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Seizures In Cats And What You Can Do About Them
By admin on Mar 2, 2008 in cat health
Seizures in cats are pretty uncommon, but they do happen. Seeing your cat have a seizure, or convulsion, is scary. It may look bad, but remember that your cat is not in pain during the seizure.
What would cause your cat to have a seizure? Are there warning signs? Can natural treatments help?
What Causes A Cat To Have A Seizure
There are many things that can cause your kitty to have a seizure. One of the first things you should do is evaluate your cat’s diet. Regular cat food that you buy at the grocery or local big box store contains chemicals, coloring agents, stabilizers and fillers that aren’t good for cats. Sodium nitrate, which commonly used in dry cat food, has been shown in clinical trials to cause seizures in cats that are similar to epileptic attacks.
Your local health food store carries natural cat food. Online, Only Natural Pet Store is a great source of additive-free cat food.
Many household cleaners and floor polishes contain chemicals which can damage your kitty’s nervous system, as well as causing cancer, heart disease, and liver problems. Keep your kitty in another well-ventilated room or outside when you’re using these products. You may want to consider using “green” products to protect your health too.
Other causes of seizures include:
- A condition similar to a stroke in which the blood supply to your cat’s brain is restricted. This is the cause of about 20% of seizures in cats.
- A severe parasite infestation, especially if her immune system is stressed
- Liver or kidney problems
- Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar
- Thyroid problems
- Feline diabetes
- Cancer, including brain tumors and lymphoma
- A head injury
- Lead poisoning
- Certain infections, including feline infectious peritonitis, feline leukemia virus, and feline immune-deficiency virus can cause frequent seizures. Cryptococcosis, a fungal infection that appears first in the lungs and spreads to the nervous system, and rabies can also cause seizures.
Seizures are a symptom of many diseases, so it’s important to have your vet check your cat throroughly to rule out any of these conditions. If your vet can’t find out why your cat is having seizures, the diagnosis may be idiopathic epilepsy, which means there is no known cause for the seizures.
What Is Feline Epilepsy?
Feline epilepsy causes involuntary body movements and loss of consciousness. How often your cat has a seizure, and the length of the seizure determines how serious it is.
It’s unusual for kittens to have epilepsy. Usually the first seizure will happen in a cat who’s two or three years old. There are three kinds of seizures:
- Petit mal - your cat may act a little strange, but you may not even notice if your cat has one of these.
- Grand mal - these are the most common in cats. You cat may pass out and have a convulsion. Grand mal seizures usually last about five minutes. Neither grand mal nor petit mal seizures are life-threatening.
- Status epilepticus - a severe seizure that continues for hours without intervals of consciousness. This type of seizure can cause brain damage and death. This is an emergency, so if this happens, get your cat to the vet as quickly as you can.
Cats are more prone to having what is called a Complex Partial Seizure (CPS) instead of convulsions. A cat having a CPS may attack invisible objects, run around frantically, and run into things. She may drool and show facial tics. Your cat’s consciousness is altered before, during, and after the seizure.
What Happens When A Cat Has A Seizure?
Just before your kitty has a seizure, she may be nervous. Or she may hide someplace. Sometimes she’ll look for you. This phase usually lasts only a few seconds.
During the seizure itself, all her muscles will contact. She’ll probably fall on her side with her head drawn back. She may urinate and defecate during the seizure. This phase lasts from a few seconds to up to five minutes. If it lasts longer than five minutes, get your cat to the vet as soon as you can, as this type of seizure can cause brain damage and death.
Once the seizure passes, she may be confused and disoriented. She may drool, and have a temporary vision loss.
If you think you cat is having a seizure, it’s important to note every detail of what happens.
- what parts of her body changed during the seizure?
- how did her breathing change?
- did her legs move? How?
- was her body rigid?
- did her body twist?
- how long did the seizure last?
- how severe was it?
- how long did it take her to recover?
All this information can help your vet determine what caused the seizure.
What Should I Do If My Cat Has A Seizure?
Not much. If she’s on the floor, move furniture out of the way so she doesn’t hit it. Your cat won’t swallow her tongue, so keep your fingers out of her mouth, or you may get bitten pretty badly. And remember, that as bad as it looks, she’s not in pain.
If your cat is up on top of something high, try to get her down so she doesn’t fall and get hurt. Sometimes you can tell when a seizure is coming, so you can get her in a safe place.
