Shaking twitching cat . Please help

[Princessmom]

Hi a week ago my 1 year old cat started this odd shaking and twitching . She also seems very off balanced almost as if she was drunk . I took her to my vet they said they didnt think it was a deliberate poisoning but may some form of toxicity. Gave her Valium’s muscle relaxer and sent us home . Doctor said she would be getting better as days go by . She has gotten worse took her back to the vet and he’s given her a shot of antibiotics. Here I am a week later and she’s still in the same condition it’s so hard to see her like this it’s very sad to watch . She’s still eating normally just very obviously shaking twitching and off balance . It’s not a seizure . I can’t afford to take her back to the vet a third time . Any one familiar with this ?

[Catfan5]

I’m sorry to hear your girl isn’t well, I don’t have experience of this which isn’t very helpful but here’s hoping someone on here can advise. x

[Mrsd86]

Poor kitty. Is she eating and drinking? Such a worry for you, I've never had this with my cat so can't be of much help but I hope things improve for you both.

[Ruth B]

I admit I'm no expert and haven't any experience with a similar problem, but from what you describe it does sound like a neurological issue to me, possibly due to some type of toxin, or possible due to something like a stroke. unfortunately I think she would need to see a specialist if you want a true diagnosis and that would get expensive, and even they may not be able to do anything even if they could work out what had happened. I will admit I'm not sure the antibiotics will have done much good, it doesn't really sound like an infection to me.

Is she able to eat, drink and use the litter tray by herself with out problems, if she can it could be she will adapt to her new condition herself and can still live a full happy life. Does it seem to have got any worse over the two weeks she has had it, or does it seem to have stabilsed at the level it is at. I would also suggest you try and make your home as easy to get around for her as possible, plenty of floor level beds, easy steps for her to get to windowsills etc, try and keep her from wanting to jump from place to place as that is when accidents are most likely to occur if she has problems with her balance.

In the end, remember while it may hurt you to see her like that, it could be that she just accepts it as the way she is and she can still be perfectly happy in herself. I would suggest you check out some videos of cats with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, while I don't think she has that condition as they are normally born with it, it does sound like her symptoms are similar, seeing them might help understand that she can still live a happy life even if she can't do all the things we normally think cats should do.

Hopefully she will improve in time, if not then she will likely learn to adapt and be happy as she is.