Seizures are a nerve-wracking experience for both cats and their owners. Understanding if your cat is having a seizure and what to do in the event of a seizure will help make these events less stressful for you and your cat.
What Causes Seizures
Most seizures in cats occur due to toxicity issues. For example, if your cat has consumed a plant, food, or chemical it shouldn't have, your cat can have seizures. Toxicity also frequently occurs when a pet owner accidentally applies flea medications meant for dogs to a cat.
Beyond toxicity, more severe seizures can be caused by feline diabetes, head trauma, tumors, and epilepsy. Some seizures have no known cause.
Seizure Types
There are two common types of seizures your cat could experience: focal seizures and generalized seizures.
Focal seizures involve a smaller portion of your cat's brain, and they can evolve into a generalized seizure. When a cat experiences a focal seizure, it may stare blankly, exhibit off behavior, or drool. Your cat may also lose function of a leg or perform repetitive motions if they're experiencing a focal seizure. The beginning of a focal seizure may be heralded by a sharp cry.
Generalized seizures are what most people think of when they think of seizures. Generalized seizures involve your cat's whole brain. During this type of seizure, your cat loses consciousness and may convulse wildly.
What To Do If You Think Your Cat Is Having A Seizure
When your cat has a seizure, it's only natural to want to help your cat. However, interfering with your cat while it's having a seizure can be harmful to both you and your cat. During a seizure, your cat isn't in control, and it could bite you or scratch you. Only attempt to move your cat during a seizure if it's in danger of hurting itself.
After a seizure, your cat will be disoriented and confused. Some cats may even experience temporary blindness after a seizure. Since there's a chance your cat may not recognize you after an episode, speak gently to your cat to soothe it. You should wait until your cat seems mentally present to pet it.
Seizures are considered a veterinary emergency, especially if your cat has never had one before. If possible, you should try to capture a video of your cat during the seizure. Having a video of your cat's seizure can provide valuable information to your vet for diagnosis purposes.
If your cat is experiencing seizures, make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible for treatment. With treatment, many cats with seizures can go on to live happy lives.
Share