Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 8/8/2008

Question
We have a stray cat in our neighborhood. She was pregnant before she was 1 yr old, like both her sisters. Her sister's litters mostly made it, a few losses due to heat or predators. The cat in question however showed up after a few days of not being seen without her kittens and hardly being able to stand or walk .. we took her in to keep her out of the heat and feed and water her regularly. She seems to have gotten better but still keeps her head tilted and has a little trouble with balance. We are unfortunatly unable to afford to take her to a Veternary or to pay for medecation for her and were wondering if there was anything we could do for her to help her more. She's a loving cat and we'd hate to see anything bad happen to her since she's already lost her litter from not being able to take care of the kittens.

Answer
Tara-

I am sure that this kitty appreciates you taking her in.  Unfortunately, you need to have her evaluated by a veterinarian.  A head tilt usually indicates that there is inner ear damage or inflammation.  Treatment is usually not a big deal; have her seen by a doctor so that she can be comfortable.