Your kitty will probably want you around to comfort her as she comes to. Try to keep her quiet as she recovers. Contact your vet, as he or she will probably want to see your cat.
How Are Seizures Treated?
Most vets use anticonvulsants like phonobarbital or diazepam. These are considered safe for cats. But there are side effects:
- dopiness from being over-sedated
- loss of coordination
- an increase in thirst and in urination
- allergic reactions, including low platelet and white blood cell counts
- temporary facial swelling
- blood clotting disorders
Are There Any Natural Treatments?
Many cats improve when they are switched to a better diet, as mentioned above. Reducing any environmental toxins can also help. Give vaccinations only when really necessary, as some kitties have seizures after getting a shot.
Things to keep in mind when using herbal remedies:
- Herbs take time to build in the system, so don’t expect immediate results. It can take from several days up to a week or more to know if the herbal remedy is effective.
- It’s best to give a smaller dose three times a day instead of one large dose every day. The herbs need to remain and build in your kitty’s system.
- The recommended dosages may need to be adjusted depending on your cat’s response. If vomiting, diarrhea or other signs of intolerance occur, stop giving the remedy for two days, and then start again with half the original dose to see if the lower dose can be tolerated.
- Use only one remedy or medication of any kind at a time. Don’t add anything else until you’ve seen a response or signs of intolerance.
- Herbs and natural remedies work best with cats who are eating the healthiest and freshest diet possible.
- Do NOT discontinue your cat’s meds before consulting your cat’s vet! Most of these remedies can be taken right alongside conventional treatments, but alway check with your vet to prevent possible interactions.
What Natural Remedies Are Available?
EaseSure, from PetAlive, is a 100% natural blend of herbal and homeopathic ingredients specially selected to support your kitty’s brain and nervous system.
EaseSure contains the following:
- Passionflower is used to promote calm and support the routine equilibrium of the nervous system.
- Skullcap has been traditionally used to promote the natural equilibrium normally present in the mind. It also helps to maintain a healthy attitude and ‘even keel’.
- Hyoscyamus 30C is a homeopathic remedy used for mental and emotional problems.
- Belladonna 30C has a calming influence on nervous and jumpy individuals.
- Cuprum mettalicum 30C supports the nervous system, while at the same time it encourages routine digestive function.
Doc Ackerman’s Epilepsy & Seizure Formula is another herbal remedy for seizures. It contains blue vervain, chamomile, ginseng, nutmeg, passionflower, St. John’s wort, and valerian root.
Flower essences can also help with seizures. If you see a seizure coming on, you can rub Emergency Rescue Flower Essences on your cat’s skin, lips, ears, or paws. This remedy can be used before and during a seizure.
After the seizure has passed, Seizures Flower Essences can be used to help your cat recover more quickly.
Both of these flower essences can be used every day for controlling seizures. You can give them four times a day, and mix them with your cat’s food or water, or put them in a misting bottle, and spray your kitty gently with them.
You may be interested in the Guide to Natural Pet Care - Epilepsy For Dogs and Cats. This 46-page booklet comprehensively covers gentle, natural treatments for epilepsy in both cats and dogs. It covers the latest research, along with veterinary clinical trials, and includes case studies of cats and dogs who have been cured of epilepsy with holistic treatments.
Click on the book cover to learn more!
38 Comment(s)
By Brennan Kingsland on Mar 2, 2008 | Reply
When we switched to a RAW diet, all seizure activity STOPPED in our dogs(3) and our cats(1). They had previously been on meds that barely worked. I’m not saying that the RAW diet is a cure-all but we’ve nursed some pretty nasty cases of Feline Leukemia and life expectancy was extended.
Excellent post. Just one thing I would like to add. After a seizure, you mention how important it is to keep the cat quiet. It is important for owners to understand that they also need to keep their own voice extremely soft and low. Noises, even a loud voice, can trigger another seizure at a time when a cat’s hearing is ACUTELY sensitive to stimulus.
Your articles are always very informative. I’m so glad I found this site.
Brennan Kingsland’s last blog post..What Do You Want to Read About?
By Chantel on Mar 3, 2008 | Reply
Very informative article, you might want to consider adding to your image html code, so your photo is not right up against the article. It is just more visually appealing to put a space around the photo. Here is the code if you need it.
Chantel’s last blog post..Mar 3, About Me
By admin on Mar 3, 2008 | Reply
Chantel, thanks for your comment, and for your suggestion. I wondered how to fix this. I’ll definitely be adding your code! Thanks again.
