Anyone ever had a cat with seizures?

[Critters2]

My Shamu had a seizure the day before yesterday. First one ever. I called the vet and yesterday they did a complete blood work up. Got the results today. Everything was normal. The vet said we could do an MRI or PET scan, but that seems awful stressful for him after just one seizure. If he has more, I might do this. The vet said she could prescribe phenobarbitol if I wanted, but, again after one seizure I don't think I will quite yet.

So, my question is simply this: Have any of you had cats who had seizures? And a couple of follow-ups--Did you find a cause, and what was it? Do you think there's something more I should be doing?

Thanks for any help!

[CountAllVotes]

1. yes I did have a cat that had seizures

She began having them when she was about 1-1/2 years of age.

I took her to the vet and phenobarbital was prescribed for her.

I gave her this for some time and then decided to give it a break for awhile.

She had no seizures for quite a few months it seemed.

However, the seizures began again fiercely.

The phenobarbital did no good any longer.

It got so bad she was having one right after the next and would pee all over the floor and foam at the mouth (gran mal seizures these are called).

I had to have her put down not long after it got to be this bad. The cat was obviously very ill and nothing could be done to stop the seizures.

Cause was said to be feline epilepsy OR it could have been abuse/trauma to her head that had occurred when she was a kitten before I got her.

The guy I got her from was helping to raise this 8 year old boy and I know he did something to her. What exactly I don't know but said kid broke into the place next door to where I was living at that time and grabbed a kitten owned by my neighbors at that time and broke its neck and tossed it in the dumpster.

I called animal control, the humane society, etc. Seems the kid walked away without much of anything being done to him.

The vet that put my poor cat down thought it could have been the kid that caused the root of the problem - a brain injury in other words or it could have been a severe case of feline epilepsy or even brain cancer I was told. I never knew to be honest with you.

Sad as hell really.

I am no expert on feline epilepsy but I sure hope to never see it again in my lifetime. :(

Best of luck. :hug:

CountAllVotes

[Critters2]

2. Thanks, CAV. Shamu has some problems with his back legs--

they're kind of misshapen and weak. The doctor thinks this is from some traumatic injury from before he lived with me. NO idea what happened. He was found wandering along a highway and taken to the Humane Society when he was a kitten. I suppose it's possible that this is also from a long ago trauma.

So far, it's one seizure. His head kept twtching to one side, his whole body went stiff, his paws kind of paddled in the air, and he lost control of his bowels. It seemed like it lasted several minutes. Scary as hell. I'll just hope it doesn't happen again....and deal with it if it does.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sorry to hear of your cat's difficult life. Thanks for being so good to her. :hug:

[CountAllVotes]

3. that sounds very bad

My cat initially did not lose control of her bladder. This was towards the end.

In the case of your cat, I would advise you to keep a close eye on him.

If he starts having a lot of seizures, my advice to you would be to have him put down.

It is very difficult for the cat too.

Thanks for your kind words and I do hope that this was an isolated incident.

Perhaps he was poisoned? That could cause seizures I believe. It is difficult to know being you found him. *sigh*

Again, best of luck. :hug: back

[Warpy]

4. Grand mal seizures in cats are a very grave sign

and are usually associated with brain tumor, stroke (yes, cats get them), and some infections.

If you can keep your buddy seizure free on phenobarb, then do so. Just be aware that they'll return at some point and be uncontrollable and you'll have to say goodbye.