Epilepsy in cats: why it's different from canine epilepsy and what to do during a seizure

Seizures in cats are an emergency that greatly frightens owners, but with proper management, they can be controlled. The key difference compared to dogs is that in cats, idiopathic epilepsy (with no identifiable cause) is much less common. When a cat has a seizure, it's essential to actively search for the cause.

Most frequent causes in cats

• Intracranial diseases: Brain tumors (especially meningioma, very common in older cats), encephalitis, abscesses
• Extracranial diseases that affect the brain: Advanced kidney failure (uremia), liver failure (encephalopathy), high blood pressure (a common cause of crises in older cats with CKD), hypoglycemia
• Toxins: Permethrin (dog insecticide applied to cats: absolute emergency), NSAIDs, toxic plants
• Idiopathic epilepsy: Less common than in dogs, but it does exist

URGENT! Permethrin in cats

Never, under any circumstances, apply a dog antiparasitic (especially permethrin-based spot-on treatments) to a cat. Permethrin is highly toxic to cats and causes severe seizures and excessive salivation. It is a veterinary emergency with a high mortality rate if not treated quickly.

What to do during a crisis

• Keep calm. The crisis usually lasts 1-3 minutes.
• Don't put your hand over your mouth: Cats do not "swallow their tongues" and a bite during a crisis can be serious.
• Move dangerous objects away of the surroundings: furniture, stairs, sharp objects
• Record the crisis If you can, use your mobile phone: it will help the vet enormously.
• If it lasts more than 5 minutes or there are repeated seizures: Immediate veterinary emergency (status epilepticus)
• After the crisis, the cat may be disoriented, temporarily blind, or aggressive: give it time in a quiet space

Diagnosis and treatment

A complete blood count (including kidney, liver, and glucose tests), blood pressure measurement, and neuroimaging (MRI) are the cornerstones of diagnosis. Treatment depends on the cause: controlling hypertension, managing chronic kidney disease, or administering feline-specific antiepileptic drugs when indicated.

Wellness support products for cats with chronic illnesses and therapeutic diets are part of comprehensive management.

Conclusion

A cat having a seizure needs urgent veterinary evaluation to find the cause. Don't assume it "just has epilepsy": in cats, the underlying cause is often treatable, and finding it can save the cat's life.