Seizures in cats

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 1996 Jul;26(4):811-25.

Abstract

Seizures in cats are caused by active structural disease or secondary epilepsy. The most common structural causes are inflammatory diseases, many of which are probably viral (non-FIP) in origin. Toxoplasmosis, FIP, FeLV, and FIV are rare causes of recurrent seizures in cats. The incidence of primary epilepsy is unknown; it is unlikely to occur in domestic cats. The pattern (type and frequency) of the seizures and the age at onset of the seizures are important factors in establishing a differential diagnosis. More than 50% of cats with seizures experience nonconvulsive (mild generalized or partial complex) seizures. Though many cats experience severe cluster seizures and status epilepticus, severity of seizures is not a good predictor of outcome. Many cats stop having seizures or are controlled well with AEDs regardless of the severity of their seizure activity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / pathology
  • Cat Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Cat Diseases / etiology
  • Cat Diseases / therapy
  • Cats
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / physiology
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy / etiology
  • Epilepsy / therapy
  • Epilepsy / veterinary*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants