Witnessing your cat have a seizure is terrifying. The cat may fall over, paddle their legs, lose consciousness, drool, and lose bladder/bowel control. While seizures look dramatic, understanding what to do (and what NOT to do) can keep both you and your cat safe.
Table of Contents
What Happens During a Seizure
- Pre-ictal (aura): Restlessness, hiding, meowing, seeking owner -- seconds to hours before seizure
- Ictal (seizure): Falling, rigid limbs, paddling, chomping jaw, drooling, loss of consciousness -- typically 30 seconds to 2 minutes
- Post-ictal: Confusion, disorientation, temporary blindness, ravenous hunger, hiding -- minutes to hours after seizure
What to Do During a Seizure
- Stay calm
- Do NOT put your hand near the cat's mouth (they can bite involuntarily)
- Clear the area of objects that could injure the cat
- Dim lights and reduce noise
- Time the seizure (important for the vet)
- Do NOT restrain the cat
- If seizure lasts more than 5 minutes: EMERGENCY -- status epilepticus can be fatal
Causes of Cat Seizures
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Intracranial (brain) | Brain tumor, encephalitis, FIP (neurological), trauma, idiopathic epilepsy |
| Extracranial (outside brain) | Toxin exposure, liver disease (hepatic encephalopathy), kidney failure (uremia), low blood sugar, electrolyte imbalance |
Diagnosis
- Blood work: Rule out metabolic causes (kidney, liver, glucose, calcium)
- Blood pressure: Severe hypertension can cause seizures
- MRI: Gold standard for brain imaging (requires referral to specialty center)
- CSF analysis: Cerebrospinal fluid tap to check for infection/inflammation
- Idiopathic epilepsy: Diagnosis of exclusion when all tests are normal (less common in cats than dogs)
Treatment
- Phenobarbital: Most commonly used anti-seizure medication in cats. Oral twice daily. Requires liver monitoring.
- Levetiracetam (Keppra): Newer option with fewer side effects. Often preferred for cats with liver disease.
- Diazepam (Valium): Emergency seizure control (can be given rectally at home for cluster seizures -- vet will instruct)
- Treat underlying cause: If seizures are from a treatable condition (toxin, metabolic disease)
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my cat need anti-seizure medication forever?
If the underlying cause is treatable (toxin exposure, metabolic imbalance), seizures may resolve with treatment and medication can be discontinued. For idiopathic epilepsy or brain tumors, lifelong medication is typically needed. Never stop anti-seizure medication abruptly -- this can trigger severe rebound seizures. Any dose changes must be gradual under veterinary supervision. Many epileptic cats live normal quality lives on well-managed medication.
