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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Poor cat having partial seizures

30 replies

thrumylookingglass · 21/07/2019 13:08

One of my dear cats has starting suffering from partial seizures. Nothing dramatic and only last a couple of mins. Several vet visits later, including a period of horrendous medication side effects, there is nothing else on offer. Does anyone have any ideas on home remedies that could help?

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 21/07/2019 13:56

Do they know what's causing it?

Original poster
thrumylookingglass · 21/07/2019 14:33

Not really. Full range of tests done and all normal . Kept her in for 24hrs but (of course) she didn’t have any symptoms. Prescribed phenobarbital but she suffered horrendous side effects nor was it clear they helped. Have now been asked to observe and monitor frequency, severity etc to see if there is any pattern, but she’s so miserable and I just feel so helpless.

OP posts:
Original poster
thrumylookingglass · 29/07/2019 21:23

The seizures got more frequent and although not dramatic could be dangerous! Now on diazepam and the side effects are awful. Raging hunger ... will eat everything in sight! Can’t keep upright ... laminate flooring means she swims throughout the house. Whilst quite funny it’s heartbreaking watching her. I have another 2 weeks of this and my nerves are in shreds! Does anyone know if this will get better?

OP posts:
MontStMichel · 31/07/2019 20:42

I don't know about cats, but there are no home remedies for people! (Possibly cannabis, but that is illegal)

Original poster
thrumylookingglass · 31/07/2019 21:46

Back at the vets on Friday. She’s a little better today and seizures have stopped, but it’s likely that it’s a brain tumour, and short of aggressive chemotherapy & radiotherapy, keeping seizures under control is the best approach. She’s only 5 and came into my life as a stray so want to do the best for her ... heartbroken Sad. Sharing a photo

Poor cat having partial seizures
OP posts:
Stilllivinginazoo · 31/07/2019 21:51

Oh she's adorable!I'm so sorry.i have no answers I just wanted to wish you both luck for Friday🍀🍀🍀🍀 and keep us posted.xx

Original poster
thrumylookingglass · 31/07/2019 22:01

Thank you!

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MontStMichel · 31/07/2019 22:29

I don’t really have much experience of diazepam except as an emergency medicine; but they use clobazam (the same drug family) on people - generally they develop tolerance to it in a few weeks, and the drowsiness gets less!

DD was given diazepam once as a tablet abroad - she was as high as a kite! She called it the “happy pill”! Clearly does not that for your cat!

Original poster
thrumylookingglass · 31/07/2019 22:47

As diazepam is a drug for humans I had to sign a form! Have been feeling it might be better to take it myself to calm down Grin. The vet added the diazepam to the phenobarbital to break the cycle if seizures and it seems to be working, but Christ!! It’s hard watching her try to walk, eat when she’s in such a zombie state. Had to fish her out of her litter tray yesterday because she couldn’t get out herself. Fingers crossed she’ll become more tolerant (addicted?)

OP posts:
anon812 · 31/07/2019 23:09

She is gorgeous ❤️ wishing her a speedy recovery xx

Original poster
thrumylookingglass · 01/08/2019 19:59

Came home tonight and had to clean her undercarriage. Poo and pee! She obviously just sits in it because she can’t move. Cats are usually so clean it’s so sad. Chilling out in her bed .., glad she doesn’t know about the vet tomorrow Confused

Poor cat having partial seizures
OP posts:
anon812 · 01/08/2019 22:42

Poor baby, I hope she gets better soon x

ithinkiammelting · 01/08/2019 22:58

Oh bless her. I don't know whether it might be relevant, but my cat has seizures, she sits and quivers strangely (although doesn't fall over) and the vet said that it was probably brain damage from contracting toxocara felis when she was a kitten. They have now diagnosed epilepsy. We got her as a rescue so we don't know her early history though. She seems unaware of it and she doesn't appear distressed - after a while she comes round and wonders where she is, then she is ok again.

Hope the vets can come up with a plan for your lovely cat and that treatment can keep things under control.

Alislia17 · 02/08/2019 04:43

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Mia184 · 02/08/2019 07:12

OP, you mention that she had no seizures when she spent 24 hours at the vet. Did you let her stay somewhere else for a day to see whether she had seizures there?

Original poster
thrumylookingglass · 02/08/2019 07:29

Mia in the beginning the seizures were quite infrequent but also quite subtle (falling to one side then going stiff and unaware) so at the vets she may not have had one or they may not have noticed.

@ithinkiammelting vet thinks it’s some kind of brain disorder as it’s rare for cats to have straight up epilepsy. As she was a stray I don’t have any history either so she could have contracted something as a kitten.

OP posts:
Purplecatshopaholic · 02/08/2019 07:36

Aw I am so sorry. Is it epilepsy for sure, so you know? My boy cat has that (rare in cats I agree) and was on phenoleptil which really helped. They have apparently stopped making it so he is now on a epifen (can’t spell) solution which is a liquid. It’s not as good though.

Original poster
thrumylookingglass · 02/08/2019 07:53

purple she is on epifen as well. Vet says she might need to be on this for the rest of her life. Does your boy cat have any side effects?

OP posts:
MontStMichel · 02/08/2019 08:17

OP, you mention that she had no seizures when she spent 24 hours at the vet

It’s well known that when people have the EEG wires put on, they have far less seizures! It’s as if the heightened awareness from being under some kind of supervision stops the seizures! Starvation also stops seizures (or at least not eating for 24 hours or more), but unfortunately that is not a long term solution!

Purplecatshopaholic · 02/08/2019 10:19

Thrumy, he has no side effects , I just don’t feel the liquid is as effective as the pills were. That said, he is a very happy cat - purring beside me now - he doesn’t know he is ill after all

Original poster
thrumylookingglass · 02/08/2019 16:58

Vet visit ok. They’ve halved the dosage of diazepam to try and take the edge off the wobbliness and lethargy. Fingers crossed this works and the epiphen on it’s own will do the trick.
purple thanks for the reassurance Flowers I just want my happy purry girl back

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Original poster
thrumylookingglass · 06/08/2019 20:12

Not sure there has been much progress this. Still lethargic and a bit wobbly but taking a little more interest in toys and her bestie who has been so sweet to her by toning down his usual boisterous play. Can’t resist a photo Grin

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Original poster
thrumylookingglass · 08/08/2019 21:28

FFS!! Came home tonight to find black boy cat limping and scratched. Obviously been in a fight. Looks like it will be a trip for both cats to the vet tomorrow. 🙀

OP posts:
anon812 · 09/08/2019 00:21

Oh no hope they are ok :(
I have a Siamese boy and he often gets in fights especially at night, I started keeping him in at night to avoid but he still managed it!
Hope the limp isn't serious x

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 10/08/2019 10:47

How are they both doing?

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