WWYD/any experience of MRI/CT scans for cats?

[Abbie]

I had to rush one of my cats to the vets this morning. It looked to me like she'd had a stroke as she seemed to have a stiff neck, was very sleeps and just not quite right.

The vet examined her and has found she's had some kind of haemmorage and has suddenly lost her sight. She thinks she has a tumour but won't know without further investigation.

She's 15, 16 in July, but up to now has been very active, climbing the 6ft garden fences, chasing the dog and generally treating our house like a hotel while plotting to take over the world. However, she whatever it is has been going on for some time and suddenly has all got too much for her and she's deteriorated very rapidly.

So, our options are:

Have a MRI/CT scan, if it is a tumour it will have to be removed and then treated with chemo but at the end of it

No investigation, keep treating any symptoms, keep her comfortable and painfree and let nature take it's course

She's insured, so the money side of it isn't a problem, it's just deciding what's best for a 15 year old cat, who up until now has been happy and active and, if treatment is successful, could be again, but on the other hand is it fair to put her through a huge op, followed by chemo.

She's had an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory injection today, just to make sure it's not just a little wobble, but she is definitely blind and has definitely had a haemorrhage.

I don't know what to do!!!

[mamamia]

Im sorry to hear about your cat (i have one the same age and character!)

Does the vet think the sight loss is permanent? If so, im afraid there would only be one option for me....

However, if the sight would possibly restored to some degree in the immediate future with surgery then i would consider it - Although i dont think that ongoing chemo etc would be something I would put her through.

I hope the vet can give you some good news x

[Faith]

I would never put an animal through chemo, and especially not an elderly one. Even healthy she's only got a couple of years, so what's the point.However if you're insured I'd have the MRI. It's pain free and non- invasive, and at least you will know what you're dealing with, and will know you have done the vast for your cat, either way.As for surgery, once the MRI is done you'll have a better idea. If its relatively simple, and will improve the quality of he remaining time, go for it. If its putting her through a long recovery, and may not make much difference, just keep her comfortable.I don't think there's any point trying for a "cure"- she's 16. Aim for a good quality of life.

[Abbie]

The vet doesn't know about her sight being restored, it depends where and how big the tumour is, she's not 100% it is a tumour, it may be some other neurological problem but the tumour is the most likely scenario.

Faith - what will happen at an MRI scan, sorry, I'm clueless but the vet said she'd have to be sedated, is that like an anaesthetic? She'd have to go to another vet on the mainland to have it as the vets don't have the equipment over here so I'm wondering if it's a bit much for her, it is doing it for the sake of it iyswim.

We can keep giving her the injections, keep her painfree and comfortable. She seems happy, the vet seems to think shell get used to the sight loss, it's just where it's been sudden that she's struggling, she's eating and purring.

She's a bag of bones, she always slims down in the summer but I noticed her bones this morning, but she is eating and drinking normally so that was another thing the vet picked up on.

She's old, and tbh, I'm leaning towards keeping her comfortable, giving her as good a life as we can, but not putting her through any more investigations or anything that may distress her

Thanks!

[Dynamo]

I can't tell you what to do, but if it were me, I would opt for the least invasive option and make her as comfortable as possible. As an older cat, all those procedures are going to make her more distressed and I would be concentrating on celebrating her wonderful life so far. So sorry you are having to face this, its really hard, I know.

[Faith]

An MRI is done under general anaesthetic, afaik, in animals. you just can't expect them to stay still with all that noise.

If your vet can't do it, I agree, long trips are too much stress.

I'd keep her comfortable and see what happens.

[Abbie]

Thanks!

I think we've decided to not have the MRI and see how she goes.

She'd have to go over to Southampton to have the MRI, and while distance-wise it's not far, it's an hour on the ferry alone and I think she'd find it distressing, not to mention the actual MRI itself so I just don't think it's fair on her

She's really gone down hill further today, she's had a slow release painkilling injection, antibiotics and anti inflammatories so I know she's not in pain so we're going to see how the weekend goes and go back to the vet on Monday.

She's struggling with the sight loss (has fallen off the sofa, keeps walking into walls and furniture), has gone off her food today, even the tin of tuna that she'd usually sell her soul for hasn't tempted her and has slept most of the day so I don't think there's much quality of life for her and I don't want to drag it out for her. Hopefully she'll perk up over the weekend but it's not looking good at the moment.