Why did this happen?

[Mini-me's Mom]

My cat Mini-me was a ferel kitten approximately 6 weeks old when my daughter found him. We followed the necessary program of worming and vaccinations and Mini-me was growing onto a healthy cat. When he was approximately 8 months old, Mini-me developed ataxia in his hind legs that was more evident on his right side, than his left. We noticed poor balance and then difficulty in maintaining his balance. Initially, we believed he may have had an injury or was manifesting symptoms of hip dysplasia. Our veternarian prescribed prednisone for treatment of posssible back injury. Hip dysplasia was ruled out. Within three days of this visit, Mini-me lost complete function of his hind legs and could no-longer balance himself. Additionally, he became incontinent of urine and stool. Unable to detect any apparent skeletal spinal injury and labs ruling out metobolic or hematolgic disorders, my vet was scratcing her head. She decided to continue the prednisone and start an antibiotic that would cross the blood-brain barrier. Within a period of several days Mini-me's condition did not overtly improve, but did not worsen. In fact, as long as we supported him, he could move his legs in a walking motion, although his ataxia persisted. Infant diapers and expressing his bowel and bladder at regular intervals solved his incontinence problems. The active ROMs seemed to improve his strength and overall health. Although he had rip-roaring pica due to the prednisone, the un-shot to this was he was drinking plenty of water and maintained a good appetite. We simply had to limit his access to the cat liter.

This was in January. In the next couple of months, Mini-me began to compensate for his lack of mobility. He could pull himeself around with his front legs. When he could, he would use the walls so he could actually "walk" for short distances. There were even instances where he could pull himself up and took 3-4 steps before returning to his peddling. Mini-me always seemed to get where he wanted to go, including climbing onto the couch to curl up behind my knees. I always loved the little guy, but his will to survive and function really got to me. As a critical care RN, I see a lot of things - a lot not good - and I needed for Mini-me to get better. He seemed to be doing that.

It was in the first week of May that Mini-me's condition changed for the worse. He lost all balance and all motor control of his extremeties, including the ability to hold up his head. I recognized the grim signs of "posturing", but not having knowledge of feline physiology, did not know where the lesion was occuring. The neurological symptoms were an automatic twisting of the head and upper torso to the right side when Mini-me was made to sit up and a stffing and pronation of his forelegs when side-lying. I was not able to perform any passive ROMs with his forelegs as he maintained a tonic rigidity. He eventually was unable to swallow and when he vomited fecal matter, I could no longer tolerate his suffering. I had Mini-me euthanized. These events all happened within a period of three days.

I need to know what happened to my little guy. I need to know that I did the right things for him. If you could give me some insight to what his possible diagnosis was it would help me tremendously.
Mini-me touched my life in a way that I can not fully explain and his debillitation and illness haunts me.

Thank you,
Mini-me's Mom

[Tina B and crew]

I can't offer much in the way of answers but did want to express my sympathy at your loss It hurts so to lose a beloved furbaby.

Was your vet ever able to give you any answers as to what was causing this? I'm curious because it sounds similiar to what happened to our Frodo several years ago and she was diagnosed with a thromboembolism. The only difference I see which would cause me to doubt this in your Mini-me is that it came on suddenly in Frodo and she lost use of both hind legs as well as becoming incontinent in a matter of moments. She never did lose control of her front extremities either. Fortunately her story has a happy ending, she recovered in a matter of days and the no heart disease was found.

Again, I am so sorry for your loss.

[Traci]

I am so very very sorry, I can imagine the frustration and pain you are enduring and my heart goes out to you.

Without a necropsy finding, it would be nearly impossible to break down the possibilities, but I can list several of them for you, should you feel compelled to discuss them with your vet.

Osteodystrophy: Ricketts (nutritional deficiencies early on, such as vit D, A, calcium/phosphorus, all-meat diets including beef heart)

Dystrophy-like mopathy: Neuraxonal dystrophy (motor neuron disease); Leukodystrophy (motor dysfunction); Nemaline rod myopathy; Autosomal recessive disorder (spinal motor neuron/kidney dysfunction); X-linked muscular dystrophy (autosomal); Spina bifida (pelvic limb and incontinence and autosomal)

Cerebellar disease: Gangliosidosis or Mannosidosis

Feline idiopathic inflammatory disease: (staggering disease-CNS)

Portosystemic shunt: congenital, liver

All of the above disorders can occur at an early age and progress rapidly, usually with a poor prognosis (with the exception of nutritional disorders, extrahepatic liver shunt and possible fungal/viral). Labs to break down for clues might include creatine kinase in chemical analysis, CSF testing, spinal lesions, peripheral nerve testing, long bone formation deficits, feline serology that might indicate blood-borne parasitic infection or fungal disease or viral disease

It sounds like you remained committed to Mini-me's care and you did everything you possibly could. If any of the above disorders were contemplated by your vet, unfortunately, there was nothing you could have done more, these diseases are generally very progressive and supportive care is generally all you can do, at most.

I hope you can find peace in your heart, don't question yourself or wonder about the what-if's.... you truly performed the greatest act of love and kindness by letting him go, however difficult and painful that was.

My heart goes out to you...(((HUGS)))