cat losing hearing and now balance

Question
QUESTION: My 17 year old cat has been losing her hearing off and on recently and since last night she has been off balance and seems disoriented.  Wonder if she has vertigo.  Apart from this she is well.  Could it be anything else?  She will not eat from last night.  Feel very worried.

ANSWER: Denise,
She may be developing vestibular syndrome, which has to do with the inner ear and balance. It could be why her hearing was going and it's not uncommon in older cats.

She needs to be seen by the vet. This is something they need to assess in the office.There are other things that can cause this, which is why she needs to be seen.
She won't eat because she is dizzy and that is upsetting her stomach.

There is some medication that might help but your vet needs to be able to determine if she can tolerate it.

I hope she is able to be helped by the vet. Please let me know how she is doing in a few days.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Jana, your answer to my question was also confirmed by my vet.  She was given antibiotic injections and an anti-inflammatory injection to be on the safe side.  I have looked up this senile vestibular syndrome on the internet so that I can understand it and make Cleo my cats life as good as it could possibly be.  I am feeding her the best food, all her favourites, plenty of protein. She is eating now, little and often, she seems very content and is learning to cope and adjust.  Cannot thank you enough.  Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to make Cleo's life easier.  She is 18 in May and I know she cannot live forever but while she is with us she is having the best as we love her to bits.  She is booked in to see the Vet next Tuesday but she is so much better, more like her usual self and can hear perfectly well again and is responding to commands and remembers her routine again.  She is stronger now and looks well.  TLC has paid off.  Never give up.  Thank you Jana.  Keep up this good work.  yours sincerely, Denise Ellis  

Answer
You are doing a great job Denise. Just watch it on the protein, don't over burden her kidneys. Cats need protein but not excesses and at her age she really needs to watch it.
There is not much else you can do but enjoy her, love her and take lots and lots of pictures of her! Take some with you in them, something I had not done enough of.
Good luck and may she live a long, happy time. Thank you for your kind words also. People like you make this all worthwhile.