Nine Signs Your Cat Is Having a Seizure
One of the scariest feelings pet owners can experience is watching their beloved cat have a seizure. These sudden, disruptive medical episodes can be one-time-only events or recur repeatedly due to a chronic condition. As alarming as these situations are, owners must stay calm and seek the appropriate veterinary care immediately to determine the underlying cause.
Recognizing the symptoms of a seizure in cats makes it easier for pet parents to seek help at the first sign of trouble, which can improve the cat’s outcome in an emergency. To access timely and supportive care for a cat’s seizure, contact an emergency vet in Queen Creek, AZ. These experts in pet care will work quickly to ensure the cat’s safety and stability before beginning diagnostic tests to identify the cause of the event and suggest tailored treatment options.
Immediate emergency care is particularly vital for a pet’s first seizure or any other new, alarming symptoms. This ensures a proper diagnosis and treatment from a veterinary professional.
What Do Seizures in Cats Look Like?
There are many common types of seizures in cats, including focal seizures, generalized seizures (or grand mal seizures), and petit mal seizures. Each type of seizure has different causes and outcomes and may last a different amount of time. The symptoms of a seizure in cats may vary depending on what kind of seizure the animal experiences, but there are several common signs that pet owners should look out for.
1. Restlessness and Unusual Behavior
Cats in the early stages of generalized (or grand mal) seizures may appear restless and unable to settle. Behavior changes such as pacing and unwillingness to lie down or sit are common. The cat may shake or seem nervous and either hide from their owner or seek increased attention from them.
The cat may not act like their usual self and may avoid eating or drinking. They might not want to play or be in the same room as their owner, and their personality may seem to do a complete 180.
2. Muscle Twitching
The most well-known seizure symptoms in people and cats are twitching and uncontrollable muscle movements. Facial and eye twitching is common, as are strange head movements. The cat may seem to shake their head or jerk it up and down rapidly without much apparent control.
Sometimes, the muscle twitches are limited to only one limb or one ear, and the cat may seem irritated by the recurrence of the uncontrollable twitching.
3. Uncontrolled Movements
The cat may fall over and twitch unpredictably over their entire body or only in certain limbs. During the uncontrolled movements, the cat may rapidly kick their legs (similar to the bunny kicks they often do when playing, only non-stop and somewhat rigidly). Their muscles may appear to contract and stay tense for minutes at a time.
The cat might lose control of their bladder or bowel during the event. Depending on the cause of the condition, some cats vomit before or after a seizure.
The convulsions may last for a few seconds or minutes, and it is important to ensure the cat does not fall from a bed, couch, or other high surface.
4. Loss of Consciousness
In some seizures, the cat will lose consciousness for several seconds or minutes. They will be completely unresponsive, and their breathing may appear irregular or faster than usual.
Once this passes, they will likely remain disoriented for several minutes to hours after the seizure ends. A loss of consciousness is scary to witness, but it is vital not to attempt to wake the cat or interfere with the seizure to avoid accidental injury.
5. Drooling or Foaming
Cats experiencing a seizure may suddenly drool or foam at the mouth. These symptoms may indicate a focal seizure that impacts certain parts of the brain. The drooling may precede the seizure or occur during the worst of the uncontrolled movements.
Bear in mind that the cat might not have total control over their jaw movements, so it is safest to avoid cleaning the area if necessary until after the seizure passes.
6. Vocalization
Before or during a seizure, cats may yowl, whine, cry, or meow loudly, but these may not sound like their usual vocalizations. During the seizure itself, the cat may be able to make some noises of pain but will often be silent or not meow fully.
7. Disorientation
Confusion and disorientation are common after a seizure, particularly after a focal seizure impacts part of the brain. This disorientation can cause them to wander around aimlessly, bumping into things in their path, be unwilling to eat or drink, and respond poorly to affection.
8. Temporary Blindness
Temporary blindness is another common symptom after a seizure. Cats may appear unable to navigate their usual paths around their home and will often bump into objects or lie down and vocalize loudly.
9. Sudden Aggression
Before a seizure, it is common for cats to scratch or bite more than usual. They may react poorly to pats and become aggressive when their owner is near. These symptoms sometimes continue after the seizure, making it more difficult for the cat to receive care.
What Are the Causes of Seizures in Cats?
Most often, cat seizures are the result of ingesting toxins or head trauma. Depending on the cause, the cat may experience a single seizure or recurrent seizures. Different causes may result in either extracranial or intracranial seizures.
Extracranial causes include:
- Liver or kidney diseases
- Toxin ingestion
- Heatstroke
- Certain infections, such as feline leukemia or infectious diseases like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
- Severe high blood pressure
Comparatively, intracranial causes refer to issues within the cranium, such as brain tumors or infections in the cerebrospinal fluid. Head trauma and inflammation can also lead to seizures, so it is critical to get medical advice after serious falls. Seizures can also be the result of idiopathic epilepsy and other chronic systemic disruptions, where the exact mechanisms causing the episodes are unknown.
