I got an email from the vet tonight:

:( I hope it's just an allery! I'm worried about my princess. She hasn't had any parasites or fleas since she was a kitten. And earlier bloodtests said she was fine. :wha: Please keep my precious girl in your thoughts.

Oh Elizabeth :( ... sending lots of healing thoughts for you and your precious angel. :comfort: :hug:

She is in our thoughts and prayers Liz. :hug: :hug: But did he say what he wants to do to check into this further????

:hug:

You and Sasha are in my thoughts, Liz! :comfort:

Sasha is in my thoughts!

Janice, I have to take her a fecal sample on Monday and she told me to give Sasha the Interceptor immediately. She said more tests may need to be run, but she wants to rule out parasites, particularly heartworms. :( I know there isn't really a treatment for cats. However, she's not showing symptoms like coughing. I was worried Jones had heartworms when he was coughing, but it was just asthma.

Anyway, I don't know where she would pick up parasites. I haven't seen any worms, she doesn't go outside, I don't feed them raw meat... The vet said we can track stuff in. :wha: It's also a sign of allergies, but I thought allergies produced physical signs, too. I haven't seen any. I'm trying hard to not think about the big C word, also associated with elevated eosinophil levels. Luekemia is a big one, and it's not the feline luekemia virus, which she has been vaccinated against. It's myeloid leukemia just like in humans I believe. And it's a sign of tumors. :bawling:

Sasha is also clicking her teeth. Yarot told her she "chews air" and she asked if she clicks her teeth. Yarot said no because he hasn't heard it. But more recently she has been biting down, clicking her teeth. I need to tell the vet that because it means something, evidently. What, I don't know. But she had said she's heard of it in dogs, but not cats. :wha: I think it's a sign of anxiety in dogs.

ANYWAY, I wrote a novel. :duh: Thanks for listening!

Liz, is it like a chatter? It could be frustration.

And

Here's the full article: http://www.messybeast.com/cat_talk.htm

:praying: I will deffinetly keep poor Sasha in my thoughts. I wish you nothing but the best. I hope everything turns out ok

:( :hug:

I'll be praying for her, Liz - please keep us updated.

Lisa, it's not chattering. She and Jones do chatter at birds and squirrels. This is actual chewing. She chomps down, clicking her teeth. A lot of times it follows excessive licking of her lips, too. She'll lick and lick and then click her teeth for a good 30 seconds or longer. I've gotten close and looked to see if it was something in her mouth, but nothing. No fur or anything.

Hmmmm ... I have no idea, then. :( :wha:

I just emailed the vet to let her know. The vet had asked if she makes a clicking sound and Yarot said no. So I wanted to clarify that with the vet and let her know she DOES click her teeth together.

Please don't let it be heartworms or cancer!!! :bawling:

Liz :comfort: you guys are in my thoughts. :hug:

:hug: :comfort: :smooch: :hug: :comfort: :comfort:

Positive vibes coming your way Liz....OMG....you are really having a tough time. How's Marley doing with the others??

The cats seem to be doing okay. Marley & Sasha haven't fought, but have batted and chased each other a little. The normal stuff. The big cat tree is off-limits to them until we figure out what's wrong. I'm scared to death of her having cancer or heartworms. Right now the only treatment for heartworms in cats has a high mortality rate. :(

I'm hoping and praying for you, Liz.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

This is a long shot...but Elizabeth, do you think Marley sensed that something was wrong with Sasha and that's why he's been on her case? The reason I ask is because when Star was about 3-5 months old, he sprained his ankle. Both Midnight and Lucky shunned him so much that I had to take over and play with him. Whenever he wanted to get on my bed, I picked him up and put him there. Same thing when he wanted to get down. (And to this day, Star always comes to me when he wants lovin's and rubbin's.)

Anyway, I'm praying for you and your babies, especially Ms. Sasha. My crew sends headbutts and purrs for you, Sasha, and Marley as well.

I was just coming on here to say the same thing.

How weird...get out of my head! :coocoo:

Cue "Twilight Zone" theme...


:rotfl: :rotfl:

Weird because the same thing crossed my mind!!

Well...I dunno either. :wha: Sending tons of positive thoughts :hug: :hug: .. I pray she will be alright!! :thumbsup:

I'll be praying for Sasha and for you that it's something treatable and nothing serious. Sending big hugs to you and sweet Sasha. :hug:

Elizabeth, has Sasha had any problems eating-like making more of a mess than normal (food falling out of her mouth) or showing any signs at all that something in her mouth may have changed?

Kuku made some very weird clicking sounds with her mouth when she got sick. But they were mostly related to trying to eat or drink. Every now and then if she was trying to groom. But she didn't just click for no reason.

