Any Vets Out There Or Cat-Lovers With Experience?

[DTCwordfan]

Fifteen minutes ago the Princess Royal went into a spasm fit, complete loss of control of her body, her legs all shaking, so too her head. I cuddled her and slowly, after a minute, she came out of it and seems okay now, sitting on the sofa but a tad quiet.

She's a farm cat, about 18 or so and has been in pretty rude health, not overweight, anything but.

Anybody seen this before - is it an epileptic fit or stroke - on the latter her eyes seem stable enough.

Thanks in advance.....

[wolf63]

My previous cat suffered fits like you have described. The vet said it is common with old cats. I had him put to sleep as both of us were very distressed.

[Sqad]

As you know I am not a vetinary but that sounds like epilepsy which may have a serious cause or may be a " one off".
I would monitor the situation and if it has another seizure then take it to the vet, but if it doesn't, then all is well.

[DTCwordfan]

Well, I've just ended up with gravy and butter across my breeks - but they've gone in the wash already and so what....

Thanks for that, a bit scary, as I thought she suddenly was on the way out. Still sitting there quietly and I've just put the heater on in the kitchen and close to her basket - normally I would have it off but she can have it on tonight...

[DTCwordfan]

there was no foaming at the mouth with the fit...just a scared look.

We had epilepsy in the family with one of my grandfathers.

[Buenchico]

My beloved Biscuit (who was sadly killed by a car a fortnight ago) suffered fairly frequent epileptic fits from roughly 18 months to three years old but was then totally free of them for the remaining years of his life. (He was 6y 9m old when he died).

Your description of Princess Royal's symptoms matches those of Biscuit's exactly, so an epileptic fit would be my first thought (especially if she now seems physically normal). Biscuit would always come to me for comforting after he'd had a fit, and then be very quiet for a while, but he'd soon be back to his normal self again.

[DTCwordfan]

Thanks ^ - another reassuring tickle coming up, and that's me!

[woofgang]

I am not sure what is available for cats but my dog had medication for his old age fits...maybe worth talking to the vet

[Prudie]

I had a cat who suffered exactly this although she was much younger. After having 3 episodes in a couple of weeks the vet put her on a course of phenobarbitone tablets which stopped the fits and the dose was gradually reduced to nothing and she never had another seizure again and lived for many years. It may not be that in a cat of yours age plus this was some years ago, may no longer be the correct treatment.

[MartinMillar]

I had an old girl that suffered from this, the vet couldn’t find out what it was but it always happened when she was cold so we bought an electric heater and that on timer it helped somewhat but she would have them once in a while

[DTCwordfan]

thanks all, everything quiet here and she seems fairly calm now - my kitchen isn't exactly large and there's a heater in her area, above her hoodie-basket, pee-tray and food/water bowls - so I'm leaving it on tonight and putting her to bed in there (sometimes she sleeps in front of the fire and no problem as she's pretty clean - and I haven't lit the stove tonight).

[Mamyalynne]

Hope she stays settled and it's just a one off DT x

[DTCwordfan]

So do I, Mamya....she was the Mater's cat and I've inherited her. She loves to sit on the side of the bath when I am in it - strange habits indeed but that's a thing in having a cat.... No doubt, I'll be up in the middle of the night to check that she's okay but so far so good.

Thanks.