my cat looks like shes drunk?

Question

My cat is 15 years old. My family has had her since I was born and yesterday she fell and had trouble walking. She falls likes shes drunk and doesnt seem to be in pain. We brought her to the vet and they said everything looks good no sprains or anything except her pottasium levels are low. Could this be why she is walking around stumbling? thanks

The vet prescribed pills to raise her potassium levels

Please be serious with your answers.
Thanks

Answer 1

Hi Jackie... Potassium is necessary for the proper functioning of enzymes, muscles, and nerves. Senior cats tend to lose potassium levels as they age or if they have renal function problems (which is very common known as feline chronic failure) and if their diet hasn't been changed to accommodate senior cats nutrition requirements. It is also necessary to maintain a proper fluid balance throughout the body. Lack of potassium is what caused your kitty to stumble and fall as her muscles were weak. Please see the website below to read how and why potassium is important in the felines overall health.

Answer 2

My dog recently started doing the same thing. The vet seems to think he has a problem with his middle ear which is causing him to have vertigo. He is in no visible pain either other than his "drunk" walk. He is unable to go up and down stairs, so my husband and I have been sleeping on the couch downstairs to be with him at night. He's 120 lbs, so we can't exactly pick him up and carry him. He had a CT scan on Friday and I am awaiting those results. The vet used the term vestibular affliction to describe what might be going on. He said sometimes it just clears up on it's own in a week or a couple of months and sometimes they can prescribe medication. Good luck with your cat! Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I agree with an earlier answer. two weeks ago i had this happen with one of my kittens. He all of a sudden could not stand or walk and if he did walk he went in circles in the direction that his head was tilted. it was very scary. I thought he had gotten into something poisonous. Also his eyes were jerking back and forth extremely fast. Six hours and 300.00 dollars later I learned that it is something called Acute Idiopathic Feline Vestibular disorder. Rather strange disorder. Most often occurs (80%) in the months of July and August. Has something to do with the heat or maybe dropping of barometric pressure. Is sometimes associated with thunderstorms. It is self resolving and the worst symptoms should be gone in 24-48 hours but may take weeks for the head tilt to be gone. Some times it does not go away but they say the cats get along fine. It is an affliction of the vestibular apparatus in the middle ear that maintains their sense of balance. Good luck with your kitty. I hope he gets better soon.

Answer 4

oh yes when MY potassium levels were low i was in pretty bad shape.

um, didn't they offer an solution to the pets mineral issue? the cat will go into mineral shock if nothing is done for them.

i would ask about this, it's not good we need our minerals or we get real sick and die.

i know 15 is old.. but if that's the only problem.. then there's no reason why this cat shouldn't be attended to.. UNLESS they're not telling you something.

either that or the potassium lux had resulted in bleeding of the brain, which i had and i'm human.

animals and humans have many similarities... i'd ask about this.

Answer 5

Did your vet check her kidney function? Low potasium levels are often caused by decreased kidney function.The most common cause of hypokalemia (low potassium) is chronic kidney disease. Poorly functioning kidneys leak potassium into the urine..Although severe potassium deficiencies may require hospitalization and intensive care, along with intravenous potassium administration, the treatment for chronic but not life-threatening hypokalemia is to add potassium to the diet. The most common brand of supplement, Tumil-Kä, is a source of potassium gluconate. It is available in a tablet, a paste similar to a hairball remedy, or a powder that can be mixed in canned food. Most cats will readily accept one of these forms of supplement.

RESPONSE TO TREATMENT. Visible response to supplementation can take 4-8 weeks. Your veterinarian will want to recheck your cat’s blood to monitor potassium levels on a regular basis. This will ensure the appropriate dosage is achieved and maintained. Lifelong therapy is usually required once hypokalemia has been diagnosed.

Is your cat drinking alot more then she used to also peeing alot more? This is another sign.
Older cats tend to develop the disease because there is a normal decline in kidney function with age. Often this weakness is also another sign.
I have had 3 cats that developed this in old age. Usually theres not alot that can be done. Love her and treasure the time you have left with her.

Answer 6

It sounds like the vet is taking appropriate action by telling you to try the potassium so see if that helps her.

I would certainly hold her and love on her a lot and try to restrict her to certain areas of the house where she is least likely to harm herself from the instability.

My 22 yr old cat has mobility problems because of arthritis. She used to sleep in a bed in my room all the time. The other day I saw how she had to struggle to get herself out of that bed. It is gone now and she has a soft, fluffy bath mat to rest on.

Answer 7

Yes. Most house cats, although we don't realize it, are low on there vitamins. make sure that especially with her age that she is getting the proper nutrition. Cows milk is actually not the greatest milk for cats to drink because it doesn't contain the vitamins that their bodies can use. If you have every caught your cat eating plants or grass its because they need those nutrients. hope it help. bye

Answer 8

Did you ever think that your cat IS drunk?

Answer 9

hm the cats drunk hmm bangng into walls?? stop taking your pussey to bars there hons! is kitty a lochall at 15?? give it some cofee too sober pusey up there1

Answer 10

Maybe she's a silly cat and trying to be funny.