Lisa, no she eats just fine. The vet checked her teeth and they look pretty darn good. She wants me to start mixing T/D in with their diet, though. But as far as possible teeth issues, she doesn't have any. :wha:

I'm happy to say the fighting has stopped (knock on wood) and even the chasing has slowed down. I only stopped them once today!

Elizabeth, does she just do this out of the blue, or is it after she eats or drinks?

When does she go back to the vet?

:hug: I hope Sasha is going to be okay. :comfort:

Lisa, she does it out of the blue. It won't be after eating or grooming. The vet said she rarely saw this in cats. I'm not sure when Sasha goes back, but probably in a week.

I got this email this morning. Her answers are in bold:

Hi Elizabeth,

Thanks for your response and for bringing in the fecal sample today.


Thank you for emailing me the results! I will bring a fecal sample in on Monday morning. I have also given her the Interceptor. Carlos told me he mentioned the chewing, but said she does not make a clicking sound. Fairly recently these "chewing air" episodes have become more frequent and longer. She has been making a clicking sound, like she's touching her teeth together. She's also licking her lips, even when she hasn't been eating, or grooming. It may be nothing, but my other two don't do it.


It's good that you brought this up. I have never seen a cat do this, but when I did one of my extensive behavior trainings, I needed to learn about dogs too. I distinctly remember the video clippings of these dogs biting or chewing at the air. In these dogs, it was a sign of obsessive compulsive behavior. I was sorry that I did not get to see the behavior at the clinic, but it is normal for a cat to be stressed out of her normal environment, and not do the concerning behavior in the new environment.

Can you tell me how often it occurs, and if there is a specific time during the day or night, or specific place when this occurs? If you have a video camera or digital camera that will take a few seconds of clip, it would be very helpful to get a video clip of this behavior.



I also thought I'd add, since I forgot on the questionnaire sheet, that she will be sleeping and will suddently wake up meowing, then settle back down to sleep again. Is she just dreaming?

No, it shouldn't be dreaming. Cats do dream, but you are correct - other cats do not suddenly wake up and meow. This occasionally happens with some older cat diseases, but she is too young for any of those. Most likely, something is bothering her - either physically, emotionally, or both.


Thank you for your help! I look forward to meeting you soon and scheduling the behavior consultation.

I look forward to meeting you to, Elizabeth, and to working on resolving or helping resolve these behavior concerns.

I also thought I'd add a link to their site: Cat Care Clinic. Dr. Rodan is well known in the vet world! :) So I know Sasha is in great hands.

P.S. Carlos is Yarot's first name and it's what he goes by. Only me and his family call him Yarot! :lmao:

The vet sounds awesome, Liz! :thumbsup:

Oh, my GAWD, your vet sounds fantastic! I wish I could find one like that.

I'm so glad to hear she thinks it's a behavior thing and not some sort of disease. I was scared for a minute there.

She's in very good hands. :hug:

More steps in the right direction. :thumbsup:

Well, it sounds like your vet is fantastic!! I hope everything turns out right with darling Sasha!!

Thanks for clarifying the Carlos thing, I was confused! ;) Why do you call him Yarot then? :confused:

I agree with everyone else in that you have a great vet!! :thumbsup: Hopefully you guys can get this resolved for the beautiful Prinsess.

Mel, Yarot is his middle name and it's what his family calls him. I think he just goes by Carlos to the general public because it's his first name and it's also easier to pronounce!!

Man, Sasha is NOT cooperating. I need to take a poop sample but she will not produce!!

Sasha finally gave us a sample that Yarot took to the vet yesterday. I got the results today and she is negative for intestinal parasites. This leaves allergies, heartworms or cancer... We're taking her in tomorrow so the vet can observe her for the day. Sasha is acting fine, but she still wants to see her.

Sounds like you have an awesome vet... that's great in itself!! Hope everything will go great!! :thumbsup:

Well, the vet won't be there tomorrow, so I am taking Sasha in Tuesday for an observation. Maybe they can do other tests to find out why her eosinophil levels are high.

Her behavior consultation is scheduled for 8 AM Thursday the 26th! :thumbsup:

Sending purrs and prayers for the beautiful Sasha!

Elizabeth, did you ever find out anything else about this? I'm sorry if there's another thread I missed.

I was just reading about potpurri oil and thought about her. It was Sasha that got the cinnamon oil on her, wasn't it?

It was!! She had the cinnamon oil all over her head. :rotfl:

Anyway, the vet thinks she's fine, so we're going to leave it at that. She's young, healthy, and just has some major anxiety issues. :)