Cat standing by wall,box,etc. staring like in a daze (Also on chemo and steroids)

[jmm1979]

My cat started chemo a couple weeks ago and was also put on a Dexamethasone. There was miscommunication between the doc and the pharmacy and her bottle said to give her 1ml. a day. She was on this dose for 4 days. When the vet realized this, she said it was wrong and my cat was to be on .5ml a day. Quite a difference. When she started taking this, she starting acting very weird.

She'll walk around the room to somewhere (wall/door/fridge/toilet/water bowl/box) just about anywhere and she'll sit there and stare for up to 6 mins. She'll do this for hours without resting. It's like she's in some sort of daze. I'm worried that something is wrong but the vet said it doesn't have anything to do with the steroids. Sometimes she sways when she sits there but doesn't make contact with anything.

I'm worried that it could be something neurological or possibly the cancer close to her brain. I don't know but I'm pretty worried. Has anyone ever had this experience? I would very much appreciate any advice and/or thoughts.

[Joaobeneditosimoes]

Hmmm. Have you discussed with different doctor?
If you start noticing this behaviour after increasing meds, it's logical to think that its because the meds. Have you tried to pet the cat while that daze happens... or tried anything else to draw attention? Maybe with toys or snacks?

[jmm1979]

Thanks for the reply. I asked the oncologist and they said the meds shouldn't have anything to do with it. And her regular vet said she doesn't know aside that it could be from old age. But it's almost non-stop for hours sometimes. I'll go and pet her or pick her up and she'll relax and sit for a minute then back again. I don't know if it's left over from the high steroids or a neurological problem. I'm worried about her!

[Joaobeneditosimoes]

Try to have her attention... when you pet her and she's back to it again try to play with some toys... just to make sure she responds to it. I'm not a doctor but if she didn't have those issues before meds... i still believe meds are cause for it.
Is there any other meds she can take without those she's on?
Does she go outside? You could try to stimulate her by taking her outside.
Cats act strange when they have health problems. You have to figure out by doing different experiments. I think you should be adviced by different doctor just to hear a second opinion.

[bobbys girl]

How old is your cat? That sounds a bit like my dog, Bonnies behaviour in her last year. She would wander out into the garden and just stand there with a kind of 'do I come here often?' look on her face. She lived to a grand 17 1/2 and although a little puzzled about where she was she seemed happy otherwise.

I think it best to get back to your vet and find out if it is neurological. How worrying for you.

[Lilith]

Hi, I've just had a quick google and dexamethasone has a number of side-effects, including amnesia and confusion ...

And the mix-up over dosage won't have helped. I'm afraid I've had no experience of this med, but wide experience of doctors who insist that side-effects don't exist. They do, I'm afraid. However, if it is a side effect of the meds, this is hopeful in that this behaviour is probably temporary, poor girl, she's got enough on her plate already, and it's distressing for you too, but mercifully she probably doesn't realise she's doing this.

As Bobbys girl says, age can be a factor too - I have an elderly girl who, when she wakes, howls like a crying baby. She can have her eyes open, even be washing, but for that brief time she doesn't seem to know where she is. Then she comes to and is her usual cheerful fussy self . As Joao advises, I just stroke her and gently 'wake' her if she's within reach.

All the very best with your girl, please keep us updated