I took heed to the requests to get a photo up here of Max but I don't know how to do it...it's a .bmp and it is on my Mac, not a URL. Once I figure it out, I'll put up the photo.

I reviewed the videotape with the vet. He concluded after watching it that Max has had a fall and that he is severely bruised or has a pinched nerve in his back. The spinal x-ray shows nothing and the Dr. seems sure there isn't any broken bones. They gave Max a pain killer, (low dose), but last night the pain seemed worse than ever. Everytime he got up, he screamed in pain and lurched backwards. I was up most of the night with him. This morning he seemed better and we thought that we were back on track. He had 3 screaming episodes before I left and then a friend of ours came in to check on him later. He was happy to see her at first, but then she couldn't find him. When she finally located him, she said that he got scared (highly unusual, Max LOVES this friend) - or was playing "hide and seek" with her because he took off like a shot and bounded up 14 stairs. She followed him and noticed he was watching her from the loft. She went up and bent down to pet him and he scooted past her and bounded back down the stairs. She said he never made a sound of pain. That's what happens - one minute he screaming and the next he could be acting like nothing is wrong. Most of the time though he just lays there. He is also twiching and shivering a little - I have called the vet - but he wasn't in. I'll call him again shortly.

Has ANYONE got any clues?? - we have been dealing with this for well over a week and it is killing us all...we love him so much...we'd give anything to have him wake us up in the middle of the night to feed him instead of a blood curtling scream. I dread tonight and the impending weekend.

4Feline, thank you for your inspirational story - I hope we are witnessing a miracle pet.

Thank you eveyone for your kind words and prayers. Please keep them coming.

PS: Max is an indoor cat, too. We think he was walking the railing of our loft if/when he fell. I think perhaps he didn't land correctly avoiding the exposed quick.

[ July 27, 2001: Message edited by: Max's Human ]