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The litter tray

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

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Original poster

Little cat had seizures overnight

23 replies

SanFranBear · 09/12/2022 07:37

As the title says, my darling little girlcat who is only 18 months old had two seizures last night. The first was significant with her in convulsions and extremely distressed afterwards. The second was a few hours later and only lasted seconds and whilst she wasn't happy, she wasn't as vocal after although I think she did lose control of her bladder.

I'm obviously taking her straight to the vets this morning as I am so scared - just waiting for them to open so I can get an appointment.

We moved last weekend and it's just been one dreadful thing after another but this is so unexpected and frightening... I just want her to be ok.

I've been Googling (never a good idea) and sounds like there are lots of potential causes and I'm hoping because the second seizure was so much smaller, that she's over the worst but I can't help but think of the worst.

Does anyone have any positive stories about their cats getting past an event like this with no long term effects? DC will be utterly crushed if this turns out to be really serious and her brother clearly knows somethings up as well as he is not being his normal, brutish self 😟

OP posts:

Original poster

SanFranBear · 09/12/2022 08:38

She booked in for 11,15 this morning thank goodness. Hoping there is some good news amongst the absolute shower of shit the last week has been.

OP posts:

Allergictoironing · 09/12/2022 09:22

As you said there can be many causes, some one offs and some long term. If it helps any, DSis's boy developed epilepsy and it was controlled by drops on his food. He would have the occasional little fit, which we would usually only know about because he would be wobbly & disorientated for a few hours after, but he lived for years longer and it was another of his assorted conditions that got him in the end

maximist · 09/12/2022 09:26

My elderly cat started having fits and emptying her anal glands (very smelly!) After various tests we found out that it was actually fleas that were causing it - her previous treatment had stopped working. We changed to Bravecto and all has been well since.

Clarich007 · 09/12/2022 10:00

Oh poor you and little cat. It's very worrying. Must be so stressful too after moving house.
For what it's worth, my friend's 10 year old cat had a seizure out of the blue one day. She had been healthy up to then. Vet could find no cause. She had 3 within a few days.
She is now 18 and ok.
Hope she is ok.

Toddlerteaplease · 09/12/2022 14:52

How did the vets go?

postcardpuffin · 09/12/2022 17:47

How is the little cat, OP?

Original poster

SanFranBear · 09/12/2022 19:27

I am so sorry for not updating... the vet was sort of reassuring but it wasn't my usual one as rhey have covid, so went to their sister surgery.

They don't think it's any toxin or a brain tumour as clinically, she looks really healthy and well. Because she's a little feisty and drew a fair bit of blood when he was simply examining her, I've got to take her back on Tuesday for a blood test so I can sedate her slightly before we go in. He thinks it might be a metabolic issue as she's really young and fits in cats of her age are vanishingly rare, apparently!

If its nothing shows in her blood, there is a liver issue which is a birth defect but he's only seen that twice in his career - and he was the head of the surgery so hopefully it's not that as it could involve much more intervention.

I'm nervous about sleeping tonight but she's snuggled up with her brother for now so hopefully she'll have a calm night.

Here's my gorgeous girl, having a snooze on me earlier!

OP posts:

Original poster

SanFranBear · 09/12/2022 19:31

Thank you also for your stories of hope... she's been so fine all day I'd never have known anything was wrong unless I'd witnessed it!

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Lablover678 · 09/12/2022 19:35

I am so sorry, it is horrible when it happens. It happened to my elderly boy: at about 17 years old, he started having seizures - having never had any before. Fully checked out but no underlying cause bring found, he was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy (and it turned out it was triggered by sounds like crinkling paper or plastic).

With some management of his surroundings/noise levels, he lived another 5 peaceful years (dying of old age/kidney stuff) with about one seizure every year or two. No medication was needed, just some tubes of phenobarbitol to stop the seizure asap.

I know your cat is much younger but I hope that gives you some hope!

postcardpuffin · 09/12/2022 21:11

Aw a tortie! ❤️ She’s beautiful, OP!

maranella · 09/12/2022 21:15

She's gorgeous. I do hope she's okay OP

Original poster

SanFranBear · 09/12/2022 21:49

Thank you for all your kindness... she really is the sweetest little thing! Fierce as a lion with strangers but the most affectionate dot to me and my DC! She joined our family as a little surprise and I can't imagine life without her now...

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postcardpuffin · 12/12/2022 01:33

She’s gorgeous, OP! How is she now?

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 12/12/2022 14:48

How is your tortie today?

jaykayy · 12/12/2022 15:03

My little girl had two seizures when she was about 10. Vet found no issues. She lived to 22.

It is the most horrific thing to see. Hope yours is ok now.

JauntyJollyfish · 12/12/2022 15:08

I don't know if you get any further with this at your vets but I do have a reassuring story! Our cat had a series of seizures. Initially she was diagnosed with epilepsy (which is apparently rare in cats) and given anti-seizure meds for life. A few weeks later a blood test showed signs of encephalitis which can trigger epilepsy. She was put on an experimental treatment of steroids and has done great ever since - never had another seizure. A year later the vet has decided to trial her off the anti-seizure meds - a month in and so far, so good!

I hope you get a happy outcome!

Seroi · 12/12/2022 15:11

If it does turn out to be the liver issue (I'm assuming portosystemic shunt) let me know if you'd like to chat. My little cat had this and he's perfectly healthy now after some fairly intensive surgery.

Original poster

SanFranBear · 13/12/2022 14:26

Thank you everyone for checking in. She has been absolutely fine ever since - if I'd not been there, I would never have known anything had happened. She's been eating normally and has slept like a baby, tucked up beside me every night.

Had her in for her blood test this morning and despite the mild sedation before she went in, she was still too fiery for them to take it. So they kept her in for a couple of hours to let her calm down and top up the meds and so they finally got a sample so heres hoping something gets found.

You're right, Seroi - that's the condition that the vet proposed although did say it was incredibly rare. I'm so glad your boy has recovered so well but do worry about the surgery etc as it did sound very invasive. Hopefully it's something metabolic and the blood test will show it.

She's a little grumpy now she's home and her brother is annoying her (as she no doubt smells a little off!)... she's giving as good as she gets but have made her a little snuggly spot beside me and my work laptop so she can stay up high, get some rest and avoid him!

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ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 13/12/2022 21:37

I'm a cat sitter and one of my clients was born with a liver issue. He's about 18 months old now, and doing really well.

She's a proper little tortie with tortitude!

VittysCardigan · 13/12/2022 21:41

She is a proper beauty! Glad she is recovering. I had a tortie years ago who sadly decided she would rather live in a house up the road, (no kids there) but we all know cats make their own decisions.

justcallmebozo · 13/12/2022 23:19

Not sure if it's the same as with cats, but i used to look after a dog who had a seizure, just a one-off and never happened again. That was about 8 years ago. Vet said at the time that a lot of owners never know their pet has had a fit as it often happens at night, leaves no signs and never happens again.

PammieDooveOrangeJoof · 13/12/2022 23:21

she didn’t overheat did she? My cat had something similar to a seizure when she was lying with her head too close to the radiator.

pinksherbert · 02/12/2024 22:50

Hey, I know this post is old but did you ever get to the bottom of what caused the seizure? How is she doing now?

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