What is the cause for a cat epileptic attack?

There are several things that can cause an epileptic attack. The cat can have poisoned with a rat-poison or insecticide. There are also some products antifleas and antiparasites that can provoke convulsions if they are used badly. To there can have done the cat a wound in the head in a street accident or a bad fall. Also an abnormal level of calcium or of glucose in the blood (diabetes), a disease of the heart or a renal or hepatic insufficiency they can be a symptom of some type of congenital abnormality that cannot treat.

If the assaults repeat during some time, it is possible to diagnose epilepsy to the cat. This disease is much rare in the cats than in the dogs. The gravity, frequency and duration of the assaults can increase or not with the time. The most probable thing is that they are symptoms of a disorder in the own brain, but it is necessary to begin for seeing and to reject if there are other reasons, as a renal disease or an intoxication. If the veterinarian suspects that the animal has a cerebral tumor or another neurological problem, he will send him in order to get other analyses . Until, inside the possible thing, other reasons have been rejected, the treatment is not applied for the epilepsy.

Even the diagnosis of epilepsy is seeming to be alarming to the owner, the cats that suffer one of unknown reason are in the habit of taking an almost normal life, with few complications, providing that it is succeeded by the level of medication adapted.

Q/A My cat of 16 years, Archie, has started doing strange things. Grumble to the walls, eats avidly and always is moving across. Throughout one month, he has had three short attacks: he falls of side, "struggle" with the legs and does not control the micturition. Might have a cerebral tumor?

A cerebral tumor might be the reason of the symptoms that describes me, but there can be other problems. You must take Archie to the veterinarian: with a simple blood test it is possible to know if he has a thyroid disease or of the kidneys, which it is frequent in the old cats and it might be the reason. A neurological problem like a cerebral tumor - is very difficult to diagnose, there would be necessary to do more analysis taking the cat to a specialist. Your veterinarian will study with you the most reasonable possibilities of investigation and treatment for a cat of Archie's age.

Approximately 6 months ago my Persian 6 year-old neutered cat, Pandora, was diagnosed with epilepsy. Now she is taking a tablet, at exact hours, two times a day and I take care that she takes them. However, she continues having a few attacks approximately every 2 weeks, although the rest of the time she is very well and very satisfied. Will the medication help her stay ok?

It is possible that the blood does not absorb sufficient active components of the medicine and, therefore, do not get in necessary quantity to the brain of your cat. Your veterinarian can verify it, doing a blood test to him in the interval between two takings. It might be necessary to change the dose, but up to 10 days approximately the effect will not be obvious. However, there are cases of epilepsy that do not treat completely with the medication and you might discuss with the veterinarian what is consider to be an acceptable number of attacks Also other treatments can be useful, as the acupuncture.

My Persian kitty of 14 weeks, Shula, has started drooling in excess and being sick occasionally. This happens to him always after having eaten, an hour later more or less. He likes his food but it seems that he neither grows or put on weight. I have treated her against the worms and the parasites, but she does not improve ¿Is it a question of normal problems of the growth or I must worry?

It is important that you take Shula to the veterinarian immediately for a complete review. In such a young kitty, these things can be symptoms of a serious congenital anomaly, as a hepatic fault. If you know the problem completely, better for everybody.