Pet Owners: Cat Seizures??

[Hand of Evil]

I would say it was a reaction to something in the bag, I have a cat Nip Fluffy that foams and reacts baddy to soap and cleaners.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

And if you don't want kitty to drink out of the toilet, close the lid. Granted you'll have to remember to open it before use.... but that's better than the cat getting ahold of some chemical from the cleaner. I have a cat who likes to sit on the edge of the seat but, fortunately, doesn't like to drink out of it. Probably because any caught get punished quickly and this particular cat doesn't like water.....

 

[king_ghidorah]

I had a cat who had multiple seizure-like incidents, and it was darned near impossible for the vet to diagnose after the seizure ended (in my case, it turned out the incidents weren't seizures but odd cardiopulmonary incidents mimicking seizures, and that took a long time to uncover). A visit to the vet will be worthwhile if only to give you some peace of mind, but be aware that they may not be able to tell you anything.

 

[Angcuru]

Aw... cats rule. Everyone should have a cat. Heck, having a cat should be a prerequisite for voting, since everyone would be so happy and calm from cat-initiated glee, that they might become resistant to propaganda and think before voting.

I've seen cats do that sort of thing before. One time at work I was sanding some floors and the homeowner's awesome cat pranced up and started running around the random orbital sander in a circle for a while. Then he fell over, seizured for about five seconds, wiped his mouth on my boss/dad, and then walked away. Been fine ever since.

 

[Izerath]

Kitty syndromes.....

Well, all the advice is sound - be careful and conscious, but not to worry - your kitty doesn't have a terminal disease.

Straight from my vet - "If it's poisonous for you it is poisonous for them. Would you drink 2000 flushes water knowing it contained bleach??"

Answer: Close the lid, close the door or don't use chemicals. It's also a sign that your cat likes cold water. Throw some ice cubes into the water bowl twice a day and she'll go to her bowl instead of the toilet.

As for seizures: Cats rely on 3 things for balance: eyes, ears and whiskers. Cat vision is movement-based - that's why kitties respond to fast movement and not things moving slowly or standing still. Ears are the main equilibium tool in both humans and cats, while whiskers add to sensory acuity.

Now blindfold yourself, spin around 10 times really fast, then pull of the blindfold and try to walk. Notice the room spinning wildly? Now imagine your vision is like a cat's and based on MOVEMENT. You'd likely puke and get really scared. Either way its not fun for you or your cat....add to that the mismatched info coming from your ears (which are whacked out as well) and the whiskers (which tell you everything is fine) and wham! kitty seizure. So avoid the "spin the kitty games" and she'll be just fine.

 

[Algolei]

Now blindfold yourself, spin around 10 times really fast, then pull of the blindfold and try to walk. Notice the room spinning wildly? Now imagine your vision is like a cat's and based on MOVEMENT. You'd likely puke and get really scared. Either way its not fun for you or your cat....add to that the mismatched info coming from your ears (which are whacked out as well) and the whiskers (which tell you everything is fine) and wham! kitty seizure. So avoid the "spin the kitty games" and she'll be just fine.

Exactly!

Exactly.

Except for the "not fun for you" part. I'm sure we've all paid good money for that experience.

Apart from that, I agree completely.

--Not a doctor though.

 

[Henry]

Best Advice: If this is a first seizure, take her to the vet. Better safe than sorry. Likely, the vet will tell you wait until there is another seizure, to make sure this is not an externally caused event. If it is chronic seizuring, the vet will likely put her on a LOOOOW level of phenobarbitol or other anti-seizure medication. Even if it is epilepsy, like anyone else she can live a normal life.

I have a 7-year-old poodle that developed epileptic seizures, and he's on a daily barbitol regimen, and he has not had a seizure in over a year (thank God). His seizure's are triggered by excitement and happiness; if he's too happy, he starts spazzing and flailing and not responding. He's his normal, sycophantic, cringing self ever since the medication, though.

 

[Ferret]

•I have seen cats that have had seizure-like episodes after some extremely excitatory event. Basically a form of epilepsy that is triggered by a hyper-excitable state, kinda like the feline equivalent of a 'panic attack' that leads to a seizure.

That sound like it, I've never seen it it happen but that sounds like it. Did you say you lived in a flat/appartment? It might help if the cat ate some grass....

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Well, a few days after the scariness, Shark is doing very well. She's completely normal--the same cat she's always been...

So, though I know that taking her to the vet wouldn't be a bad idea, I'm going to hold off. Through a bunch of research and a discussion with a neurologist at my college, it seems that Shark's in no danger of hurting herself because cats don't swallow their own tounges... the only way that the seizure could actually harm her is if she were to seize near something pointy.

However, if it ever happens again-- Shark will be taken instantly to the vet... even if I have to call the kitty ambulance, no question.

I really apprecaite everyone's comments and support... I started to hang out on these message boards because I like to game... and I stayed because the people are so helpful, supportive, and nice...

In short, my kitty is doing fine and ENworld is the coolest!

 

[Darkness]

the only way that the seizure could actually harm her is if she were to seize near something pointy.

Or sitting in a high place (e.g., table). One of my old cats had a seizure on a table once, but I was nearby and made sure he didn't fall and hurt himself.
He was epileptic, BTW. Argh. Kitty seizures aren't fun to watch...