Darlene
By Carol on Mar 3, 2008 | Reply
Hi,
I had never heard of cats having seizures until one of our cats experienced it. Unfortunately he was on our son’s top bunk bed and fell off during the seizure. We don’t know if it was the fall or the seizure, but he was paralyzed when we found him. He was in a lot of pain and the vet said we needed to put him to sleep. It’s been two years and we still miss him very much.
Carol’s last blog post..Healthy Homemade Dog Treats - Great for Training
By admin on Mar 4, 2008 | Reply
Brennan, that’s a great suggestion to keep your voice soft when talking to your cat. Sometimes we don’t realize how loud we really are!
I think raw diets are probably the best way to go, not only for cats, but for us humans as well. I’ve heard it said that a mouse has every nutrient a cat needs. A lot of health issues can be cleared up with a good diet, and raw foods should play a big part in that.
Thanks for your comment, Brennan. I’m glad you enjoy my blog. Come back and visit often!
Darlene
By admin on Mar 4, 2008 | Reply
Carol, I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. It’s awful when something like that happens. I lost my dear little sweetie a couple of years ago too, and I still miss her terribly. My husband said that it’s a gift to form a bond like that with a cat or dog, but it comes with a price. He’s right about that! I don’t care how long they live, it’s never long enough!
Darlene
By felinesopher on Mar 8, 2008 | Reply
Great article, thanks for all the tips:)
Maybe have you heard of adding Reiki healing for our beloved furry companions? Almost two years ago, one of my cats, Bunjie got distemper virus. My vet already tried her best, and she said that this virus is very dangerous & often kill cats, his chance was 50:50. My brother at that time tried with his Reiki healing, and thank God Bunjie is survive until now.
My feline family is such a great inspiration, and I’ve been musing in the myriad of feline, human and philosophy in http://felinesophy.blogspot.com
Having your say there would be a wonderful connections:)
felinesopher’s last blog post..Book Junkies
By amanda on Mar 12, 2008 | Reply
my kitten fall on his face and than stated to have a seizure now he wont eat,drink or play what should i do? please help i do not want my kitten too die.
By admin on Mar 12, 2008 | Reply
Amanda, I sent you an email. It may take a few hours for your kitten to start feeling better after having a seizure. It’s best to let him rest and offer him some food and water after an hour or so. Try to take him to the vet tomorrow for a check-up.
Sometimes worms can cause a kitten to have seizures. If you haven’t wormed him, you may want to try doing that.
Let me know how your kitty is doing. I’ll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers tonight.
Darlene
By Juanita on May 2, 2008 | Reply
We’ve had our little kitten since he was 9 days old because his mother rejected him. We went through the bottle feeding, we were the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes for the very first time and we watched him take his first wobbly steps. He is now 13 weeks today and he has been at the vet for the past three days. He is normally very affectionate and playful but three days ago he became withdrawn, aggressive and would not eat. Since then he has started having seizures and he still hasn’t eaten. If he doesn’t start showing any improvement by mid morning tomorrow, our vet suggests that we put him to sleep … we are devasted … is there any hope for him? is there any way we can save him? Please help.
By admin on May 2, 2008 | Reply
Juanita,
I’m so sorry to hear about your kitten. It’s so easy to fall in love with these little guys, especially when you’ve had him from such an early age.
Sadly, I don’t really have any suggestions. I found an article on Seizures In Cats that said:
Infectious causes that should be considered in cats with seizure disorders include feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), Cryptococcus, and rabies virus. Toxoplasmosis is a rare cause of seizures in cats, unless there is concurrent immunosuppression. Up to 20% of cats presenting with acute onset of seizure activity may have cerebral ischemic encephalopathy, a condition in which the brain is damaged due to decreased blood flow to a part of the brain (similar to a “stroke”). Causes of acute cerebral ischemia in cats are presently unknown. Cancer is a possible cause of seizures in cats, with the most common brain tumor being a meningioma. However, lymphoma should not be overlooked. Another possible cause of acute seizure activity in cats is the larva of the parasite Cuterebra, migrating through the brain.
The main problem here is that it can become very expensive, very quickly, to try to figure out what’s causing the seizures. He could be sick with just about anything, as this excerpt indicates. And if you do manage to find out what the problem is, you may not be able to do much about it.
