What this means
Seizures do not always look the same. A dramatic one: the cat falls on its side, the body stiffens, then the legs jerk and paddle, it chews, drools, may pass urine or stool without control and does not respond to your voice. Milder ones may show only as a brief fixed stare, twitching of the face, chewing movements or odd, unaware behaviour.
After a seizure the cat may be confused for a while, wobbly, walk in circles, hide, seem unable to see, or be very hungry. That does not mean it is over: any seizure shows that something is affecting the brain or the whole body, and only a vet can find out what.
In a kitten, seizures together with an unusually large, domed head, slow growth or an unsteady walk can point to a brain condition present from birth. In an adult cat there are many possible causes, which is why prompt examination is needed. Your vet will want to know what the seizure looked like, how long it lasted, whether it has happened before and whether your cat could have swallowed something or been hurt, so take note of those details.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your cat.
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Fluid building up around the brain
When too much of the fluid around the brain collects, it presses on the brain tissue. In a kitten it can be present from birth, and later it can build up because of another brain disease or an injury.
About the condition: Hydrocephalus -
Brain inflammation, infection or a growth
These irritate or damage brain tissue and can set off seizures. The cat may have seemed changed in behaviour before the first one.
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Something toxic
Some toxic substances act on the nervous system and cause seizures. If your cat could have swallowed or licked something, tell the vet at once.
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A head injury
After a fall or a blow to the head seizures can start straight away or after some time. Cats often hide injuries, so you may not know that it was hurt.
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Metabolic or organ problems
Low blood sugar, liver or kidney disease and other problems inside the body can upset brain function. A vet finds the cause with blood tests.
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Epilepsy with no cause found
Sometimes seizures keep returning and examination finds no other cause. Only a vet can reach that conclusion, after other possibilities have been ruled out.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- What the seizure looked like: falling, paddling, chewing, or only a fixed stare
- How long it lasted and whether it came back
- Whether your cat passed urine or stool without control
- How it behaved before and after: hiding, circling, seeming unable to see
- Whether it could have swallowed something, fallen or been hurt
- Whether you have a video the vet can watch
When to book a routine visit
A cat that has had a seizure needs a vet immediately, even if it has stopped and your cat looks like itself again. Do not wait to see whether it happens again, and handle your cat as little as possible on the way to the clinic.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
Body systems: Nerves and muscles