Changes in frequency - epilepsy in cats

[Schutzengel]

Has anyone got a cat which suffers from epilepsy, and have they noticed any changes in frequency of seizures with the phases of the moon. My 3yr old tom cat is on permanent medication, which normally works well. The seizures only occur during sleep, and he can have several (up to 4 nights) with no seizures or an occasional minor one, but last night he had 4 at 2 am, and 3 more at 5.30 am, in the full moon phase. This also happened a month ago at the time of the full moon. I am curious to know if the moon affects epilepsy in the way it affects the tides. Any comments would be appreciated

[Noweia]

There's never been any proof, but I wouldn't be surprised if one day someone did find a link there.

My mother works night shifts as a nurse in a local hospital, in a ward that takes in cases from A&E - and she says things are always worse during the full moon.

[coccinelle]

That's why mental people were called loonies. lune = moon
There is more activity in these hospitals during the full moon apparently.

[wolf63]

I suffer from Bipolar Disorder and notice some changes at certain moon stages and air pressures. I agree with the Loonies link - but whether this is proven by medical study who knows.

I hope yout tom cat is okay after his bad night. My old cat had two fits during his last days and we were both pretty traumatised by them.

[Schutzengel]

Thanks to Noweia and Cocinelle for your answers, there seems to be a lot of experience of this kind of events amongst the general public. Perhaps one day a medical link will be proved, and some additional precautions could be recommended.
FAO Wolf.
So sorry to hear of your problem with bipolar disorder, it does disrupt your life. I hope you are coping with it OK. I shall keep you in my thoughts. You mentioned how traumatic it was when your old cat had a couple of seizures in the last days. I sympathise. It's very painful watching your cat suffer, and feeling so helpless. On a brighter note, do you still have any cats. If so, how many, how old are they, what colours, and what are their names. Thank you for your answer.

[Schutzengel]

Hi Wolf,
Sorry I forgot to answer your question as to how Frankie is today. He seems a bit tired. But normally he's the usual type of hooligan, full of beans, and demanding lots of attention, and playing in the garden with the two kittens from next door. He's a very large ginger and cream cat, and absolutely gorgeous. I was also wondering if anyone had any idea of the life expectancy for a cat with epilepsy.
Good to converse with you. Cheers.

[wolf63]

My wee monster is called Frankie too. He is a black and white 3 year old. I also have his sister Princess Merlin who is a long haired cat with paws like boxing gloves. Frankie is usually showing the war wounds from the boxing gloves on his white bits on his face. He goads his sister and she wallops him. :-)

My George was a teenager when I adopted him so was about 18 when he took his first fit. He was blind by this time and the first fit really freaked him out. He was clinging to me for hours. I thought that, given his age and lack of sight the vet would put him to sleep - but they didn't seem to appreciate how little quality of life left. A couple of days later it happened again and I saw another vet - he was lovely and agreed to put him to sleep. The poor wee thing was miserable as hell, blind and senile.

I am sure that Mr Google will help you find some info about epilepsy. Try the PDSA site - they used to have an "Ask the Vet" section.

[Schutzengel]

Thank you Wolf,
Your cats sound lovely, even if Princess Merlin is a bit of a bully to Frankie. And thanks for pointing me in a couple of new directions in my search for answers. I'll let you know how we go on.

[corylus]

I have a cat who developed epilepsy, he was a stray that we took in, had to trap him to get wounds on him treated by the vet. He was OK for several months then started fitting. Vet put him on medication that controlled the fits, but he was still having one or two a day. His recovery from the fits was within seconds. He injured himself in August this year in a fit, fell off kichen units and dislocated his hip! After treatment at vet (�����) he recovered and remained on medication, he hasn't had a fit since then! He was hanging round here for about 6 years before he moved in, I can't say that I have ever noticed any patterns of behaviour related to phases of the moon.

He's a lovely, soppy ginger cat, hope your cat goes on OK.

[Schutzengel]

Corylus,
Thank you for your answer. I'm pleased your cat is doing so well. My Frankie was also given a home with us, after being dumped by his previous owners. They moved house and left him behind, probably due to the cost of medication, which as you will know is a lifelong commitment. You say your cat is a lovely, soppy, ginger cat. What is it with ginger cats, all the ones I've known are soppy, cuddly cats, especially my Frankie. At the moment he's trying to help me to type this message, which is making it a bit difficult. This is the second time of trying, thanks to him. Thanks again for your reply.

[ytrewq]

Our dog has epilepsy and is almost 6 months fit free hey! Was talking to another epileptic dog owner acouple of weeks ago and their dog only has fits on a full moon like your cat.

[smudge]

Hi Schutzengal - I can't say I noticed our Timmy's epileptic
seizures changing around the full moon - although I do think it can change some people's moods - so could be true of animals too?

Just a memo of your other thread: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nat ure/Question648711.html

[madboutcats]

Little update on sam for you schutzengel, he's a ladies man, he might not like being picked up but oh my does he enjoy being made a fuss of. Hes in most days now, but chooses to go out at night, the other day hes lounging on the sofa when my two neices and my great neice came round to see my mum, i expected him to scarper as they were new faces to him, but no hes lapping up all the extra strokes, and hes even been sitting on mums knee, and has stolen her seat, so thats another ginger cat that is a total softy. Give your frankie a big hug from me.

[corylus]

our ex-next door neighbours' elderly cat came hanging round here years ago and eventually she moved in, when they left they never even bothered to come round and ask us to look after her or to thank us for taking her in. (They lived on the farm next door and had about 10 cats) We kept her until she died of a stroke.

[Schutzengel]

Thanks to everyone for some excellent answers.
A special thank you to Madboutcats for the update on Sam, it looks as if he's dropped the right way up on his 4 paws. Lucky lad. Give him a cuddle and a few extra strokes from me and Frankie. Frankie says thanks very much for the big hug.