Brain Parasites in Cats

Hi there, just trying to figure out some information for a friend whose cat is going through a rough time.

His cat is 4 years old, and this is what's been going on:

The four possibilities on the table are 1) parasite, 2)cancer, 3) meningitis, or 4) stroke.

Roughly two months ago the cat became very lethargic and they considered putting it down. Its level of energy improved, but the left side is still somewhat weaker than the right. Additionally, the cat went blind in a matter of just a few days, but the specialists said there was nothing wrong with the eyes, indicating it was something related to the optic nerves (i.e. parasite?)

Concurrently, the cat stopped meowing and no longer wanted to be pet or picked up, unless it was late at night. Moreover, the cat will sporadically try to communicate, but instead of meowing it will offer a growl, or a hiss. The MRI results are due in a few days, but there is a possibility not even that will catch it. Based on these symptoms, what do you think it could be, and what would be potential solutions?

Thanks in advance for your time.

My grandma's indoor cat started getting wobbly back legs about 2 months ago. Vet put it down to a parasite and treated her for 6 weeks. After treatment she was still wobbly and was betting treated with prednisone. The last three days she started vomiting and appeared very ill. She had a temp of 39.4 which has now returned to normal but she won't eat or drink and is very wobbly and won't move from 1 spot in the house. The vet took bloods and said everything appears normal. She used to catch lizards when on supervised outside walks. After recently putting my pop into an aged care facility im worried my grandma's best friend won't pull through and don't think she will handle the trauma after all she has been through with my pop whom contracted staph from our local hospital and it has ruined him. She definately doesn't have any pain in back legs but we noticed she was nibbling at her back claws all the time. Any help is greatly appreciated as im not sure our vet is exploring all avenues even though they are lovely compassionate people. She gave her an injection of valium today and a tablet to try make her eat today and doesn't appear to be doing well. She is also breathing very fast.

I have a 1yrs female cat. She has similar symptoms like this before but no where as bad. Her pupils are not dilating the same and the reflection is not the same she also acting like she can't see at times she gets very aggressive and scared the slightest movement startles her. She is eating drinking peeing and pooping normally she is not having any other symptoms other than the pupils the reflection and the head tilt tick kind of. This is all coming in spells it is not happening all the time and the last two days she's had three spells that I know of. she has had symptoms similar of this in the past. she has had the dilation of her pupils and the reflection the same we just talked it up to a possible concussion considering she was a very very active kitten it seem like she was hitting her head on everything. I have done some research myself on her symptoms and I've kind of narrowed it down to two different things I think it could possibly be an inner ear infection that is causing this but she is not having any balance issues. And my my second theory is it could be a parasite I have treated her in I have treated her in the past for parasites roundworm to be exact and two days ago I noticed she had some mucousy blood in her stool which is telling that she probably has roundworm again. I researched roundworm can get into the and cause similar symptoms to what she is having. If you have any suggestions or any advice you are willing to share I take care of 15 cats from my local Humane Society and I do not have the funds right now to take her the veterinarian and the Humane Society does not either thank you so much for your help. I

I have 4 kitten and from yesterday suddenly they stop moving and crying all of them can't walk ND move.
All of them are not interested in food. I just don't know what to do. Their mother is no accepting them.

About a year ago I was given a stray injured kitten. The injury was on the neck, we had assumed it was a bite of some sort, long story short it was a bottfly. After being advised by our vet and friends I decided to remove the maggot myself. Removal of the maggot, & recovery seemed to be quick. I used tweasers to pull it out, made sure the maggot was fully intacted and didn't break off inside the kitten. I used organic WitchHazel once a day to keep open wound clean and a warm wet wash cloth repeatedly throughout the day. The kitten acted perfectly normal after fully recovered. But now I am wondering if the bottfly being so close to his brain ( it was burrowed in his neck/jawline) and not for sure knowing how long the maggot had been burrowing inside the little guy, has caused him long term problems. He's about a year old now and he is quite the character. The older he got I noticed some odd behavior. A few months ago he never wanted to be alone always had to be cuddled up on someone's lap but now he prefers to be alone, he has become aggressive randomly with anyone out of nowhere (not just certain people or just during play), his tail is constantly twitching severely twitching side to side not minor little shakes (it reminds me of a rattle snake almost), I noticed his body shaking/trembling most the time he is resting. I guess my question really is; does it sound like he may have long term brain damage or damage to his nervous system? Is there anything I can do to help him or prevent further problems?

Say my cat has worms, and I'm not sure how long he's had them, can his behaviour or brain be affected?
How long can a cat have worms before it starts moving up to his brain?

please help,
my cat has had unusual behavior for the past three weeks meowing when he has always been quiet. This week he drastically worsened became very weak we took him to the local vet twice and did blood work, they said he seemed fine and was healthy that night his breathing became very weak and he look as if he would not make it. his head was tilted and was circling and very unsteady and disoriented and weak. He hasn't eaten on his own in two days but i have been feeding him and giving him water through a plastic syringe. in the past day and a half or so he seems to be doing a little better walking straighter and more alert and better breathing, but he still wont eat on his own. What should i do??

my cat currently pupils retract with torch lite but when finger goes over no response, she knows who I am and sits forward and moves closer to me. They operated on her and she was full of gas in bowl and intestines, her faeces were unusual, her back legs she took two steps on tippy toes and then sat and then two steps, two vets noticed back pain, urine so thick wouldn't show up on measurement scale and said she has a uti and is dehydrated. She is not eating at the vet and came out of operation yesterday and is on a pain killer but they are going to put her on cortisone tomorrow and hope she has less pain and said it doesn't matter about her wounds just need to get her pain better. We took her to vet with bloating and her walking concern the next day when vet opened he told us he give injection of pain killer and rest her for 10-14 days and then another vet rang us from someone where else and disagreed but they have cut her open done blood test and electrolites and can't figure out what is going on. I just want my girl to come she is only 10 months old and her brother misses her. I just want to know what this is so we can treat it.

