Cat Illness Question

[Shelsteree]

I posted previously about my cat, Falcor, suddenly becoming very ill. Thankfully he did not die and is almost completely back to normal. When he was sick we spent our summer vacation money to get him emergencey care , and recovering care (5 days at the vet). We told the vet we had very little money left - that we wanted to save him but that he would be able to pay for any extreme measures. (it was truly the hardest day of my life to have to say that) anyway, thankfully he survived. But we still don't know what happened and I was hoping maybe someone out there could shed a light on it
as briefly as I can make it.
He had a very high fever (105) for over 24 hours. The last 12 he was medicated to keep it down. He couldn't walk or stand really. He recovered slowly at the vet and after they were sure he was eating and using the litter box they let us bring him home.
When he came home he spent the first couple days under the bed. And if you petted him he would press the right side of his head hard against your hand, rubbing behind his ear and jaw against you. He would nip at you if you tried to rub him anywhere else. Soon he was trying to jump up onto things but would fall backwards (!?) after about a week he was able to jump up low heights - and able to go down the stairs.
Now he's pretty much back to normal! (the big brat clawed open the bottom of one of my wing chairs to get inside it to lay down!) BUT he still has this weird tilt to his head. when he looks behind himself (to the left) he turns his whole head sideways and looks at you with both eyes.(its creepy) When you talk to him he tilts the right side of his head up higher than the left. when he's jumping down from any height he goes VERY slowly and if possible braces himself on the right.

since we couldn't afford neurological tests we don't know for sure if there was something of that nature wrong. I tend to believe that it wasn't neuroligacl anyway- why would THAT cause a fever? What it seems like to me is an ear infection. A severe one obviously. The behavior broken down- is so similar to when my kids have had ear infections. Cats can get those right? Like maybe it damaged some part of his equilibrium? Mt friend has a dog that had something called vestibular blah-blah-something. Is that something cats get?

[mamabear]

Shelsteree, I am so glad to hear about FAlcor feeling better. How great for you! I am stumped with what you are saying at this point. Did you ask the dr. what it could be from? (like ear infection or maybe it was from the high fever?) I thought that if someone had a high fever for a long time it could damage the brain to some degree(a little or a lot i dont know)? I'm not sure and hoping that others see this and have some insight on it.

Prayers for a healthy Falcor! How is Dragon doing too? Hope they are both doing well!

[Shelsteree]

Thanks Mamabear! I was thinking that too- that maybe it was just the high fever that caused something to shortwire. We now call him "tardo" (thats soo politically incorrect I know - but really you should see him!

and awesome that you remembered about Dragon (his brother) at first Dragon was really mean to him but I took the advice that someone gave me on here about rubbing them with an article of our clothing to mix their scents and did it with my hands on a couple of occassions and well..

they both just went barreling past me making a ruckus!does that tell you anything?

until just the past few days I would catch Dragon trying to dominate over Falcor- taunting him, smacking him, laying his head on top of Falcor's etc but Falcor basicly ignored him. I guess he was waiting until he felt well enough to kick his butt like he did before he was sick!. (it helps that Falcor is at least a pound heavier I'm sure) They are the best of friends again.

And I am soo glad (I think) because before it broke my heart to see my normally feisty bratty Cat\Dog acting so passive AND to see my little tiger cat with no one to play with him!

Now.... what can I do to cure Falcor of chewing on boxes? what is UP with THAT?

[mamabear]

Glad to hear that they are acting up like the bratty kids they once were. Just keep a close eye on him just in case.

As for the boxes well if I knew that one I'd patent it. ROFL I know some people use a water sprayer to stop the behavior but you mustnt let him see that you are doing it. Atleast that was my understanding. I'm sure once Tambrey sees this she'll explain further. I never used it so I have little experience with it.

We had cats my whole life and well we thought it funny when they chewed up the cardboard boxes and left the entirely chewed spit out box for mom. We would waste countless hours watching this.(yep we did) Best was when my male cat would open moms purse(not sure how old you are but my mom was 17-18 when she had sis and I, we grew up where the 80's were hot. Well mom had this HUGE purse), so Whispers would open it and then take out her wallet(big too) and unzip it, dont ask we really dont know how that happen unless mom was lazy and never zipped it up. He was then let our female cat Tiger take the money(just the bills) and eat it. MOm one day saw it happen and saw us watching it and not do anything about it and man she was mad. We were cracking up so bad that she couldnt even try to disipline us for encouraging it. Talk about a total lack of disrespect. (o well she laughed to eventually)

Hope others have some insight on the cardboard, i only have funny stories when it comes to that sort of thing.