Sometimes a mama cat rejects a kitten because she knows there’s something wrong with it. It’s sad, but it’s a part of life.
You may want to try contacting the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association to see if you can find a holistic vet in your area. I’m not sure a holistic vet could do a whole lot more, but it may be worth a try.
I’ll be praying for your little kitty that he improves. Please keep me posted on what happens.
If anyone else has any suggestions that may help, please jump in!
Darlene
PS You may want to check out “Reiki For Cats” and see if you can find someone who does it long distance for cats.
By kate on May 17, 2008 | Reply
hello and heartbroken, my healthy special friend of 10 years went out in the backyard thurs night may 14, 08 he came in about 8:30 a little mopey with a slight cut on his back left leg, this was nothing new as he was alway getting tangled in the bushes. i put perioxide on it and a lttle antibotic ointment. i felt all around his body to see if he was hurt anywhere else , he didn’t even flinch he was fine. the dog spooked him under the coffee table but he dog did not touch him, he went into a seizure under the coffee table that lasted a few minutes, his breathing was very eratic and his tonque was to the side. we left him alone finally he got up walked around, i thought it would pass then i would be able to take him to the vet in the morning. later on his eyes looked funny, he managed to go upstairs and hop on the bed he hid bewtween 2 pillows, he slept and i could hear him purring, his breathing slowed down but his eyes looked funny. i got up to check on him a couple times that night he looked liked he was slowly slipping into a coma. he was so healthy the small cut on his leg was actually begining to heal. the next morning we couln’t find him. we found him under the bed wedged between the bed rail and the wall. we had to lift the bed up to get him out. i called the vet and told him what happened they made an appt for us at 11:45am , by then he was hardly breathing, about 9:30 i turned him over he vomited not much as he had eaten a little bit when he came in the night before. i moved him and turned him over again and at that point he took his last breath. my husband and i have been crying for 2 days, maybe if we had taken him to emergenceny they could have saved him sadly missed but never will be forgotten!
By admin on May 19, 2008 | Reply
Oh Kate, I’m so sorry. How terrible to lose your beloved friend so suddenly! I’ve lost some good feline friends too, so I know how bad you feel right now.
Even if you had taken him to the vet right away, he may not have made it. I wonder if he got into something poisonous. For a perfectly healthy cat to pass away so quickly, it makes me wonder.
I know it hurts a lot right now. Please accept my sympathy for you and your husband.
Darlene
By charlotte allwood on May 27, 2008 | Reply
hello, my cat is about 14 years old and has never had any seizers, but the other day i found her having one, it was very scary, it lasted for about 5 minutes.
she has been acting odd she has been dribbling and going to the loo more , breathing very heavly with her tongue out of her mouth. After all this happens she just flops down n looks tired. Is there anything that could help her?
By Omar Farouki on May 28, 2008 | Reply
hello, 48 hours after giving my little one a rabies vaccination to export her to another country, my cat suffered from a seizure that lasted about five minutes. the vet at the time of the injection said that she was healthy and happy. she is only two years old, can anyone tell me if it was potentially from the vaccine or any other reason it could have happened out of the blue?
By admin on May 29, 2008 | Reply
Hi Charlotte, I’m sorry to hear about the seizure your cat had. You may want to click on some of the links in the article above for more info on products that may help her. I would also take her to the vet for a check-up. Since she’s 14, you want to know if any health issues could be causing her to have seizures.
Omar, I googled “rabies vaccination causes seizure” (without the quotes), and got several results. This one, at http://www.petresource.com/Articles%20of%20Interest/rabies_shots.htm,
tells how rabies shots can cause chronic disease in dogs. It seems like it would cause a problem for cats, too. In the US, there is a place to report adverse vaccine reactions. I think you’re in the UK, so talk to your vet to find out where to report how your cat reacted to the vaccine.
I would try very hard to avoid vaccinating her for anything in the future.
I wish you both the best with your kitties.
Darlene
By Gail on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply
>>Cats are more prone to having what is called a Complex Partial Seizure (CPS) instead of convulsions. A cat having a CPS may attack invisible objects, run around frantically, and run into things. She may drool and show facial tics. Your cat’s consciousness is altered before, during, and after the seizure.<<
I was stunned to see this passage in your article. My cat has what I’ve always called “fly chasing seizures” and never before have I ever seen anything mentioned even remotely decribing this in a cat. He saw a neurologist at the beginning, who also had never heard of such a thing.
