Cat seizures are a common cause of emergency veterinary care. In this article, we will explore the causes and treatment of seizures in Ragdoll Cats.
What Causes Ragdoll Cat Seizures?
There is no definitive answer to this question. However, a variety of factors can contribute to a seizure in a Ragdoll Cat, these may include a metabolic disturbance such as low calcium or low sodium, head trauma, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), severe fever, or toxin ingestion.
Repeated seizures can indicate an illness such as epilepsy or another serious condition such as a brain tumor. Epileptic seizures are more common in dogs than in cats, and occur in less than 3% of the pet population. Infectious diseases such as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), toxoplasmosis, feline leukemia (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and cryptococcosis can also cause seizures in cats.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Cat Seizures?
Seizures in cats are not always as harmful as they appear. If your cat experiences any unusual behavior, consult your veterinarian immediately. These episodes will likely include:
- A loss of consciousness or derangement
- Contractions of the body
- Changes in awareness
- Involuntary urination or defecation
- Behavior changes.
Cat seizures have three distinct stages. They are:
The Pre-Ictal Phase
During this phase, your cat may appear nervous, seek you out, hide, become restless, shake or salivate. Your cat may experience this from a few seconds to multiple hours so you need to keep a watch on them.
The Ictal Phase
This is the actual seizure and can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. You will see all their muscles contract and you may see the cat fall and appear paralyzed through shaking. This could be quite traumatic for a pet owner to see. They will likely urinate/defecate/salivate.
The Post-Ictal Phase
The post-ictal phase will likely include your cat being confused and disoriented. They may pace, be restless and may even experience temporary blindness.
Cats do not swallow their tongues so there is no need to put your fingers in their mouth. In fact, during cat seizures avoid putting your fingers anywhere near their mouth.
If you notice any signs of a seizure, be sure to call your veterinarian. They will be able to diagnose the cause and treat your cat accordingly.
How Are Seizures in Ragdoll Cats Treated?
There are several factors that can cause a cat to have a seizure, so it is important to speak with your veterinarian and provide them with as much information about the seizure or seizures as possible. This includes when they began, what your cat was doing prior to them happening, and any other pertinent information.
Your veterinarian may perform blood tests to determine if your cat has ingested any poison, and they may also give your cat anti-convulsion therapy to help alleviate the seizures.
Seizures are a common symptom of neurologic disease in cats, and most cases aren’t diagnosed until after multiple and/or severe seizures. Treatment for seizures usually begins once the cat has had multiple and/or severe seizures. A single seizure may not require any treatment.
If your Ragdoll cat shows signs of a seizure, make sure you call your veterinarian immediately. Not all cat seizures are dangerous, and most are not life-threatening. In fact, most cats that experience seizures will not even make it to the emergency room.
Find out more about health issues in Ragdoll Cats