A 14-year-old cat has face and body twitches for the past 2 months. Why?
Channel: Dr David Sing
Date: 2018-07-26

Nervous signs, like body twitches, in a very old cat that is obese and has a good appetite can be due to many causes.  Kidney and liver diseases, diabetes and brain diseases or toxic chemicals are top of the list of causes.

This cat used to have urinary tract infection and the owner would come to me for antibiotics which cleared the infection. Then it would recur. The owner said of another vet: "I paid $200. So expensive and yet there was no success in resolving the urinary problem!"

"Blood and urine tests can cost this amount," I explained to him. 

But he was interested in only one outcome. No urinary tract infection. I advised Hills' Prescription Diet, Urinary C/D to be fed solely to acidify the urine. He bought this Diet for the past 3 years as his cat did not have any more urinary tract infection.

That was some 3 years ago.  Now the cat has twitches in the face for the past 2 months. His son videoed the twitches as seen in this video. 

X-rays show some "sand" inside the kidneys and bladder. 

Urine tests showed increased total white cell count, blood, Protein + and amorphous phosphate crystals +, bacteria +. 

The urine pH was 8.0 and so the cat has alkaline urine, crystals and urinary tract infection.

Blood test showed high liver enzymes, high urea and low platelet count (drinks water from bowl which must be placed inside the bathroom - paws contaminated with bathroom cleaning chemicals over the year - toxic to platelets possibility - to low platelet count).

Blood or urine gluose were not high and so diabetes was eliminated.  Brain or ear tumours could be present but these conditions need detailed testing.

I advised antibiotics for urinary tract infection. Not to mix C/D diet with tuna and other food as this affect acidification of the urine, leading to alkaline urine now. Bacteria thrived in alkaline urine and causes urinary tract infection. To reduce weight. Not to permit the cat to lap water inside the bathroom. 

Update on Aug 17, 2018. The cat has several seizures. These are now under control when the cat is given orally the correct dose of phenomav tablets, 30 mg table at 3/4 tablet to 1 tablet,  twice a day. He has good appetite when given this medication.