My Cat is Having a Seizure - What Should I Do?

Seeing your beloved cat having a seizure is deeply upsetting and unnerving.  With the panic come the questions of how and why and what do I do to help?

Seizures happen when the brain’s electrical impulses suddenly become uncontrolled.  They happen quickly, may be random or regular, and can include involuntary muscle spasms. Repeated seizures are sometimes referred to as epilepsy and are also sometimes called fits or convulsions.  BCR’s Bunny (in photo) dfhas random seizures, which are controlled with medication.

There are two types of seizures, generalized, which affect the whole body, or focal, which impact only specific areas of the body.  Repeated, or epileptic, seizures can be petit mal, which don’t involve muscle spasms but instead cause a collapse into unconsciousness, or grand mal, which do include full body muscle spasms.  Seizures don’t cause pain but can result in cats being confused or disoriented as they recover from one. 

As an involved and engaged cat owner, what signs should you look for that might indicate your cat is experiencing a seizure?  According to www.honestpaws.com, signs to look for include:
     Pacing
     Walking in circles
     Vomiting
     Yowling

This pre-seizure phase happens quickly and only lasts a few seconds.  When the seizure itself comes, it may last one or two minutes.  If one lasts any longer, get your cat to a vet immediately as prolonged seizures can result in brain damage or death.

When a seizure passes, a cat may experience temporarily paralysis in one or more limbs and may have urinated or had a bowel movement during the seizure.  The cat may seem confused, may show some unusual behavioral changes, may drool excessively and may seem to have lost their vision.

What should YOU do when you see your cat having a seizure?  First and foremost stay calm and do all you can to keep your cat safe from anything that could hurt them. Cats read our emotions, so if you stay calm it will help them, too.  If you can, keep your cat away from any other pets.  A seizure can frighten or cause aggression in other pets in your home.  Many veterinarians advise pet owners to let the seizure pass but strongly encourage owners to take notes about when the seizure happened, what was going on (feeding time or play time?), how long it lasted, and whether or not your cat was on any new medications. 

In some cases, a veterinarian may not be able to pinpoint exactly what causes a seizure if there are no known underlying conditions.  However, there are common things in our daily environment that can cause them.  Car anti-freeze is a very common poisonous substance that can cause seizures if your cat should ingest it. Using some dog products that contain pyrethrin on cats (like flea and tick medications, shampoos, sprays and dips) can also have the same effect.  This particular toxin can also cause additional serious problems.  Some human medications are toxic to cats, too, like antidepressants and ADHD medications, so pet owners should take extra care to make sure they aren’t in a place your cat can get to them.  Seizures can also happen as a result of a head trauma, conditions like unregulated hypertension and kidney disease, and, in some cases, noise.

Good pet parents are aware of what goes on with their pets.  To be sure your veterinarian has the most complete information in the event of a seizure, you’ll want to make note of these things, compiled by www.honestpaws.com:
     At what age did the seizures first start?
     Do the seizures occur intermittently or at regular intervals?
     How long do the seizures last?
     How often do the seizures occur?
     Is your cat taking any new supplements or medications?
     Is there a possibility of toxin ingestion?
     Do you see a correlation between the seizures and specific events (e.g. excitement, feeding, sleeping, etc.)?
     Have you noticed any other behavioral changes (e.g. appetite loss, aggression, etc.)?

This history, along with a thorough exam and additional tests if indicated, will help your veterinarian look for a cause and rule out other conditions that may not actually be related to or the cause of seizures.  There are several effective treatments for cats prone to seizures veterinarians may use.  For pet parents with a seizure-prone cat, the good news is that seizures can be managed.  There are many resources available and, as always, it’s critical to stay in touch with your vet and to have regular check-ups for your cat.

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