Hi, have a problem with one of my cats,"Tammy" a week ago she started walking slowly and slightly wobbly, we took her to the vet who diagnosed her with a water infection which was possibly brought on by stress,she gave us antibiotics.Over the course of the weekend the cat went from walking crablike to just dragging her hind legs behind her,my wife took her to see the vet who could not give us a diagnosis but dispensed anti-inflammetery tablets, we then took her to another vet for a second opinion, there she had her blood pressure checked that was fine, had several blood tests they were all fine and she had a full x-ray,the cat has feeling in her feet and legs and a good pulse running through them, but again the vet was unable to give a diagnosis,has anybody else had this problem any advice would be most welcome

Hi, yes, my cat Gwynnie had something happen that sounds very similar, about 4 yrs ago, when she was around 5 months old. It started with a slight limp on one leg, which was treated with anti inflams, but it very quickly progressed to complete paralysis of both back legs - it was so frightening

She was hospitalised and they x-rayed, but nothing showed up on that. Her blood test showed very high coronavirus titres, (my vet had suspected FIP which is why the coronavirus test) but nothing else was abnormal in her blood results. She was treated with several kinds of antibiotics, steroids and anti inflammatory meds, and slowly she started to regain use of both legs. We never really got to the bottom of it, needless to say, she's a happy, healthy 4 yr old now, although I do still notice just the hint of weakness in the back leg that she first started to limp on, but it doesnt affect her dashing about like a mad thing!

I hope your Tammy makes the same recovery as Gwynnie.

Hi Ambercat, thank you very much for your message it put a huge smile on my wifes face,and made us believe that there is hope.

Hi Mick

hope your Tammy recovers. I can can certainly relate as to how worried you must be.

we were in a similar situation with Karlo our wegie kitten this year. Only with him he was walking crouched down on his front legs his belly on the floor. He was walking very quickly in short bursts. He was hospitalized and given various meds only to recover. A few weeks later it happened again, and he was hospitalized and meds given. Again with him it was suspected FIP due to him also testing postive for coronavirus. It then happened for third time. We then made the decision to have a biopsy done [an op not without risk]. It transpired that he actually had irritable bowel disease. This really surprised us and our vets as he didn't exhibit any of the normal signs of IBD. He is now on a special diet and not had any problems since.

let us know how she does

Sounds like Gwynnie suffered an acute infection with the corona virus.

By the way, corona virus does NOT mean the cat has FIP.

Over 80% of all cats test positive for the corona virus, but the contagious virus is relatively harmless. It is only the mutated corona virus that causes FIP, at which stage it is no longer contageous.
A cat with FIP can therefore not infect another cat with FIP.

No-one knows why this harmless corona virus sometimes mutates into FIP.
Stress and disease are known to contribute to the onset of FIP symptoms, but whether the virus mutates at this stage, or whether it has long since mutated and is lying dormant for the cat's resistance to diminish is unknown.

I lost an apparently healthy cat to FIP, she deteriorated within a day from seemingly healthy to dying. She had been through a very stressful period, though, with her owner being in and out of hospital for months, then dying, relatives and friends taking care of the cats, cats being taken out of their house and moved to a temporary address, and then to me.

In hindsight, the only hint of trouble we had, was that her deceased owner had nicknamed her Racing Daisy, but she was very normal with us. Not subdued, but certainly not hyper. So, in all probability, the disease was already taking hold.....

__________________
Jiskefet & the mognificent Dutch bunch

My little angels at the rainbow bridge

Do you know Cazzer when I read the OP's post my first thoughts was Karlo's case and the similarities between the two. Then when Ambercat posted about Gwynnie, it sort of confirmed my earlier thinking, if you know what I mean. Did Karlo have an intestinal biopsy to diagnose the IBD then?

Hi yes Ianthi he did have an intestinal biopsy. It was Gwynnie's story actually that gave me hope about Karlo when I was worried sick about him, prior to the biopsy.

Hi everyone, I'm mickn's daughter and have an addition to make to his original post. the vet initially diagnosed a water infection. i've noticed that she isn't urinating in the normal way. She laid on my legs for about 20 mins and i noticed she had weed a little bit on my leg. it seems as if she can't use her litter tray because of her loss of movement in her back legs she cannot squat so when she does go to the toilet it ends up rubbed around her bottom, (not a nice thought i know).

we have another cat, tammys sister tigger, and when we look at them both, tammys bottom and vulva seem larger and more visible, possibly swollen?

originally we were sceptical that a water infection could cause her to drag herself using only her front feet unless its possible her bladder may be swollen, although is this the sort of thing that could be seen on an x-ray?

i am going to the next vet appointment, are there any questions anyone can recommend i ask the vet?