My 13 year old, indoor only, female cat has had an issue with the left side salivary gland/lymph. A sample was sent out last Oct., it came back neg. for cancer. I brought her back in this week as she still has the one on the left side and now has one on the right side. Again test came back neg. for cancer. She is now anemic, and vet will do a few more tests, if they come back neg. he wants to treat her with meds for parasites. There are non in her movements. Last test for that was neg. about 5 years ago. The gland issues makes it difficult for her to eat and swallow. She chokes a lot from it. I am nervous that giving her meds for parasites is the wrong thing to do.

I’m not sure really if this is part of this. But my 15 week kitten has been having seizures since he was 10 weeks. Went vets twice they don’t know what is wrong. We have stuff to help him just incase it’s hyperglycaemia or epilepsy but he’s just thrown up and turns out he also has tapeworms, can these cause seizures?

My cat that is just over a year only went outside on leash and a run due to predators in area. She often stuck her whole arm in burrows and caught small animals. Symptoms developed rapidly, within 12 hours. ER Vet hospital with neurologist was recommended. MRI, Spinal tap, blood tests, IV fluids, ivermectin, prednisone, $4,000. Homecare of veraflox, prednisone, gabapentin, self administered subcutaneous fluids, clinical care food via syringe, milk via kitten bottle. Cat wants to eat on own but is having a hard time locating food with very limited sight out of right eye only. Hasn’t found water fountain at all yet. Mainly eating via syringe. Aggression increases as she is becoming more physically well (neurological and probably fed up with poking/priding/shoving things down throat). She is still playful, follows laser pointer and toys. Peeing in litter box with less frequency and higher volume. Defacation frequency greatly reduced, also due to dehydration and pain medication side effects. We are one month out from onset with great physical and mental gains, though progress is slow and expectations moderate. Hope this helps anyone researching feline ischemic encephalopathy from a cuterebra parasite brain infection.

4 month old male. Neutered, chipped and rabies shot. Three days later had fever of unknown origin, lethargy and not eating or drinking. Dr. gave sub q's and Convenia shot. Had to go back same week as his symptoms got worse. Admitted for a three day stay with intervenous fluids and blood test sent out and they gave him Clindamycin. Three days later tests said Toxoplasmosis as best diagnosis. Told to continue Clindamycin for four weeks, he should start getting better in a few days but he really didn't so much. This week he started eating and drinking some but still real lethargic. We noticed what may be some type of seizure or stroke situation several times today. Didn't catch on right away til he seemed to fall, scramble and layed down with head on floor for a few seconds and then seemed to recover. Happened three times I noticed. Dr. says to write episodes down and keep giving Clindamycin and let them know. Wonder if there is more I should do. My little force of nature is now reduced to a depleted rag.

hello,
my cat has a fever, ataxia, facial paralysis, head tilt left, slow moving for 3 mths. She originally had an undiagnosed case of Vestibular disease (1 1/2 yrs ago), it never really got better but she adjusted. She is seeing a neuro surgeon but cannot figure out whats wrong. She has had mri's, 2 spinal taps, bone marrow, more than 50 plus tests pcr 's for fungal, lyme, FIP, Felv, bartonella, toxoplasmosis, etc. SHe is only being treated with prednisolone 5 mg twice a day. Everyone is stumped and im worried sick. Any ideas. All the dr's are saying lymphoma would have appeared quicker. Im thinking what if she had something a 1 1/2 yrs ago and it was at bay till now and it came back with vengenace. Is there such a disease? Because 1 1/2 yrs ago she had similair symptoms except (the fever) ...I've researched, written people on yahoo groups, seen numerous doctors. They have nothing. any suggestions. every vet has said this is crazy and doesnt make any sense. look forward to hearing back. Oh the MRI did show something but not a tumor just inflammation in an area (only seen with a contrast) if u need the location i will get back to u. thanks so much

Took in a rescue kitten that a mother abandoned in my neighbors shed and have taken good care of her,she was great untill today,we have had her for a month now but today she ran in circles bumping into things and after a minute of that she stopped and was stuck in place shaking,she calmed down and drank water and started running again jumping over things,I hold her to stop her from hurting herself and her heart is racing ,she calms down and is monitored for an hour and seems to be back to her old self ,then stumbling as if drunk ,rolling around and eventually diarrhea on herself while laying on her side,,she is breathing heavy and still from time to time kissing balance and falling over ,,I haven't had a chance to get her shots done ,,I am still recovering from paying 1500 in vet bills for my dog in an emergency and other major bills that piled up when taking care of my family,don't have a car right now to take her to the vet and I live in the middle of no where so I need help in what this is and what to do myself while I figure out how i will get her to the vet

I have a 15 year old female domestic short hair Feline. Lately she started vomiting profusely. Until one day she threw up blood. I took her to the vet and he said that she has some kind parasite in her body. He gave her anti parasite shot and some antibiotics. I get home and I notice that my cat could not walk properly and seems to have lost a bit of her vision and hearing abilities. She wobbles when she walks and has problems with her back legs. I returned to the vet and claimed that it was all due to her age. I know this is not true and I know he just wants not to be blamed for current situation. what should i do? Please advise!!!