I'm at my wit's end with Chloe Nicole our 10 year old Tonk.  Please excuse
the long post.

She has always been a fairly delicate/frail cat.  Never weighed more than
5.5 lbs.  She has been indoors exclusively.  Her diet has been Science Diet
and Hills dry with an occasional can for a treat.  Our other cat is also a
Tonk, who past her in weight at 9 months.  Brandi is the picture of health;
while Chloe looks like a euro super model!

Since she as two, Chloe would get "hot" spots under her forearms.  She would
lick till the hair was gone.  The first time we did not catch it until she
had almost blistered herself.  The vet gave her a prednisone shot which
cleared it up immediately.  Hair grew back and things were fine.  These
symptoms repeated every three months like clockwork.  Vet suggested food
allergies.  We would change food; but the prednisone would clear up the
problem so we were never sure if the food solved the problem.  After three
months, the problem would reappear and we would get another prednisone shot
and change food again.  So, from year 2 to year 9, she's been getting a
prednisone shot every 3 months.

Lately we noticed that it had been nine months since her last shot.
Unfortunately, she developed a severe case of diarrhea.  Pancake batter
consistency.  Always left just outside the litter box.  She would continue
to urinate in the box.  Tried a food change and trip to the vet.  She had
lost 1/2 pound to 4.5 lbs.  They ran a full panel of blood tests which all
came back normal.  Thyroid, liver, kidney functions were all fine.

Vet suspected irritable bowel disease (IBD).  She went on Prednisone tablets
(5mg) and Metronizidole..  The first week, 1/2 tab in the AM and a 1/2 tab
in the PM plus .5cc of Metronizidole..  Second week was 1/2 tab each day,
and third week, was 1/2 tab every other day.  Also changed her to Science
Diet Sensitive Stomach.  Added some deli turkey.  During the first week, the
diarrhea cleared up.  By the third week the diarrhea was back.

Back to the vet.  Got her up to 5 lbs. (1/2 lb gain yahoo)  This time she
got a methyl prednisone shot.  The problems cleared up. A week later, she
started losing her appetite.  Stools were still fine.  She drinks and does
not appear to be dehydrated.  She is back to using the litter box; but is
back to losing weight and is somewhat listless.   She has also developed a
worrisome wobble in her back legs.

Took her to our senior vet (different vet).  He ran another set of blood
panels.  Again they were all fine.  No diabetes, everything normal.  White
cell count normal, temps normal, lung sounds normal, X-ray normal, thyroid,
kidneys all normal.  No masses detected during palpation (and she is nothing
but skin, bones and alot of love).  Stopped the prednisone.  IBD still
suspected.  She is now on antibiotic (Clavamox .5cc/ day).  Her food is now
Hills a/d.  Stool is normal, water intake is normal, she is using the liter
box.  Gums are pink.  Appetite is so-so.  She will eat about half a can per
day.  Supplementing with Nutri Cal gel.

The back legs worry me.  She still jumps up and down from the sofa.  She
still wanders through the house.  First 10 steps are fine. Then she gets a
bit wobbly (drunk like).  It's most noticeable when she tries to take a
change in direction.  If she stops for a minute, the next ten steps are
normal, then she gets wobbly again.  Vet thought we had a muscle strain.
She tolerates a deep muscle massage fine.  She does not appear to be in any
pain.  Legs seem strong and no breaks/fractures are apparent.  The ears are
clean (balance).  She does walk to get her food, go to the litter box, or to
her pad on the deck.

I really pains us to see her this way.  Any thoughts would really be
appreciated.

TIA

Don