Many household toxins can trigger seizures in cats. One of the most common is flea and tick medication, which, when applied to dogs in the household, can cause tremors and seizures in cats. Pet owners should avoid topical permethrin applications to dogs if cats share the home.
Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can also be the culprit, so keeping the medicine cabinet out of reach of curious cats is vital. Another common product, tea tree oil, can be found in bath salts and cosmetic products and can cause seizures.
Pet owners should also check any new houseplants for cat safety. Certain varieties, such as lilies, azaleas, snake plants, and sago palms, are hazardous if ingested.
Finally, just like their canine companions, cats cannot eat chocolate. They may become very sick or have seizures if they ingest theobromine, the stimulant in many people’s favorite sweet treat.
Different Kinds of Seizures
Cats can experience various kinds of seizures, each with different potential diagnoses and treatment modalities.
Generalized seizures are easiest to identify because they occur in three distinct phases: the pre-ictal phase, the ictus or active seizure phase, and the post-ictal phase. These affect both sides of the brain and typically cause full-body reactions and total unresponsiveness.
Focal seizures, on the other hand, only impact part of the brain and tend to result in convulsions or abnormal movement in one specific area (such as the leg, eye, or ear).
Cluster seizures are similar to focal seizures, but they present with symptoms such as behavioral changes and drooling and may eventually become generalized, turning into full-body convulsions.
What Should Owners Do If Their Cat Has a Seizure?
If pet owners suspect their cat is experiencing seizure activity, staying calm and reacting appropriately is essential. First, ensure the cat is out of harm’s way, as falling from a bed or hitting furniture during the seizure can cause brain damage. Beyond gently moving the cat to a safe place, it is important not to touch or restrain the animal during an episode to avoid injuring them.
Pet owners should also protect themselves and others from accidental injury by the cat’s claws and jaws, which they may be unable to control during an episode. If this is the cat’s first seizure, it is a medical emergency that demands immediate attention. Once the seizure is over, seek emergency veterinary care to assess the pet’s overall health and determine the possible cause of the seizures.
A veterinary team will conduct a physical examination first to check for signs of injury or sickness. Diagnostic tests such as CT scans and blood tests can reveal more about what triggered the event. Blood tests allow veterinarians to check for liver disease and toxin exposure, while neurological examinations look for potential brain and spinal cord injuries, tumors, and central nervous system issues.
A veterinary neurologist can assess a cat’s brain for subtler issues, and pet owners may need a referral to a specialist after receiving initial care at an emergency vet office.
How Are Seizures in Cats Treated?
The specific treatment of seizures depends on their cause, frequency, and severity. Some seizures are one-off occurrences resulting from toxin ingestion, which vets can treat with an intravenous catheter to rehydrate and administer anticonvulsant medication.
Chronic seizures that happen rarely (less than every six to eight weeks) may not require treatment beyond safety measures at the time of the seizure. For more frequent seizures, owners may need to administer oral anticonvulsant medication and tend to any underlying conditions. Importantly, this medication should never be given to an actively seizing cat, as this can be a major choking hazard, and the drug will not take immediate effect.
It is crucial for cats experiencing seizures to lead a healthy life overall, with a diet rich in antioxidants and Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids (unless a vet recommends otherwise).
Trust Revel Vet With Your Pet
If your cat ingests household toxins or has a seizure, head to Revel Vet for emergency support.
Revel Vet offers comprehensive veterinary care with a “fear-free” certified team of veterinarians and technicians. Our experienced veterinarians can assess your cat after a suspected seizure to get to the bottom of the underlying causes. Our in-house laboratory, X-ray, and ultrasound machines allow for fast and effective diagnoses and tailored treatment plans without the delay of third-party testing.
If we need to refer your cat to a specialist for further diagnostic tests, we will do so only once we are certain they are stable and safe. Trusting a new care team with your pet is never easy, but Revel Vet offers timely, reliable care that prioritizes pet comfort and owners’ peace of mind.
Call 480-701-8609 to schedule an appointment for non-urgent issues, or visit our office in Queen Creek, AZ, for emergency care.
FAQ About Symptoms of a Seizure in Cats
Witnessing a beloved pet have a seizure is one of the most distressing experiences for cat owners, especially if the cause is unknown. The Revel Vet team addresses the most common questions about cat seizures to encourage pet owners to respond appropriately.
Should I Hold My Cat Down During a Seizure?
During a seizure, do not restrain the affected animal. Attempting to hold them down or restrict their convulsions can lead to injury and put you at risk for accidental bites and scratches because the cat cannot control these movements.
What Household Medicines Cause Seizures in Cats?
A range of household medicines can cause seizures in cats, but the most common culprits are ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Natural supplements and other tea tree oil products are also common triggers and highly dangerous for cats to ingest.
Are Seizures Medical Emergencies in Cats?
New seizures are a medical emergency for cats. Pet owners should seek urgent vet care after witnessing convulsions or other strange behavior outside the cat’s normal demeanor. It is essential to recognize the symptoms of a seizure in cats to act quickly and find the appropriate emergency care.
