When to euthanise a cat suffering seizures

Why cats have seizures

There are a range of reasons why cats may experience seizures. Vets tend to group seizures in cats into the categories of intracranial (an issue within the skull causing the seizures) and extracranial (anything else causing seizures).

Intracranial seizures have causes including brain parasites like toxoplasmosis, brain infections, brain tumours, brain trauma and brain inflammation.

Extracranial seizures have causes including epilepsy, high blood pressure, kidney or liver disease, heatstroke, infectious disease, and exposure to products or toxins or ingestion of medicines not designed for cats.

What seizures look like in cats

It’s not always obvious when a cat is having a seizure. Whilst we may expect to see convulsions, there may be more subtle signs that a cat is having a seizure.

Generalised seizures

‘Generalised’ or ‘Grand Mal’ seizures have signs that include:

• Convulsions
• Rigid limbs
• Paddling of limbs
• Loss of consciousness
• Loss of bowel or urinary control
• Out-of-the-ordinary vocalisation

Generalised seizures can last up to two minutes, and incidents can occur individually or in clusters. If your cat is having these seizures, it’s important to book in an appointment with your vet for a full health assessment.

Absence seizures or partial seizures

Absence seizures (‘petit mal’ seizures) are temporary episodes where your cat zones out or loses awareness. They may stare into space, not respond to stimuli, and have subtle blinking, flickering of their eyes or twitching of muscles. After an episode, the cat may return to normal, which is why it may be difficult to even know a seizure has occurred.

Absence seizures can result from metabolic issues, toxins or neurological conditions.

Partial (Focal) Seizures

Partial seizures affect a specific part of the brain. They lead to localised symptoms, such as:

• Jerking or twitching in the leg, tail or face
• Repetitive behaviours or out-of-the-ordinary vocalisations
• Twitching or jerking in one area, such as the face, leg, or tail.
• Unusual movements, like chewing motions or pawing.
• These seizures can progress to a generalised seizure that affects the entire body.

These types of seizures may be caused by infections, brain lesions, trauma, epilepsy or other conditions. Treatment typically focuses on managing the underlying cause and may include anti-seizure medications.

Status Epilepticus

Seizures that last from between five and ten minutes ‘status epilepticus’ are considered a medical emergency and your cat should be assessed by a vet urgently.

Post-seizure behaviour

Post seizure, a cat may exhibit unusual behaviour such as abnormal pacing, binge eating, excessive excitement or excessive tiredness. Again, contact your vet if you notice these behaviours, even if you weren’t present for the actual seizure.

How seizures in cats are treated

If your cat is in the midst of a seizure (status epilepticus), a vet may administer an anticonvulsant medicine, usually via intravenous catheter, before they proceed with further tests to identify the reason for the seizure.

Once the cause of the seizure is determined, the vet will be able to recommend the best course of treatment. If it is a seizure caused by temporary illness or exposure to a substance harmful to cats, then ongoing treatment likely won’t be necessary. 

Similarly, if your cat has only infrequent generalised seizures, they may not require treatment. If your cat has frequent seizures, however, they may suffer brain damage, and hence medication may be required to prevent these seizures occurring.

Alternative ways to treat cat seizures

Whilst your vet may prescribe an anti-seizure medicine for your cat, there are also alternative treatments you might consider. These include:

Herbal supplements and CBD Oil: CBD Oil (cannabidiol oil) has been found to reduce inflammation and promote relaxation in animals and humans, and in turn, this may help to reduce the frequency of seizures. Of course, you should take care to ensure you are using a product approved for use on cats, and consult with your vet.

Additionally, a range of herbal supplements may help calm the nervous system of cats. These include valerian root, chamomile and skullcap.

Change of diet: Cat food may contain ingredients that aren’t beneficial to your cat, and may indeed be damaging. For this reason, your vet may suggest you place your cat on a special diet, using a particular product that reduces the likelihood of seizures. Ketogenic diets, in particular, are considered preferable to cat diets that include carbohydrates. The high fats in ketogenic diets help the brain to process energy.

When to consider euthanasia for a cat with seizures

The last thing a pet owner wants to consider is cat euthanasia, however, there may come a time to address the question of whether to end your pet’s life. This is particularly so if your cat experiences frequent seizures that leave them exhausted, or that appear to cause them pain.

Whilst in many cases treatment may be sufficient for your cat, if the following applies, then you may consider peaceful euthanasia for your cat:

• Your cat has received prescribed anti-seizure medication, but it hasn’t reduced the frequency of their seizures
• Your cat has received medication, but the medication is having adverse effects and is negatively impacting their quality of life
• Your cat does not take well to receiving medication, and seizures are continuing
• Your cat is in great pain or distress
• Your cat is regularly disoriented and/or falling over
• Your cat is very elderly, and also suffering from uncomfortable seizures.

Making the decision to euthanise a cat with seizures

If you aren’t sure if you should proceed to euthanise your cat, it may be helpful to have a Quality of Life Assessment with Rest Your Paws. These can be done online, or within your home. Our vets will fully examine your cat and find out about their symptoms, mobility, appetite, daily routines and toileting habits. They will also discuss with you your cat’s level of pain and distress. They will also consider your cat’s other health conditions, what medications they take (or have taken in the past), and their chances to have a good quality of life in the future.

Once the vet gives you their assessment, it is up to you to make the difficult decision about whether or not to euthanise your cat. There is no rush on making a decision, however, you may wish to consider your cat’s level of pain or discomfort as part of the process.

If you make the decision to euthanise your cat, Rest Your Paws can provide peaceful euthanasia for your cat in your home.