The seizure manifests as if he is chasing a fly. He runs around unable to control it, chasing this “invisible bug”, then begins to flip his ears, bite his flank and bite the floor. It is horrifying to see.
When these epeisodes begain they came every 30 minutes and lasted one to five minutes, except when he was sleeping. I was not able to interrupt them by holding him. he appeared cognizant, but terrified. he was always very hungry, and excessively loving, after an episode.
He has been on Phenobarbitol now for six years, he is 9 years old. It took over a year to regulate the pheno dose to prevent breakthrough seizures. As of today he hasn’t had a seizure in a little over four years.
He gets complete blood work and a pheno blood level check annually. His pheno levels are way below toxic levels, I will never take him off the medication, or reduce the dose, for fear of those horrible episodes coming back.
I get so frightned when he has to have things done like dental work, he recently had FORL, and had to have five extractions, was under anethesia for a long time and was on the pain medication burpenex for three days but he did great.
Your website is an informative and useful place.
By admin on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply
Hi Gail,
You’ve certainly done a lot to help your kitty. He’s’ lucky to have such a caring and loving owner!
You may want to google “complex partial seizures in cats”. Seizures In Pets specifically mentions a fly-chasing behavior about half-way down the article. I can imagine seeing something like this would be terrifying. I’m glad you’ve gotten his seizures under control. And I’m glad we live in a time and place where treatments for conditions like this are available!
For my readers, a FORL
FORL is a feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion, which is something like a cavity at the gumline of your cat’s tooth. A FORL is extremely painful for your cat and needs veterinary treatment. I’m happy to hear your kitty came through his dental work so well.
Thank you for a thoughtful comment. Please come back again soon, and best wishes to you and your kitty!
Darlene
By Gail on Jul 3, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for your reply Darlene. I’ve read the article you linked to and will google the phrase as you suggest. I guess I just never typed the correct words in my searches.
It always helps to know if others have had similar experiences.
Sorry I did not elaborate on FORL (Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions) in my original post.
My seizure kitty also has herpes eyes and takes l-lysine 500 mg daily. he started the l-lysine therapy at the same time he started the phenobarbital and, six years taking the l-lysine, he very rarely has a herpes outbreak any more, even during high stress such as the pain of FORL and the subsequent surgery, or the loss of one of his beloved cat companions.
I am fortunate to be only a 2 hour drive from Cornell University Companion Animal Hospital in Ithaca, NY and have been there many times, not just with my seizure kitty, but also with my other special needs cats. It’s a Wonderful Place.
By admin on Jul 5, 2008 | Reply
Hi Gail,
I’m glad you found the article helpful. Sometimes it takes a while to figure out what to type into a search engine to find what you’re looking for. If it’s out there, I can usually find it, although sometimes it does take a while!
FORL was new to me too, so it was good to learn about it. I’m happy your kitty came through all that so well.
I’m planning to do a post on feline herpes in the near future. I’m interested in hearing how the lysine helped your cat.
I grew up in NYS, over by Albany, so I’m familiar with Cornell. That’s a fantastic facility. It’s a blessing for you to be in the area so you can take advantage of what they have to offer there.
Come back soon!
Best wishes to you and your kitties,
Darlene
By Michelle on Jul 14, 2008 | Reply
My cat has pancreatitis. Before this, he was a diabetic for about four years. Nobody could figure out why he was so thin, but constantly eating. Well, it was because he had pancreatits. When he was first tested for that disease, his diabetes went away. Then about a few months later, his diabetes came back. Well, not that I am treating him for his pancreatitis, his diabetes is going away. I went from giving him 2 units on the needle twice a day to .5 unites on the needle. The vet told me if he has too much insulin in his body when not needed, he could get a seizure. Well, its hard to test him myself, so I am routinely giving him shots twice a day. He had about three seizures over about a 4 month period. Only one was pretty bad, and lasted a few minutes. The other two were mild, but I still feel so bad about it. I think it was due to not needing insulin any longer. The vet told me his pancreatitis is getting better, which usually means they are no longer diabetic. He has an appointment tomorrow to get his blood tested to see if he needs shots anymore. After his seizure I stopped his shots. I thought it is probably better to not give him a shot than to give him a shot and risk another seizure. What I wanted to ask is are the affected after the seizure? He seems to walk a little funny now. He is eating and drinking water normally, but when he had his seizures his legs (especially his back legs) cramped up and wouldn’t move. After his seizure, his muscles seem to be sore - mainly his back legs, because he seems a little weak - especially in his legs. Is this normal? I will find out more tomorrow whether he needs shots or not, but for now, no more! I read that they are not in pain during the seizure, but when he had his seizures I cried so hard, because I feel so bad for him. It looked like he was dying. It was such a relief when he came out of it and meowed for food!!!
