Cat Chat Feline Forum

Hello, my first time ever using this website. I am desperate for answers. My 1 year old neutered male cat has seen two vets who are absolutely baffled by his issues. When I rescued him, he had a head tilt, I was told he had a polyp and they would remove it during the neuter. For a year he had absolutely no symptoms or issues besides the head tilt. Long story short 4 days after being neutered and having the polyp removed, about 1 and a half months ago, he started vomiting, shivering, lethargy and refusing food. At this point, as I’ve said it’s been a month and a half. Countless vet visits, he still has these symptoms. He is on a pain medication which gives him the ability to play, be his crazy self and eat BUT, he does still shiver throughout the day. Without the medicine he is miserable. The polyp site has healed, unfortunately due to the removal he developed horner’s syndrome and his ear drum had ruptured. He’s been on steroids, antibiotics and Cerenia. He has had a fecal exam, blood work twice, ultrasound, physical exams and neurological exams, he’s also stayed 2 days for evaluation. Both vets cannot find anything physically wrong with him. At this point he is only a year old and to think he will need to live on pain meds to function breaks my heart. I do not know what else it could be.

Sorry if this was a little all over the place. If there’s any questions or things I’ve missed feel free to ask.

Hi and welcome. I’m sorry to hear what you and your boy have been going through. It sounds pretty baffling, but it also sounds like your vets are doing all they can to get to the bottom of this. I had wondered whether it was neurological but if the pain meds are making a difference, it sounds more like possible nerve damage. Have you discussed this with your team?

Welcome to the forum and i'm sorry it is due to such a situation.

I can't really offer any advice other than to ask, are they certain the polyp was the cause of the head tilt, from what you have said I am assuming it was an ear polyp. Is there any chance that there was something else going on from the start?

I'm no expert but it does make me wonder if there is something more going on in the ear area, possibly in the middle or inner ear and I don't know how easy it is to scan that area or if it has been done. I know problems with the inner ear can make a person feel constantly sick and dizzy and can cause vomiting, which makes you not want to eat or move and generally feel like hell (I had an inner ear infection once, it was horrible), if it makes a cat feel the same it would match his symptoms, instead of an infection it could be there is another problem causing the same symptoms.

The only other thing I can think of is that the polyp was putting pressure on an area of his brain and the release of that pressure has caused the problems.

The only other suggestion i have is that it may be nothing to do with the polyp and it's removal and the timing is purely coincidental, but that just leads to more questions as to it's cause.

It does sound like he is getting the best care he can and hopefully your vets can come up with some options to give him a good quality of life even if it does mean constant medication.

Hi & welcome to this great forum. So sorry to read about your little fur babe. I’ve become addicted to a vet show here “Vet on the Hill”. Scott’s an Aussie based in the UK & has 3 practices with the main one in Richmond. I love it as he explains everything so well & so do the specialists he uses. Just an idea, is it possible for your vets to consult with him. Pls keep us updated. Sending lots of fusses to your little un. Vivian & The Famous Five from Oz.