How to Find Out if Your Kitten Is Having a Mild Seizure

In cats, as in humans, a seizure occurs as a result of too much electrical activity in the brain. The lack of common language between humans and cats makes it difficult to tell whether strange behavior in a kitten is, in fact, a mild seizure in progress. There are many kinds of seizure, but generally a mild seizure is one that lasts a few seconds or a few minutes. A seizure lasting multiple minutes, or even hours, is considered a major seizure.

  1. Feline Seizure Symptoms

    • Watch for the typical symptoms of a feline seizure. These include a loud and distressed "meow," as if your kitten is in pain. Twitching may occur in the ears, eyelids, whiskers and face of the kitten; or its entire body may begin to shake and tremble. The kitten's body may go rigid, and she may fall down or lose control of her limbs. It is quite common for a cat to make a paddling motion with the limbs during a seizure. While none of these symptoms individually are unusual for a young cat, in combination they are likely to indicate seizure activity.

    Bodily Fluids and Functions

    • Pay careful attention to your kitten's bodily functions and excretions during any time you think he might be having a mild seizure. Cats may meow, jerk, paddle or tremble at any given time. However, a loss of bowel or bladder control in combination with these physical symptoms usually indicates a seizure in progress. During a seizure, you might also notice uncontrolled drooling or excess saliva collecting around the kitten's mouth.

    Seizure Response

    • If your kitten is having a seizure, you can help by being a reassuring and calming presence. Remove other animals from the area where your kitten is experiencing a seizure, and turn off excess noise sources such as televisions or stereos. In some cases, sensory overstimulation can prolong or worsen a seizure. Make sure there is plenty of space around the kitten, and move her away from physical dangers such as an open fireplace or a staircase presenting a falling hazard. Make a note of the time the seizure symptoms started -- if a first seizure lasts for more than about five minutes, call for emergency veterinary assistance.

    Unseen Seizures

    • You may not be around to witness the symptoms of a kitten having a mild seizure, but you should nevertheless attempt to monitor when you think or notice a seizure is likely to have occurred. This will help build a "seizure diary" for the individual cat, which can be helpful in diagnosis and seizure management. Signs that a seizure has likely occurred in your absence include the evidence of saliva, urine or feces due to a loss of physical control. After a seizure, you may notice your kitten is very tired or acts spaced-out. This is known as a "post-ictal state"; it can last for several hours after a seizure has taken place.