How do you comfort a cat having a seizure?
Also, you need to stay calm to help your cat safely through the seizure. Move your cat away from any objects or areas in which it can become injured. Make sure there are no sharp edges nearby that it could cut itself on. Move it away from any steps or stairs that it could fall.
When to take your cat to the vet for a seizure?
If a seizure lasts longer than five to 10 minutes then it’s called “status epilepticus,” and is a medical emergency; you should take your cat for emergency veterinary care immediately. However, you should take your cat to see your vet following any seizure just to get a full checkup and diagnosis.
What happens when a cat has a grand mal seizure?
Grand mal seizures cause the cat to fall on their side and experience muscle convulsions. Grand mal seizures are diagnosed much more frequently than petit mal seizures. Neither petit mal or grand mal seizures will cause your feline to experience any pain. However, they will often be confused and disoriented once the seizure passes.
What kind of seizures does Toby the cat have?
Toby has grand maul seizures (violent convulsions) that have been lasting ~50 seconds with about 3 minutes of disorientation afterwards. My vet said that the longer the duration and the disorientation afterwards and the higher the frequency, the worse the effects.
How long does a status epilepticus seizure last?
This cat will be unaware of surrounding activities. Grand mal seizures usually last five minutes or less. Status epilepticus is the most severe form of seizure. It appears exactly like a grand mal seizure, but it may last for several hours – or as soon as the cat seems to recover, it immediately degenerates back into the seizure.
What do you do if your cat is having a seizure?
To keep your cat as safe as possible during a seizure, make sure there are no objects or furniture nearby that could potentially hurt the animal. If your cat is near the stairs while he is having a seizure, carefully move him out of danger or block the path to the stairs.
What can cause a cat to have a seizure?
The most common cause of a seizure in a cat is toxin exposure. Flea and tick medication, sprays, dips, and shampoos can contain a chemical called pyrethrin that can cause a cat to have a seizure.
What happens to a cat after it has a seizure?
After the seizure (post-ictal), your cat will be disoriented, may show temporary paralysis in one or more legs, seem blind, vomit, or show other behavior changes. These changes are usually short-lived, although it may take several days before your cat seems completely “normal” again.
Why does my cat have seizures?
When exposed to pyrethroids , cats may initially have muscle tremors, stumble, and start seizing. Other chemical exposures may also affect a cat’s nervous system and cause a seizure. Another reason why a cat may have a seizure is due to head trauma.