This can be an indication that your cat is anemic and, from your description of general weakness, I'd be inclined to think that this is the case.

Anemia is a life-threarening condition. Your cat needs to be seen by a Vet immediately. Please don't delay any longer. In a case like this, there's no wait and see.

 

I should also mention that we have been to the vet twice now since the weakness started and had bloodwork done (they thought it was feline leukimia or diabetes, but nothing came up for either of those). Would bloodwork have revealed anemia?

On another forum they say that switching to corn litter would be enough since it wont hurt him.

 

...Would bloodwork have revealed anemia?...

Yes, it certainly would...as it would also show an imbalance of calcium which could be another reason for eating litter. You can read about all this at this link http://www.felinecrf.org/symptoms.htm#eating_litter

With symptoms like these

For the last few months my younger kitten has been getting progressively sicker; He's having trouble walking and going in the bathroom.

I would be very concerned that a Vet not be able to provide any (even possible) diagnosis.

I have two suggestions.

First, ask the Vet's office for copies of all the testing that was done (including urinalanysis) and post the results here.

Second - this is what I would do - is to get a second opinion from a another Vet. I would be very careful in choosing that person. There are two sites which could help you. One is a searcher for Feline Practitioners which you'll find here http://www.catvets.com/findadoctor/findadoctor.aspx A second starting point for me would be a site which lists Veterinarians who have proven their worth in their ability to care for chronically-ill cate...these Vets having been recommended by those cats' "owners". You'll find that site here http://members.verizon.net/~vze2r6qt/vets/#top

 

If you do post the lab results, then also post the normal ranges for those values, because different labs 'use different scales'. Here's an example

ALT 23 (28-100) normal range in brackets
AMYLASE 2266 (520-2060)
BUN 79 (15-34)
A/G RATIO 0.9 (0.4-0.8)
NEUTROPHIL SEG 89 (35-75)
LYMPHOCYTES 5 (20-55)
WBC 9 (4.2-15.6)
MCV 38 (41-58)
RBC 7.8 (6-10)
HCT 30 (29-45)

I also have another idea - I'll send you a private message

 

I just ordered the bloodwork from the vet, but I think I figured out the real problem;

I wanted to comfort Nugget today, so I picked him up and put him on me, when I noticed a tiny brown flat insect crawling about on his face. I looked up online and I saw it was a flea.

Which explains what's wrong with him; somehow he got fleas and we never realized it (he's an indoor cat so we thought it was impossible for him to get it). And apparently severe flea infestations can cause anemia, hence the weakness.

When my Dad comes home I'm going to go over and get a flea collar, and hopefully that will clear everything up.

 

I just ordered the bloodwork from the vet, but I think I figured out the real problem;

I wanted to comfort Nugget today, so I picked him up and put him on me, when I noticed a tiny brown flat insect crawling about on his face. I looked up online and I saw it was a flea.

Which explains what's wrong with him; somehow he got fleas and we never realized it (he's an indoor cat so we thought it was impossible for him to get it). And apparently severe flea infestations can cause anemia, hence the weakness.

When my Dad comes home I'm going to go over and get a flea collar, and hopefully that will clear everything up.

NO...NO...NO FLEA COLLARS!!!!!!!!!
Many of these over-the-counter flea treatments - collare, "spot-on" liquids etc - can AND DO do serious harm to cats....to the point where the FDA has started an investigation into their use.

ONLY use products approved by your Vet!

Now - the question still remains...WHY DIDN'T THE BLOODWORK TESTING INDICATE ANEMIA???

 

I just ordered the bloodwork from the vet, but I think I figured out the real problem;

I wanted to comfort Nugget today, so I picked him up and put him on me, when I noticed a tiny brown flat insect crawling about on his face. I looked up online and I saw it was a flea.

Which explains what's wrong with him; somehow he got fleas and we never realized it (he's an indoor cat so we thought it was impossible for him to get it). And apparently severe flea infestations can cause anemia, hence the weakness.

When my Dad comes home I'm going to go over and get a flea collar, and hopefully that will clear everything up.

NO...NO...NO FLEA COLLARS!!!!!!!!!
Many of these over-the-counter flea treatments - collare, "spot-on" liquids etc - can AND DO do serious harm to cats....to the point where the FDA has started an investigation into their use.

ONLY use products approved by your Vet!

Now - the question still remains...WHY DIDN'T THE BLOODWORK TESTING INDICATE ANEMIA???

Cause they were testing for feline diabetes and feline aids.

