely dilated and she looked quite
    crazy). She had recovered from the hissing and biting and was quite
    friendly again, however.
    
    Now it is Wednesday and she is still alive but still having convulsions
    every few hours. The vet. has done blood tests and found nothing. He is
    now treating her with sedatives but seems no nearer finding the cause
    of her mysterious illness.
    
    We have another cat and a dog and neither of them shows any symptoms.
    Does anyone have any clue what this might be or even how we can get
    more vetinary expertise (eg University) than the local vets. seem to
    have, before it is too late?
    
    By the way we live in the UK.
    
    In hope,
    
    Judy

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
3770.1	Bristol University?	XNOGOV::LISA		`Wed Jul 04 1990 09:00`	15
	Poor Matty! It sounds terrifying for both of you. The only place that I can think of is Bristol University - they have a veterinary department. They have been in the papers recently because they are researching BSE. Where exactly are you located? If I were you I would phone Bristol Uni and find out how to go about getting her examined (they will probably ask for a letter of referral from you vet) or if you are a long way from there, they could recommend somewhere else. Try and get hold of one of the vets as the admin people can be obstructive (could be helpful though :-) Good Luck and I really hope she gets better soon! Lisa plus Pookie and Rolf.
3770.2	Will try Bristol	OLDTOM::WALKER		`Wed Jul 04 1990 09:10`	14
	We're in sunny Bognor - so Bristol isn't too far. I thought of them but wondered how exactly you went about getting them involved without offending the vet.... I will phone them The disease/affliction is very scary - it must be some sort of brain damage - but I am fed up with being fobbed off by the vet. Thankyou, Judy
3770.3	Insist on a referral	CHEFS::SIFTS		`Wed Jul 04 1990 11:04`	10
	Judy, If you ask the vet for a referral to Bristol - and insist - they should refer you. Not sure if Bristol will see you without a referral, but it's always worth trying. Other than that, there is an organisation called the Feline Advisory Board. Sorry, don't know their number, but if you can get hold of it (try your vet, cat magazines, etc.) they might be able to help. Helen.
3770.4		CIRCUS::KOLLING	Karen/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.	`Thu Jul 05 1990 14:20`	7
	Please don't waste time worrying about the vet's feelings, as time may be very precious. U.S animal hospitals in Universities will see patients without a referral, so I would certianly also try calling Bristol directly and being tenacious. Please let us know how things are going. Our thoughts are with you.
3770.5	She's recovering	OLDTOM::WALKER		`Fri Jul 06 1990 05:23`	13
	I spoke to Bristol University and they said that they need a vets. referral to accept Matty. The good news is that the vet. is prepared to refer her to any vetinary school we choose. The best news of all is that Matty is recovering slowly. We still don't know what she is suffering from. The vet. is treating her with pheno- barbitone (spelling approximate). I understand this to be a sedative. Will keep you updated.... Judy (Matty and Beastly Thomas (18 year old Russian Blue male))
3770.6	Animal Health Trust	JOCKEY::GLEDHILLS	No Brakes, No Steering	`Tue Jul 10 1990 09:48`	9
	Good to hear she's on the mend. Another option for you is to phone the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Tel: 0638 661111. They have a small animals section who may be able to help/advise you. Keeping our fingers crossed Sue, Puss and Littlun