By admin on Jul 16, 2008 | Reply
Hi Michelle,
I’m not a vet, so I’m not really qualified to address some of your questions. I would expect that he would be sore after a seizure, especially if his muscles were cramped up, but this something you should ask your kitty’s vet about. Your vet is familiar with your cat’s case and can give you good info.
There is a side-effect of diabetes called neuropathy which can cause your cat’s legs to become weak. So I don’t know if his leg weakness is from the seizure or from the diabetes. Be sure to talk to your vet about this.
Thanks for your comment. I wish the best for you and your kitty!
Darlene
By michelle on Jul 23, 2008 | Reply
My cat is 4, and has had seizures for 2 1/2 years. He is on Phenobarbitol. He started peeing on my couch when I was away on vacation in March. It has been happening about once a week since then. I have noticed over the past year that when he has a seizure it is in the litter box. Does he not want to go in the litter box because he knows he may have a seizure? I took him to a neurologist last week, and he did not think his peeing on the couch was related to the seizures. Help please>
By admin on Jul 23, 2008 | Reply
Hi Michelle,
I wouldn’t be surprised if the reason your kitty isn’t using his litter box is because he has seizures while he’s in there. He knows something bad happens when he goes in there.
You may want to think about what could possibly be triggering his seizures while he’s in the litter box. Do you use scented cat litter? What kind of cat litter do you use? Is the litter box enclosed? Is it someplace where there are vibrations or lights?
Your cat could also have been suffering from separation anxiety while you were gone, which caused him to go on the couch. Does he do it when you’re not there or when you’re gone, or does it make any difference? Of course, now it’s a habit, which makes it harder to stop.
You may want to try a different type of litter box, a new location for it or different litter.
PetAlive has an herbal remedy to calm stressed animals, called PetCalm . You may want to try this and see if it helps.
Good luck! I wish the best for your kitty friend.
Darlene
By Marna Williams on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
I adopted a beautiful, intelligent, loving, and fierce Calico at the age of one. I have had her for two years. She was a kitten when the rescue tried to catch her. It took them 6 months. I went to adopt a specific cat at the shelter who was adopted just as I got there. I had no plans of bringing home any other cat. I went around the shelter to say hi to everyone there and this one kitty just picked me. She talked to me, followed me, did figure eights and jumped up on my shoulder. I really fell in love with her and she with me. I brought her home and my husband was so very upset as this was not the cat he expected. (By the way, they said she was feral.) So that night when we went to bed she chose to go with us. She slept behind his back. He rolled, she rolled. She came and loved me and then went back to him. Noone slept, but everyone was happy. After that we tried to keep her in the house, but she had been an outdoor cat before and she did get out and then back in, out, in , out and so on. So last summer she left for a day and then came back. Later it was for a week and then back. Eventually, she was gone for 2 months. We were worried sick. She came back and acted very strange. She was worried about going out, strangers were OFF LIMITS!! etc. She stayed all winter and then into the spring. In the late spring, my family minus me was cutting firewood in the driveway (we live in the mountains) and she was playing. Suddenly she was gone. So 4 months pass and I am about to lose hope (she is chipped)and I get a phone call at work. Some wonderful woman had found her. She only lives a few miles away from me. She put her dogs out in the morning and they went to the fence and acted strangely. They wanted her attention. She went over and found a calico kitty in a grand mal seizure. She took her in the house and she was loving and doing figure eights around her. Suddenly she fell to her side in another grand mal. She took her to the vet and they found her chip info. I received the call that my cat was found. She is still seizing. I went to see her and she is having complex, petit, grand and right-sided seizures. The vet has run a complete blood work, toxoplasmosis screen and a urinalysis. The only things of note are a white blood cell count that seems slightly elevated, but within normal limits. Her bladder and liver are normal. She was fully examined twice and there is no scar tissue, no sign of broken bones, etc. Remember this cat was tougher than nails. She never had a seizure while I had her or while she was in foster care. Antifreeze poisoning has been ruled out. She came from a shelter and was fully tested before adoption. Currently she has been put on IV fluids, valium and a steroid shot today as I stayed with her for over an hour and reported all signs to the vet. What test should I now ask for? The vet seems to think that this is a brain stem/head injury or possibly a viral infection. She is leaning more toward a traumatic injury. Viral maybe, but not real likely. She said that my kitty is 100% healthy except for the seizures and that she is at a loss as to what the cause is. ANY HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS???? I love my baby girl and will do ANYTHING to help her. Please suggest what I can ask the vet to do or what I can do.