 

Anyways, I just tested my cat for flea dirt to make certain, and sure enough, the black specks turn red when wet.

I'm convinced that my cat has Flea anemia now. Me and my dad are going to the vet tomorrow. Hopefully we can get this resolved once and for all.

 

Now - the question still remains...WHY DIDN'T THE BLOODWORK TESTING INDICATE ANEMIA???

Cause they were testing for feline diabetes and feline aids.

:?

Signs of Diabetes Mellitus
Polyuria, polydipsia, increased appetite, weight loss, and lethargy are hallmark signs of diabetes in pets.

Diagnosis & Treatment
Your veterinarian can determine if your cat is diabetic by checking blood, urine, and clinical signs.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/diabetes-info.htm

All of this just leaves me scratching my head.

Standard practice would have been for the Vet to begin a diagnosis by giving your cat a thorough physical exam. Now, if a cat has an infestation of fleas severe enough to be causing anemia, surely that should have been detected during the physical exam. If, for some unimaginable reason, this was overlooked, then the standard bloodwork testing for diabetes would have clearly shown a low red blood cell count.

It also surprises me that your cat was not tested for Feline Leukemia...which, when its symptoms first appear, does often do so with signs of anemia.

There may be details missing from your account of the events to date but, based on what appears here, my own personal advice is that you find a competent Feline Veterinarian - the sooner, the better for your kitty's sake. (I gave you two helpful links for a search above.)

 

He was tested for feline Leukimia when we did bloodwork. The Vet thinks it may be a tumor, but that was before I noticed the flea infestation the other day, so I'm hoping it may be that which is wrong with him.

Anyways we're going to a second vet on Friday, so hopefully they will be able to shed some light on the situation.

 

yways we're going to a second vet on Friday, so hopefully they will be able to shed some light on the situation.

BUT - you CANNOT NOT treat the anemia IMMEDIATELY.....Friday may well be too late.

 

yways we're going to a second vet on Friday, so hopefully they will be able to shed some light on the situation.

BUT - you CANNOT NOT treat the anemia IMMEDIATELY.....Friday may well be too late.

He's been like this for several months already, I'd love to get him treated as soon as possible, but like I've said we've been to the vet three times now, and this is the soonest I can get him in.

 

Just got back from the vet and its not anemia, they think its something heredity that's affecting his balance, Nothing to be done.

Still, got flea medication at least.

 

...they think its something heredity that's affecting his balance, Nothing to be done...

I suggest that you post your story at the link I offered in my PM - and, where you can get another opinion from the "resident Vet" there. There are probably specific questions that he could ask about exact details you're probably aware of but havent thought to post...this would be only a legitimate 2nd opinion, considering that the first Vet you saw appears to have delivered a big fat nothing. What do you have to lose?

 

...they think its something heredity that's affecting his balance, Nothing to be done...

I suggest that you post your story at the link I offered in my PM - and, where you can get another opinion from the "resident Vet" there. There are probably specific questions that he could ask about exact details you're probably aware of but havent thought to post...this would be only a legitimate 2nd opinion, considering that the first Vet you saw appears to have delivered a big fat nothing. What do you have to lose?

Okay, I will do that once I get Nugget's bloodwork results.

 

Hey, someone else on another board mentioned that my cat may have "cerebellar hypoplasia". Is that a possibility?

 

Hey, someone else on another board mentioned that my cat may have "cerebellar hypoplasia". Is that a possibility?

You've posted that the second Veterinarian advised you that your cat is dealing with a hereditary condition - "genetically transmitted or transmittable from parent to offspring" - you may have been given more details which haven't been posted here (no fault of yours) but, which might be drawn out from you by a competent diagnostitian (Veterinary knowledge/training, including Neurology)...which is something that might be possible at the "location" I suggested to you.

It's one thing to give you practical advice based on our members' own personal experience...it's a very different thing - and, often a dangerous adventure - for someone on a forum to be playing the role of amateur Veterinarian.

Here is why I'm suggesting that you persue a more complete diagnosis: 1) I find it difficult to understand how a hereditary condition will suddenly manifest itself in an older cat 2) I question your having been told "nothing to be done"....at the very least, surely there are practical things you can do to enhance your cat's quality of life. 3) There may also be some help to be found in Holistic Veterinary medecine - and, you will find lots of personal and professional experience in Homeopathic treatments "over there".

 

Minor point, it wasn't a second vetinarian, it was the same one who has been seeing him.