Can cats have strokes?

[Phoebe's human]

I apologize for being absent for so long.

I'm wondering if a cat can have a stroke. A neighbor's cat (age 14) is ailing, and she thinks she may have had a stroke.

She can't afford to take the cat to a vet and is trying to take care of the cat on her own but is looking for possible diagnoses. I know she should go to a vet but it's apparently not possible.

So--do cats have strokes? If so, what is the best way to treat them?

[Traci]

Phoebe's human, she MUST get kitty to a vet, promptly.

Yes, cats can have strokes, but there are various heart conditions that would require individualized diagnostics and individualized treatment, you cannot just assume a heart condition is the same for every cat, they are not!

There is nothing she can do for kitty at home if a heart condition is present, and she should NOT let this go unchecked by a vet....heart conditions are progressive, painful, debilitating if left undiagnosed and treated.... only a vet can do an exam, diagnostics, treatment and medications appropriate for the condition. It might not even be a heart condition, but something else entirely, like kidney disease, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, some of these conditions are secondary to a primary condition in many older cats. This requires kitty be seen to rule out other possible health conditions that may or may not be heart related.

Please encourage her to get kitty seen by a vet immediately. It may be something that can be effectively treated or slow the progression of. It is not fair to kitty not to be properly diagnosed and treated if it can be manageable.

[Phoebe's human]

Thanks so much, Traci. I've been urging her to get the cat to a vet at once.

[Traci]

Maybe try expressing the urgence to her, for example, most primary health conditions like heart, kidney, liver, etc, demand immediate attention as opposed to waiting until the condition has progressed much too far and makes the situation so much worse (and costly), these conditions are always painful and debilitating to the cat if left unchecked and untreated. Maybe encourage her with our usual mantra, she's given the owner 14 wonderful years of love and companionship, she now owes kitty the same, to get her the care she needs. Many of these conditions can be managed if caught early on, and she can discuss costs with the vet and form a payment plan if necessary. The important thing is that kitty is diagnosed properly, and care given to minimize progressive symptoms or to prevent worsening symptoms.

[Phoebe's human]

I couldn't get hold of her. I knocked on her door but got no answer. I left a note about getting her kitty to a vet and gave names, addresses and phone numbers of several, plus an animal emergency clinic.

I'll try again today.

Thanks so much for the good advice!

[Traci]

Well, bless you for trying to get kitty seen by her vet, I know what it's like trying to convince someone despite the costs. But, early prevention is much cheaper than waiting until the condition has progressed, that only serves to have the cat in pain or illness and the owner spending much much more in the long term.

Kitty is in my thoughts and prayers, I so hope she will listen to you!

[Phoebe's human]

She didn't listen, and the kitty died.

Thanks so much for the support and concern.

It wasn't just the expense in this situation. This is a lady who is so scared of doctors that she hasn't been to one in over 35 years. She was just as reluctant to think about taking her cat to a vet.

But Suzette died peacefully in her sleep, and at least was at home in familiar surroundings.

[Traci]

Sorry for saying this, but I hope she doesn't have other cats, nor any more in the future.

Safe and gentle journey, sweet Suzette, you will never be forgotten

(((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))) Phoebe's human, you did the best you could.

[Phoebe's human]

She says she won't. She's over 80--and set in her ways. She loves cats but I'm glad too that she's not going to adopt another one.