Please Help!! Cat Can't Breathe!!!

[Emeraldgreen]

I forgot to mention one more symptom which I think ties in with the polyp idea. Tiger's balance has been off. I mentioned this to the vet but it was thought that maybe that had been due to the debris build up in his ear or possibly to neurological issues in relation to fungal infection. But a polyp in an ear I think would definitely have an effect on balance.
Just now I did a bit of research on the net and found a site that mentioned that xrays have a low accuracy for the detecttion of polyps which would explain why the half dozen xrays they've taken haven't shown anything.
I'll see if I can find a vet with a ct scan. I had one done where we used to live on my cat George here in B.C. and the results are then sent to the university of Colorado (I think) and are examined by specialists there. It's expensive but I'm on a mission to save this guy. I'll just sell my car or something, he's worth it.
Lastly, and you guys might think I'm crazy but I was so desperate a few days ago that I contacted that famous pet psychic named Dr. Monica. You send her a picture and she picks a time to 'communicate' with your pet and then contacts you with the information she gets from 'speaking' with your pet. I know it's off the wall but 4 doctors later and no answers, I'm trying everything there is before I give up. Anyway, she said that he told her he cannot be stoic for much longer. He is feeling angry that he can't breathe and doesn't like the other cats seeing him this way because he is the 'top cat'. He said that the only way he could describe the way it feels is that he can't swallow properly and that it feels like half his throat/trachea area is working and the other half has a kink in it or isn't functioning.
I'm thinking about how you mentioned the polyp pressing on your pet Yodie's throat area Medusa and maybe that is what Tiger was trying to describe to Monica. If of course she actually communicated with him. Yikes, I've lost it. LOL

[Catty1]

There is a pet psychic that many people use here - her name is Nancy Efrusy.

Believe me, don't think you've lost it. She is amazing. No money up front, she is flexible and loves animals.

I hope you can find a vet to check on a polyp. Also - with your cat George having breathing problems...the only common tie might be the air.

That filter might be worth it - it would be nice if you could borrow one, as you don't want to spend any more money than you have to. Then, if it works, you can buy it.

BTW - if surgery seems necessary for some reason, check out www.imom.org They help raise funds for non-regular surgeries. Just info for you.

ETA: Just watched the videos...Tiger is just gorgeous! I love his sweet face - he looks like such a love!

I hope the problem gets discovered quickly...poor baby!

HUGS to him and to you!

[Emeraldgreen]

Thanks Catty1! I think he is very handsome too. I've had him for 11 years. I tried to attach his picture as my avator but it didn't work for some reason.
I'll check out that website you suggested regarding funds. Thanks for that.
I think I will go ahead and buy the filter because my other cat Jimmy who has asthma (he had asthma when I adopted him) would probably benefit from it. He is a really sweet cat and sadly was Charlie's best friend in the world. They were real pals and ate together and slept together and wrestled just about everyday. He is pretty lost right now. I've been giving him tons of affection but it's tough. Tiger is his number two guy which is another reason I've got to save him. I'm not sure Jimmy could lose two buddies in such a short time.
Glad to hear that I'm not the only one who would try using a psychic! LOL I'll google the psychic Nancy and see what I can find out.

[Catty1]

Here's the info!


[email protected] - Nancy Efrusy

She works from a photo, and her prices are resonable. She lives in the USA.

Lots of folks here on PT have used her, with great results.

Good luck!

[jennielynn1970]

Oh my ..... poor Tiger. Those videos really drive home the wheezing.

It really does sound like he's gagging on something. Poor guy!!

I hope you can get a CT scan or something and find out quickly what is wrong with Tiger. Listening to him just breaks my heart!

Big hugs to Tiger and to Jimmy... it's hard on animals when they lose their buddies.

[Emeraldgreen]

Thanks Jenn.
I'm off to bed so I can get ready for tomorrow. Lot's to do and to think about thanks to all of you. I feel so much more hope.
p.s. thanks for the email address Catty1.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Welcome to PT. I'm so sorry to hear about Tiger and about Charlie's passing. I just watched the videos and Tiger sure is a handsome boy. I hope that one of the vets will be able to find out what's causing this and that it can be easily treated. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

I've used the pet psychic Nancy Efrusy and she's a very nice caring lady. I think she's on vacation right now though. If you e-mail her be sure to include Tigers picture and also your phone number. She likes to call you and talk to you by phone if possible. Good luck.

[Emeraldgreen]

Hi, just wanted to post an update about my cat Tiger. Today I went and picked up a Honeywell Ionizing Air Purifier that deals with mold spores, pollen and dust and stuff. I set it up in the room that Tiger sleeps in and within 10 minutes I couldn't believe the difference in the freshness of the air. It was such a change and I'm hoping that it will make a difference in Tiger.
I also dropped off another stool sample at my vet today that she sent off to a lab to see if they could find any evidence of any parasites or anything else. I thought she would just run a fecal at her clinic but she said that she wanted a second opinion.
I also spoke with her about chlor tripolon and she said it would be fine to give him 2-4 mg twice a day along with the prednisilone. She thought benedryl would be fine too but I had tried to give him that a few weeks ago and he wouldn't touch the food I had it crushed up in. I'm trying not to 'pill' him because of his sensitive throat and stuff. Thankfully, he ate up his wet food with the chlor tripolon with no hesitation.
My vet also suggested that I try using an asthma pump in addition to the prednisilone and then start weaning him off the pred. pills because they are more taxing on the body than the inhaler. So, I'm going to start that on Monday with a child chamber dispenser that has a mask thing.
If no improvement is made by mid week or towards the end of the week, I'm going to take him to a vet a few hours away who has endoscopy equipment small enough to look into his nasal passages and hopefully he can look into his ears somehow.
I called one of the only two vets in the whole province today who has a cat scanner and it's pretty expensive. The scan alone is 800.00 and then surgery if they find something will be above and beyond that cost. The other thing is that they are a 12 hour journey away for us and we'd have to hang around for 3-4 days once there and then head back and it's tough manage with our jobs. But who knows, maybe we'll end up there. Hope to get this solved without a scanner if possible though.
My vet mentioned that sometimes you have to wait for a polyp to grow bigger for it to start showing up and become visible. If there is one, I guess it's getting bigger each day so hopefully someone will find it if it's there. Thanks again to everybody for your help and suggestions.