First let me say the pred appears to be controling her circling as it appears to have stopped...so that relieves "some" of my concerns. And the pred should help increase her appetite as well...so that is positive. My biggest worry was that it didn't appear to be helping at all and if she felt nausious then she wouldn't eat or keep it down due to the circling.

I got a call from Andrew while in my AM meeting today so I didn't get to talk to him but he left me a detailed message. Said he wanted to talk to Dr. P to get an update on the situation and her findings (makes total sense to me). He said he concured with her assessment but the only other thing he believed could cause this symptom was Toxoplasmosis which with the way I take care of my kids he doubted that was a problem. He also said that if the steroid wasn't helping then it was most likely a tumor. That is the oposit of what Dr. P said as she told me if it were a tumor it would work because it would either stunt the growth or shrink it slightly but only work for a stroke while she was on the meds and we would see the circling start again as she tapers off the meds. Anyway, he would be happy to run some bloodwork to rule it out. So I called the vet's office and made an appointment with Sara for Monday evening to do the bloodwork but I want to inquire about the other possibilities in this situation. What would make me feel better is if someone would help me understand WHY any of these other possibilities that are in my mind are not being given a second thought. I can accept that I might be wrong of course...but it is a hard ball to swallow just doing a physical exam and saying cancer! Strok I can totally believe is possible but still begs the question as to why.

Also, a maincoon breeder friend lost a kitty to a Nasopharyngeal Polyp that went undetected. It was up in the soft pallet and had grown into the lower part of the ear causing much the same symptoms but the grew so large in the nasal passages that it infultrated the brain and added pressure on the brain and the cat passed from a STROKE as a result! This sent off bells and whistles to me as a possibility. Polyps are more common and some want to believe and because certain vets have not seen enough of them they assume they cannot see it so therefore it isn't there. Sure it is LOW on my list...but it is on my list all the same.

Anywho...we see Sara Monday evening at 5:45pm and will go from there.

Heather,

I hope that the talk with the vet will shed some light on the situation and also that your questions will be taken seriously and answered to your satisfaction. Please let us know about the outcome.

How are the sweet babies doing?

Birgit

Thank you Birgit!

The babies are doing fantastic!!! I will try to get some pictures posted of BOTH litters this weekend. Sassy's crew get their first baths!!!

Oh I bet that is quite the experience~ Especially with those tiny kitten claws

Puffy gets a bath this weekend. She is not going to be happy but GAH she is so much easier to groom than Chunk. I'm curious how kitties get toxoplasmosis? I clean litter boxes out daily (sometimes twice dailiy depending on Chunk's poop preferences for the day) is that enough?

I believe toxoplasmosis is acquired primarily by eating birds and/or mice that carry the parasite. I asked a biologist friend who inquired of some people she knew doing research on toxoplasmosis in the Parasitology department (part of McGill U). That is what I got from her answer.

Yes this is correct...her is more info but I agree with Andrew, if this is all they are going to looking for, it doesn't fit. She hasn't been around any strays and unless we drug something in on our feet, I just don't see how this is possible.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/ ... mosis.aspx

Since when does toxoplasmosis cause circling behavior??? Heck, why not just guess that it might be rabies, which DOES have a neurological component???

Heather the polyp, or something along that line makes more sense to me, Libby is young. Also a inner ear problem comes to mind, which is along the same lines. Something just doesn't feel right about this to me .

LOL @ LindaH -- yes I agree with you! He was protecting his vet.

And Dianne -- OMG! I agree something isn't right.

Andrew doesn't expect we will find anything but I plan to run my worries by Sara...the Polyp, diabetes, thyroid, and yes even liver/kidney possibilities. ALL of these can have a symptom of circling as a result of a stroke that is the result of one of these things! I want to know WHY they are not of concern. Not to be witchy but to simply ask for my own knowledge...walk me through it...explain why these are not being considered. That is all I am asking for...and look for them if you cannot rule them out without a test!

Excuse me but if my cat is acting like that it is a HUGE concern, cats don't run in circles for two hours and I want every rock turned over to know why and I won't be happy until I do know why. And then I will turn every rock I can find over looking for a way to fix it. I have a real problem with their attitude, I don't like assumptions, I want answers. Good luck and stick to your guns.