Help me and my JENNY PLEASE!!!!!
By admin on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
Marna, I’m so sorry you had such bad news about your Jenny-cat. I’m not a vet, so I really don’t have any suggestions. A brain injury could be the cause. A virus might have left lasting damage in her brain, too. Is a brain tumor a possibility?
Jenny sounds like she’s always been a very independent cat who lived life on her own terms. You were blessed to have her in your life for a season. I know it’s hard to give her up right after you found her again, but maybe it’s time to let her go on. It may be why she came back to you, to say good-bye.
Please let me know what happens. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Darlene
By SumChai's Mom on Sep 2, 2008 | Reply
I adopted a Siamese mix female at 10 weeks and had her fixed at six months. Now she is 10 months old and always an inside cat and today had a seizure that lasted just under a minute. I held her steady in a towel onthe floor while it went its course, and she drooled, but didn’t defacate or urinate. When I was sure it was over, she looked alarmed, and was unable to get up at first. But then she began walking slowly. Now, about an hour later, she is lying under my chair. She seems subdued, but otherwise fine.
She has been such a loving companion, sleeps with me most nights, and has had no other health issues. I have been feeding her Iams kitten since the beginning with some canned foods, but nothing canned for the past few months.
The vet is overloaded after the holiday and cannot see her and I have a limited budget to afford extensive tests, but I am a Reiki Master and have access to other RM’s… I know Reiki works but am concerned about the root cause of the seizure… any suggestions? TNX
By admin on Sep 2, 2008 | Reply
Wow, I’m not a vet, so I can’t really make any medical recommendations…I would say the best thing to do is to keep an eye on her. Since you’re a reiki master, I would certainly go ahead and give her some treatments. It certainly can’t hurt, and it may help address any underlying issues.
Check the ingredients on the Iams bag and make sure there aren’t any meat by-products in it. I’m not familiar with Iams, so I don’t know what’s in it. If you’re feeding her dry food, she could be allergic to one of the grains in it. You may want to try switching her over to a grain-free dry food, or to an organic canned food.
I hope SumChai continues to recover without any further problems. Keep me posted!
Best wishes,
Darlene
By Kathleen on Sep 6, 2008 | Reply
I have a 22 (yes, 22) year old siamese with hyperthyroid, mild kidney and liver damage. She is almost comletely blind. She has alway had a mild jerking in her head area, but two to three weeks ago it got worse. Not only her head but her whole upper body began jerking kind of out of control. She kept falling, going in circles. I rushed her to er and they gave her sub-q fluids and valium. The next moring she couldn’t stand but she had a huge appetite. AFter the valum wore off she could walk better. It happened again on Thursday night. Friday am took her to my vet. He gave her valium shot. He thinks she has been having mini strokes which can cause seizures or maybe a lesion on her brain. MRI is too expensive plus she’s too old to do anything about what they might find anyway. So she’s now on valium twice a day, tapizol and baytril. Her vet said it will get worse. Any suggestions on if this is true or will the medication control it?
By admin on Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
Hi Kathleen,
About the only thing I could suggest looking into is the possibility of an ear infection. Sometimes cats with an ear infection will circle and show signs of dizziness because the infection affects the balance mechanism in the inner ear. But like I said above, I’m not a vet, so I’m only making suggestions. Your vet is probably doing the best job possible in this situation.
Your kitty is very lucky to have someone like you to take care of her in her old age. You’ve definitely been doing something right!
Best wishes,
Darlene
By Marty on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
I have a 18 yr old longhair rescue, who is fed homecooked organic diet, no dry, spring water, and has developed behavioral and perhaps cognitive issues. He has been on prozac for a year, transdermal every other day on his earflap.
