Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I just wanted some opinions about my 3-year old cat, Petra. When she was 5 weeks old, her previous owners stepped on her head. They took her to the emergency vet clinic, but couldn't pay the bills, so they turned her over to the hospital. Petra wasn't given a 40% chance to survive: she was bleeding from her mouth and nose, breathing through her mouth (not normal for a cat), was non-responsive for a few days, had a seizure, and so on!

Within a week, she made a miraculous recovery! As I was looking for a companion for my then 11-year old cat Tobie, I adopted her on the condition that she wouldn't need around the clock care (I couldn't give her that). Other than that, I didn't care if she was blind, deaf, or brain damaged. I loved her, and she was so damn cute on top of it! I brought all 15 oz. of her home.

One thing I notice was that she didn't grow up to be a big cat - she's short and compact (partly due to Persian ancestry). Very early on (2-3 mos. old) she developed the saggy belly pouch most fixed cats get. It seemed that her hormones told her to store the food as fat, not make her bigger. At 5-6 mos. I got her fixed. The vet commented that she was very unually - her uterus was very small, and "tied in there real tight - hard to get out."

I began to research pituitary gland damage, and specifically growth hormone deficiencies. She seemed to have some of the traits: small posture, stocky bones with organs "compressed" into a smaller than normal frame, reproductive problems, as well as kitten-like fur and voice. A few articles indicated that cats with growth hormone deficiencies live short lives. I expressed my concerns to my vet, who shrugged them off. He said that I just have two small cats (both Tobie and Petra are small framed, and each weighs about 7-8 pounds). He showed me that although Petra has vision problems, she is not completely blind in either eye.

For one, I respect, and trust, my vet. He is excellent, respects and love animals, and on the New York State Veterinary board. However, I know that not all vets know everything (they're only human like the rest of us). However, Petra definitely expresses other signs of brain damage: she has vision problems, learning difficulties, runs like a rabbit instead of a cat, is paranoid and sometimes afraid of me and my husband, and she doesn't groom herself. She's not one of the most intelligent cats I've owned! But she is slowly learning, and becoming more affectionate.

Has anyone else heard of a cat with brain injury at such a young age? Did they ever experience symptoms similar to Petra's? What about life expectancy? If there is anything I can do to help her, I will.

Thanks for all your comments and help. Nikki

Awww! Poor Petra. She is lucky she found a good home. I suppose that her stunted growth could be a result of the trauma she endured. One way to tell whether or not is indeed pituitary related is to request a test if one is available. However, I don't know if there would be any treatment if there were something wrong with her endocrine system.

Best wishes. It was kind of you to adopt her, and I wish her many long years of happiness!

Hi, I just wanted some opinions about my 3-year old cat, Petra. When she was 5 weeks old, her previous owners stepped on her head. They took her to the emergency vet clinic, but couldn't pay the bills, so they turned her over to the hospital. Petra wasn't given a 40% chance to survive: she was bleeding from her mouth and nose, breathing through her mouth (not normal for a cat), was non-responsive for a few days, had a seizure, and so on!
>>
>>Within a week, she made a miraculous recovery! As I was looking for a companion for my then 11-year old cat Tobie, I adopted her on the condition that she wouldn't need around the clock care (I couldn't give her that). Other than that, I didn't care if she was blind, deaf, or brain damaged. I loved her, and she was so damn cute on top of it! I brought all 15 oz. of her home.
>>
>>One thing I notice was that she didn't grow up to be a big cat - she's short and compact (partly due to Persian ancestry). Very early on (2-3 mos. old) she developed the saggy belly pouch most fixed cats get. It seemed that her hormones told her to store the food as fat, not make her bigger. At 5-6 mos. I got her fixed. The vet commented that she was very unually - her uterus was very small, and "tied in there real tight - hard to get out."
>>
>>I began to research pituitary gland damage, and specifically growth hormone deficiencies. She seemed to have some of the traits: small posture, stocky bones with organs "compressed" into a smaller than normal frame, reproductive problems, as well as kitten-like fur and voice. A few articles indicated that cats with growth hormone deficiencies live short lives. I expressed my concerns to my vet, who shrugged them off. He said that I just have two small cats (both Tobie and Petra are small framed, and each weighs about 7-8 pounds). He showed me that although Petra has vision problems, she is not completely blind in either eye.
>>
>>For one, I respect, and trust, my vet. He is excellent, respects and love animals, and on the New York State Veterinary board. However, I know that not all vets know everything (they're only human like the rest of us). However, Petra definitely expresses other signs of brain damage: she has vision problems, learning difficulties, runs like a rabbit instead of a cat, is paranoid and sometimes afraid of me and my husband, and she doesn't groom herself. She's not one of the most intelligent cats I've owned! But she is slowly learning, and becoming more affectionate.
>>
>>Has anyone else heard of a cat with brain injury at such a young age? Did they ever experience symptoms similar to Petra's? What about life expectancy? If there is anything I can do to help her, I will.
>>
>>Thanks for all your comments and help. Nikki
>>
-----
Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Hi Nikki,

Bless you for adopting a cat like Petra. I believe that special needs cats are indeed special.

Since you are so concerned about possible pituitary damage, you might condider consulting with a veterinary endocrinologist or even an internist. I doubt that anything could be done medically for your baby, but it wouldn't hurt to look into it.

I know a pair of cats who as 2 week old kittens fell off a restaurant roof and sustained severe brain damage. They were born to a feral mom and she most likely felt they were safe being up so high. They were tube fed first, then bottle fed, and were slow in learning how to eat. At first we didn't know if they would survive. They stumbled around, went in circles, and fell down a lot. One of them would often cry out in frustration. He also had a fever off and on, possibly related to the fact that his brain couldn't regulate his body temperature. Slowly, but surely the kittens grew and improved.

They are now a year old and are happy and healthy. One weighs 9 pounds, the other 10. The most severely affected cat is deaf and still often goes in circles. He also has a permanent head tilt. But he still plays and they both purr almost all the time. They are some of the sweetest cats I've ever known. Not bright, but who cares about that anyway? Kind of makes them even more loveable

Hope this has been helpful. Take care.

AshleyElla