Expert: Jessica - 8/6/2010

Question
I just got this orange kitten and he has 2 slit pupils and behind that very little light yellow color followed by a light blue color behind the yellow. His tail is also short and he also walks with a bit of wobble. Because he wasn't handled he meows and shakes when he is picked up. He seems to see, but i think not the best. Plus he seems to have trouble with his bowels and he isn't eating or drinking water what he should. Should i be concerned. My other half says he is disabled. What would you think, thank you.

Answer
Hi Chantall,

I’m not sure if you mean that both eyes have slits for pupils, or if you mean that each eye has two pupils that are slits.  If both eyes have slits for pupils that don’t dilate, then the eyes are abnormally constricted, a condition called miosis.  If you mean that each eye has two pupils, the condition is called polycoria.  Polycoria can cause double vision, and miosis will result in restricted vision.  Both can be caused by congenital deformities, as can his other symptoms.  It’s possible that disease can also cause both, and some diseases can cause his wobbling and diarrhea, if this is the bowel trouble he’s having.  Short tails are typically caused by a genetic mutation, however, so that would be most consistent with a deformity.

You should definitely have your kitten checked over right away by a vet to sort out his situation.  Sometimes diarrhea and constipation can be caused by congenital problems.  If the cat’s tail is short, sometimes it will indicate that his intestines are too short, as well, which will cause untreatable digestive problems.  This is true mostly with tailless cats, however, and most diarrhea in kittens is caused by treatable problems such as parasitic worms or protozoan parasites, and sometimes viruses.  A dewormer and antibiotic will probably have him feeling better.  You need to get him eating right away, though, or you will lose him regardless of whether the cause was treatable or not.  I definitely think he is sick in addition to whatever deformities he may have, and he should see a vet tomorrow.  You should also have him tested for the feline leukemia and feline AIDS viruses (feline AIDS is not contagious to humans).

Some diseases that could be responsible for the neurological signs you’re seeing with his eyes and his wobbling include Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) and toxoplasmosis.  FIP is caused by a strain of corona virus, and it’s not curable.  The condition is fatal.  Unfortunately, there is no easy test for it on live cats.  The vet will need to make a tentative diagnosis based on symptoms and supportive blood work.  Blood cell counts, the ratio of certain proteins in the blood, and maybe an antibody test for the virus can be helpful in determining whether this is the most likely cause for the kitten’s symptoms.  The condition also sometimes causes a fluid build-up in the belly.  If the vet can draw out some fluid with a needle, the fluid can be tested for FIP, and this is nearly 100% accurate.

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan disease that can cause neurological symptoms.  There is a test for this condition.  It’s not always accurate, however, and it may be wise to treat for this condition, even if the test comes back negative or if the vet suspects he has the disease without a test.  The treatment is a safe antibiotic called clindamycin.  Most symptoms resolve, although some cats are left with lasting neurological damage.

Some cats are born with a condition that causes them to wobble when they walk, called Cerebeller Hypoplasia.  This is an underdevelopment of a part of the brain called the cerebellum, which controls movements.  The condition is caused when the mother becomes infected with distemper while she’s pregnant.  Affected kittens don’t experience pain, and it doesn’t affect quality of life, as long as the cat can walk well enough to eat and use the litter box, and he is kept indoors.  

As long as you can get his diarrhea or constipation under control, it’s probably likely that he can live a long and happy life if he is deformed, as long as he stays indoors.  If the diagnosis is FIP, you will need to make a decision difficult decision for the kitten in the near future.

I hope all goes well!

Jessica