He recently began having seizures, the last one last week, where he lost control of his bladder. He has had, what I call tics, for several years, especially when he purrs. He is scheduled to see a neurologist on Monday and is currently taking homeopathic remedies for this condition. He also gets supplements. Any thoughts, suggestions. I also have two Maine Coon cats. They lived peacefully together for 14 years and suddenly last year after Bastian (the 18 year old) had a bladder infection and had to go to the vet, when he came home, all @3@@% broke lose and they have to be kept separate. He lives up in my bedroom and has the run of the upstairs when we are home. He is the light of my life and has never missed a night sleeping with me in all the years we have lived together. He follows me everywhere and when my Dad was killed he never left my side.
Thanks for your help.
Marty
By jm on Sep 18, 2008 | Reply
my cat had a seizure and after he finished he was breathing really heavy and panting, is this normal?
By admin on Sep 20, 2008 | Reply
I’m not really sure what’s normal behavior for a cat who’s just had a seizure. Your best bet is to have him checked out by your cat’s vet.
Best wishes,
Darlene
By Susie on Oct 22, 2008 | Reply
I have just recently seen a seizure in my cat. I brought her to an ER vet and he said that he thinks she is having seizures. I left her over night and he said she did not have anymore. I then brought her to my regular vet and left her another 24 hrs to be monitored. They told me that she did not have any. I am concerned because when I brought her home she had to and hour apart and they lasted 20 seconds. The vets told me that they do not want to perscribe medicine if she is not having them for a long period of time. I am concerned because it is very expensive and I don’t know what else to do. She is not the same cat and this is just all suprising because it just popped up. Noone can give me a definate answer two vets have ruled out anything that may be causing them. Does anyone have any suggestions? I lost a cat in December and I don’t think I can bare to loose another. Is this doing more and more damage to her brain? What can I do?
By Karen on Nov 8, 2008 | Reply
I noticed that the article said that when your cat is having a seizure to move furniture and stuff out of the way. I have found from my experience with my seizuring cat that the best thing for her is to pick her up or go to her level and hold them snugly to your body making sure to cup her head, until it’s over. I found the recovery time shortend the sooner I could get to her.
By Kirsten on Nov 30, 2008 | Reply
My cat’s nine years old and he’s really special to me. . He has seizures about twice a day. . I don’t know what to do. . I went to the vet but the medication didn’t work. . I’ve noticed when i give him tin food he has them more often. . Can milk also make them have seizures? Everyone keeps saying i should put him down. . I really love him. . Please help..
By Heather on Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
Hi Darlene,
My 4-year old cat Angel (part Devon Rex) has been randomly wetting the bed for the past 2 years–it’s a small amount, about the size of a silver dollar or slightly bigger. This occurs perhaps 4 times a year and it only occurs at night between midnight and 4 am when she sleeps with me. Colleagues of my sister think it may be related to seizures. I have noticed Angel drooling slightly the past couple weeks when I pet her, but she just had surgery to remove a mast cell tumor from her skin so I don’t know if it’s related to that or not? Should I be concerned about this urinating and drooling? Thanks for your help Darlene and for posting this website.
By Rells on Dec 7, 2008 | Reply
Hello everyone,
I am so sad right now, my 4month old kitty Nala recently had a seizure. When we first got her we notice some slight shaking and she would go into an almost hypnotic state we figured that she was only playing. The whole thing usually lasted a few seconds. Nala’s shaking hasn’t been too frequent but the last seizure she had has really damaged her. Its been about 1day since she had the seizure that basically has her in a vegetative state and she has not yet returned to her normal playful self. She’s been sleeping alot! Whenever she does get up she’s very disoriented and there’s a white cornea-like thing covering half her eyeball. She does not eat or drink, I’ve been feeding her Friskies dry cat food, her poop has been really watery and the last time she pooped it had an red-orange color, almost looked like blood. If I take her out of her box or whenever she comes out of her box, usually if she get the sensation to pee or poop, she’s really wobbly and her head is drooped down and about 2 or 3 seconds after she gets up she goes into the hypnotic state. (sigh) I pray that my kitty get better and can return back to her normal loving self. Oh I guess this might be a plus, today when I took her out of her bed to check on her, I played her hind legs to see if she would respond and she did!! She made a strong “meow” and opened her eyes, the cornea-like membrane had gone away but sadly it came back after a little while. We took Nala to the vet he gave her a shot and told us that she will need Phenobarbital.
Please can anyone help me or give me some hope in knowing that my Nala will be alright. I don’t want to loose her.