Seizures in a Russian Blue

According to the Blue Shorthair Cats website, the Russian blue is a breed of cat that has a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. They are not known for any specific genetic or health problem, including seizures. However, Pawprints and Purrs Inc. does report that one of the most common neurological problems in any type of cat is seizures.

  1. Features

    • If your Russian blue suffers a seizure, it will have obvious symptoms. These may include loss of consciousness, changes in mental status including hallucinations or nonresponsiveness, loss of bowel and bladder control and muscle contractions. The cat may also have behavioral changes such as viciousness, pacing, walking in circles or not recognizing you as its guardian.

    Misconceptions

    • Your Russian blue is not feeling pain while seizing. Do not put your fingers in its mouth; you may be bitten. It will not swallow its tongue. Put it on the ground so it will not fall and hurt itself. Afterward, call your veterinarian to discuss the appropriate longer-term intervention.

    Solution

    • Your vet will usually do an exam and some laboratory tests. She will normally prescribe one to two weeks of anticonvulsant therapy. This medication will be tapered off if seizures stop and restarted if seizures begin again. Your cat must stay on the medication for the rest of its life once the seizures start to occur about every 30 days or last more than five minutes.

    Warning

    • Do not discontinue anticonvulsant medications suddenly or without consulting the vet. This can actually induce a seizure, even in a cat that does not have a seizure disorder.