Home › Animalia › Animal health › Animal diseases › Cat epilepsy
Cat epilepsy
An epileptic seizure is an abnormal, sudden electrical discharge in the brain. It most often results in a loss of contact with the environment and uncontrolled movements. In cats, a seizure is not an illness in itself but a symptom: it requ...
What is it?
An epileptic seizure is an abnormal, sudden electrical discharge in the brain. It most often results in a loss of contact with the environment and uncontrolled movements.
In cats, a seizure is not an illness in itself but a symptom: it requires us to look for what caused it, in the brain or elsewhere in the body.
An isolated seizure is impressive but usually lasts less than two minutes. The situation becomes dangerous when crises are repeated or prolonged.
Key point
A seizure that lasts more than a few minutes, or seizures that follow one another without waking up between them, put the cat's life at stake: it is an immediate emergency.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
Loss of contact: the cat no longer responds, the gaze is fixed.
Fall to the side, stiffening then pedaling movements of all four legs.
Tremors, facial twitching, chewing.
Profuse salivation, passing urine or stools during the attack.
Some attacks remain partial: contractions of a part of the body, twitching of an eyelid, a cat that seems to be chasing something invisible, licking or biting itself for no reason.
Before the attack, the cat may appear worried, stick to its owner or hide.
After the crisis comes a recovery phase: staggering gait, disorientation, agitation, intense hunger or thirst, sometimes unusual aggressiveness which is not intentional. It can last from a few minutes to several hours.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
The causes fall into two large groups.
Causes located in the brain itself: tumor, inflammation or infection of the nervous system, after-effect of head trauma, malformation, vascular accident.
Causes external to the brain, which disrupt it remotely: drop in blood sugar, liver disease, kidney failure, mineral disorders, high blood pressure.
Poisoning is a major and often preventable cause in cats: insecticides intended for dogs and applied by mistake to a cat, household products, unsuitable antiparasitics, certain plants, human medications.
When everything comes back normal, we speak of epilepsy without identified cause, less common in cats than in dogs.
Access to toxic products, in particular antiparasitics for dogs based on Permethrin, which are very dangerous for cats.
History of head trauma.
Liver, kidney or metabolic diseases.
Advanced age, with a greater proportion of tumor or vascular causes.
Infections affecting the nervous system.
Undetected high blood pressure.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
The owner's story is a key element: duration, appearance of movements, behavior before and after. A short video taken during the seizure, if it can be done safely, helps the veterinarian enormously.
A complete neurological examination looks to see if the brain has any abnormality outside of seizures.
A blood and urine test looks for causes outside the brain: sugar, liver, kidneys, minerals.
Blood pressure is measured and feline viral tests are often performed.
If this first assessment is normal, imaging of the brain and an analysis of the fluid surrounding it can be offered in an equipped structure.
Keeping a crisis diary, with the date, time, duration and context, is the best monitoring tool.
Treatment
During the crisis, we do not try to intervene on the animal: the cat cannot swallow its tongue and a hand near its mouth risks a serious and involuntary bite.
Move away hard objects, turn off the lights, reduce the noise, note the start time, and let the seizure play out.
A crisis lasting more than a few minutes, or several attacks close together without recovery between them, constitutes a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate attention.
Basic treatment is based on antiepileptic medications prescribed by the veterinarian, the objective of which is to reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures rather than making them disappear completely.
This treatment is taken at regular times and should never be stopped suddenly: stopping can trigger serious attacks.
Monitoring by analyzes is necessary to adjust the treatment and monitor its tolerance.
When a cause is identified, its specific treatment takes priority: correction of a metabolic disorder, management of poisoning, treatment of an infection.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
Never apply an antiparasitic intended for dogs to a cat, and always read the species indicated on the packaging.
Separate dog and cat for the hours following application of an antiparasitic product to the dog.
Store human medicines, household products and rat poisons out of reach.
Strictly follow the basic treatment when prescribed and avoid omissions.
Limit the triggering factors identified in certain cats: stress, sudden changes, sleep deprivation.
Have older cats or cats with liver and kidney diseases monitored regularly.
Possible complications
State of continuous seizures, emergency situation which can lead to hyperthermia and lasting brain damage.
Injuries occurring during falls or uncontrolled movements.
Gradual worsening as the underlying cause changes.
Adverse effects of treatments, to be monitored by regular checks.
When to see a veterinarian
Your cat is having a seizure for the first time: seek medical attention quickly, even if everything is back to normal.
An attack lasts more than a few minutes: life-threatening emergency, go to the veterinarian immediately.
Several attacks follow one another in the same day or without recovery between them.
The cat remains disoriented, blind or unstable for more than a few hours after the attack.
Exposure to a toxic product is possible, in particular antiparasitic for dogs: don't wait for an attack, call right away.
Attacks become more frequent or longer despite treatment.
Prognosis
Many cats live a long time with attacks that are spaced apart and well controlled by continued treatment.
The prognosis depends above all on the cause: a corrected metabolic disorder can make the seizures disappear, while a brain tumor has a guarded prognosis.
The regularity of treatment and keeping a seizure diary are the two factors over which the owner has the most control.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do during the crisis?
Stay calm, note the time, move dangerous objects away, lower the lights and noise, and do not touch the cat's mouth. Filming the crisis if possible without risk helps the veterinarian a lot.
Is my cat in pain during the attack?
He is not conscious during the generalized seizure and does not feel pain at that time. The recovery phase, on the other hand, can be distressing for him: leave him calm.
Is the treatment lifelong?
Often yes when no curable cause is found. It never stops suddenly: any modification is decided with the veterinarian.
Can an antiparasitic really trigger seizures?
Yes. Dog products containing Permethrin are highly toxic to cats and cause tremors and seizures. Any accidental application is an emergency.
References
AAFP — American Association of Feline Practitioners
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 09 August 2026
AT A GLANCE
Need a veterinarian?
Find a practitioner near you on TunisieVet, with their specialities, hours and contact details.
Find a veterinarianCategories
Affected species
This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for a veterinary consultation. If you have any concerns about your animal's health, consult a veterinarian.
To discover
Related diseases and linked Animalia content.
Rabies
Viral · Vaccine available
Hip dysplasia
Other
Otitis externa
Environmental
Periodontal disease
Other