Seizures are signs of abnormal functioning in the brain, and they can be caused by many diseases. There are many different reasons why a cat seizure may occur; sometimes, it may be because of a problem somewhere in the nervous system, including epileptic seizures that are caused by an abnormality in the brain. Other times, it may be related to a problem somewhere else in the body.

What Do Seizures in Cats Look Like?

Cat seizure symptoms may change as they go through different stages of a seizure. The symptoms will also depend on the type of seizure that they're having, whether they're generalised (grand mal seizures) or partial seizures.

The three main stages seen in generalised seizures are known as:

• Pre-ictal (beginning of the seizure) phase
• Ictal (main seizure) phase
• Post-ictal (end of the seizure) phase.

The seizure itself involves loss of consciousness and convulsions affecting the entire body. It may look like your cat is chewing or foaming at the mouth; they may cry out, have violent leg movements, and during the seizure, your cat may experience loss of bowel and bladder control.

Partial seizures can present in different ways and often as strange behaviour. Your cat may look like they're trying to catch imaginary flies, may growl, twitch, be unusually aggressive, floor lick or tail chase. In a partial seizure, the cat may be unaware of their surroundings, so they may seem confused and anxious. In some cases, partial seizures may go on to develop into a generalised seizure.

Why Do Cats Get Seizures?

There are several explanations for what causes seizures in cats and different types of seizures. Increased risk of seizures is associated with some conditions seen in cats, including:

• Liver or kidney disease.
• Changes in your cats' blood pressure.
• Infectious disease.
• Low blood sugar.
• Metabolic diseases.
• Congenital or inherited diseases.

Seizures caused by an abnormality in the brain are classified into primary and secondary epilepsy.

Primary epilepsy is also known as idiopathic epilepsy and refers to conditions that are a primary brain problem rather than caused by other conditions. "Idiopathic" means that the cause is often unknown. Primary epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in young adult cats.

Secondary epilepsy means that the seizures are caused by a disease that's not a primary brain problem but is secondarily affecting the brain to cause seizures. Examples of causes of secondary epilepsy include brain tumours, inflammation of the brain, stroke and head trauma. In rare cases, toxins or exposure to certain medications can also trigger seizures.

What Should I Do if My Cat Has A Seizure?

If your cat has had a seizure for the first time, it's better for them to recover quietly at home. You should let your vet know after the seizure has stopped. They may want to see your cat for a check-up and routine blood tests to make sure there are no changes or anything of concern.

However, if you see your cat having a seizure for more than five minutes or it isn't recovering fully between seizures (known as status epilepticus), then it's a medical emergency. You should take your cat to a vet immediately for emergency care. Prolonged seizure activity may cause brain damage and long-lasting adverse effects.

If you see a cat epileptic seizure, then you should make sure they're in a safe place away from any hazards but don't try to touch your cat or do anything else as you might get hurt. It's important to remember that your cat isn't conscious during a seizure, so they're not upset or in pain while it happens.

Seizures in Cats: Treatment and Medication

The treatment that your cat receives will be specific to the individual animal. Once you have let your vet know that your cat has had a seizure, they'll make a plan for what to do next. If there's a known cause for the seizure, such as a head injury or brain tumour, the treatment may focus on that rather than the seizure itself. If there's no obvious cause for the seizure, your vet may wait to see whether your cat has another before starting treatment.

Many cats do not go on to have a second seizure, and so further treatment may be unnecessary. If another seizure occurs, your vet will treat it with anti-seizure medication.

Some medications that are used to treat seizures in people are toxic to cats or are not as effective, so it's important only to use the medication offered by your vet. Common treatments that are tried first are phenobarbitone, diazepam, gabapentin, or levetiracetam.

Mild side effects are common when starting treatment, but in some cases, the side effects from the medication can be worse than the original seizures. If this is the case, your vet may advise you to try a different medication. Your vet will likely need to perform regular blood tests to check that the medication is at the correct dose and that your cat's body is coping with the treatment.

Many cats respond well to treatment, and the frequency and severity of seizures will reduce, if not stop altogether. However, there are occasions in which cats do not respond to treatment and have what's known as refractory epilepsy. Most cats will remain on treatment for life; this is not a concern if there are no significant side effects. You can discuss any concerns or questions about the treatment options with your vet.

If your cat has uncontrolled epilepsy, then it's sensible to keep them indoors rather than let them roam. They could end up in a dangerous situation if they had a seizure when out and about.

How Long Can A Cat Live With Seizures?

Cats that have seizures can live a full and relatively normal life with treatment. This will depend to some extent on the primary reason for the seizures. The outlook for cat seizures as a result of an underlying disease may be good, and if the disease is treated successfully, the seizures may stop.

In other cats, with no apparent cause, the seizures may get less frequent or less severe with appropriate symptom management.

Sadly, for some cats, it may not be possible to get the seizures under control, and there might be a point at which you will have to discuss with your vet about when to euthanise a cat with seizures.

Seeing your cat have seizures can be scary and distressing, but it's important to remember that with the right care and treatment, many cats can continue to live full, happy lives.

Prompt veterinary attention and appropriate treatment can often reduce the frequency and severity of seizures, improving your cat's quality of life. Although some cats may have ongoing issues with seizures, especially when caused by underlying conditions, supportive care and medication can make a significant difference.

If you're worried about seizures or anti-epileptic treatment, contact your vet for advice. 

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.