Trouble jumping

[fusion]

Our recently adopted 8 month old cat, Emma, is recovering from a cold and poor appetite. Alas, she seems to have developed a new issue - trouble jumping.

She likes to jump on the kitchen counter to watch water running into the sink. On at least 80% of her jumps today, she's failed the first time or two she tried, not able to make it to the counter and falling back. This has happened many times. She's also had similar issues with other jumps.

She's not having any trouble running around, sometimes at high speeds. She does a great job chasing her toy mice.

She's taking clavamox, mirtazapine and l-lysine for her cold and appetite. Thanks to those, and laurief's advice to put her in a steamy bathroom, her cold is subsiding and her appetite is much better.

I don't want to make too much of what could be random occurrences, but I've never had a cat this young have so much trouble jumping.

Does it sound as if I'm being overly concerned? Anything I should be doing?

[marie73]

Maybe because of her cold, it's an inner ear problem affecting her balance?

[JulieC]

I would wait until she is done with her meds before becoming overly concerned. Like Marie said, she is getting over her illness.

[laurief]

It may be the mirtazapine. According to Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, " ... mirtazapine may impair concentration and alertness." Also, " ... reported side effects in animals include drowsiness/sedation ... "

Any or all of the above may account for Emma's clumsy jumping efforts.

Laurie

[hal1]

Will it keep the devil out of your cat? If so, we could all use that.

[RachandNito]

Sometimes cat can just be clumsy... if you aren't noticing any visible lameness (limping, favoring a limb) I wouldn't worry about it. Sounds like she's feeling fine since she's running and playing. We have a cat at the clinic I work at that misses MOST of the jumps he tries to make. Causing avalanches wherever he goes.

[fusion]

I like being told not to worry.

Originally Posted by laurief

It may be the mirtazapine. According to Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, " ... mirtazapine may impair concentration and alertness." Also, " ... reported side effects in animals include drowsiness/sedation ... "

From online sources, I'd seen drowsiness (and hyperactivity), but not impair concentration. I'm torn between giving her one more dose or just playing it by ear.

Now if I could just get her to stop trying to eat our spath plant and transition her off dry food and ...

[marie73]

Spath plant? Isn't that a lily? They're poisonous to cats!!

[fusion]

Originally Posted by marie73

Maybe because of her cold, it's an inner ear problem affecting her balance?

That sounds like a real possibility

[fusion]

Originally Posted by marie73

Spath plant? Isn't that a lily? They're poisonous to cats!!

From everything I've read they're mildly toxic at worst. Chewing or ingesting can result in irritation of the mouth and throat. Drooling and vomiting may also occur. I haven't seen any symptoms. Prior cats have also played with this plant without any noticeable effects.

It's not really a lily, even if it's called a peace lily. For example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spathiphyllum

She just uprooted some succulents that have surviving two other cats. Prior destruction was limited