Reptile & Amphibian Forums

HI.. I have a domestic cat, his name is Booger... He is about 6yrs old.. One night I was woken by his having a seizure. I turned the light on and just held him and calmed him.. The seizure ended.. and he was a bit disoriented.. but then he suddenly jumped off the bed and headed for the kitchen and started eating! That shocked me.. and I figured that maybe he just got into something? Although I have no idea what it could be.. Since this happened I have noticed that every once in awhile he will "Jerk".. as if something has poked him in the nose or something.. His whole body gently jerks once.. then thats it.. and within a minute or two, it happens again. He even does this when he is sleeping.. I've watched him closely the last day and night.. This is not a normal activity.. Something is wrong.. But what? Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? He is an indoor cat.. Once in awhile he wanders out the front door and rolls around on the patio while we are out there, but he never goes out of sight.. And he comes back in when we do.. I'm really at a loss..
It seems like his nervous system is "shorting out" every so many minutes... or less.. This must be wearing on him, he is not as active now.. he seems to just spend his time trying to sleep. With this constant "jerk" of his head and body, it seems he doesn't get much rest..
Anyone hear of this? I will be taking him to a vet if I can find a good one in this area.. If anyone is in the Sedona, Az area, I'd be very greatful for a referral.. I hate finding a new vet... as if they are not very experienced, then it goes through a great deal of expense.. Not that I would not pay whatever I can for his care.. I love my critters as if they were my kids.. Heck.. they ARE my kid.. Furkids... I am disabled, and finances are tough..So I want to take him to someone that is very experienced..
Thank you to anyone that has ANY suggestions what so ever.. I am greatful..
Karen
Booger.. 6 yr B W domestic short hair
Tuffy.. *male white boxer 9 yrs.
Sylvestor.. 15 yr old B W domestic short hair

It certainly would be a wise thing to take Booger to a vet for an evaluation, although the causes for seizures in cats can be hard to track down. He may have had a minor stroke, but again only a vet can really determine what the cause and probable treatment would be. The fact that he seems to twitch after the fact is sort of worrisome and could indicate further problems down the road.

Best wishes to you and Booger!
-----
Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Hi!
((((PHMadameAlto ))))) Thank you sooo much for your response... Booger seems to be easing on this.. I still think I see him with a "twitch"... but not sure.. I'm watching him closely.. And when I mean closely, I mean sitting there every now and then and staring at him to see if he does this repetative... I'm just not sure.. Seems like it may be easing?
He is playful... lovable.. is eating well, and isnt "hiding" as cats do when they are not well.. And Booger USED to be one that stayed hidden most the time since he was little.. He has always been a bit of a "recluse" but in the last year he has gotten more social..
The really strange thing is that my 16 yr old Cat, Sylvestor.. when he was given to us from a veterinarian that found him, he went into seizures the very next day! He was very tiny.. I held him and rushed him to a emergency clinic.. as the vet who gave him to us, barely 8 hrs before this all began, wouldn't answer his answering service calls.. I found his home phone.. and he answered! I asked him to help, he blew it off. and I in turn TOLD him off, and asked him what kind of vet he was to take an OATH to not let an animal suffer.. I felt he owed us at least a peek at this kitten that he was going to "have to put down" if he didn't find a home for it.. So I took it, as I wasn't about to see it put down.. Anyway.. I told him what I thought of him, then hung up and rushed the little guy to a emergency clinic.. When I arrived.. they said they feared it to be neurological since he was so tiny... and suggested that he be put down, because even with lots of testing which would be very expensive, the chances that he would survive was slim.. Well.. I said ok.. and was bawling like mad, they took him, and when they came back.. I thought it was to tell me that he was at peace.. but they had him in their arms!! They told me that the "vet".. (whom I later found out was the SAME vet I chewed out.. he happened to be part owner of the emergency clinic..and they had called him for advice!) Well.. he told them not to charge me much, and to keep the little guy overnight since I had fallen in love with the little guy so much, barely overnight.. The next a.m. they called.. said that he was up and eating.. his seizures had ceased through the night.. and that he was BLIND! But.. that this is typical of bad seizures.. and that there was a very good chance that his eyesight would come back! I went to get him,... and little by little his eyesight came back and he,(Sylvestor)has been great ever since.. What in the WORLD caused the seizures? I haven't a clue.. And now that this has happened with Booger.. I thought it pretty strange.. and I started questioning myself.. Is there something?? that I have around? .. anything.. that they could have gotten into!? But.. you see.. this is like 14 yrs apart! I am very careful with meds.. never leave anything like that laying around.. The only thing I have EVER seen either cat mess with that they should not.. is the "Roach Gold" traps.. and many years ago I saw Sylvestor trying to mess with it.. so I put them in areas that they cannot get to.. Next thing I thought was maybe? if a roach got into the trap, ate whatever is in it, and then the cat got the roach? I don't know.. all I know is I have tried to think of anything that could be possible.. Just seems strange that this happened..
I will continue to watch Booger very closely.. And if I still see this, then he will go to the vet.. Problem is.. I JUST moved to Sedona, Az. and don't know much of anyone yet.. The girl next door has a persian that is older.. so maybe she will know of a vet that is good in this are.. She just moved in, but she is from here originally, so that may help.. I will watch for her and ask her if she can suggest someone..
Sorry this is so long.. but I try to grasp at whatever I can think of to figure these things out..
I greatly appreciate your input.. There's nothing better than knowing someone cares too.. Thank you..and God Bless you and yours..
I will keep all post! WHOA! Speaking of ... BOOGER just jumped up in my lap.. think he knows I'm keepin' a close watch on him! lol
Thank you again.!
K

K, I hope you find a good vet, the girl next door is a great place to start. I have to say, that is such a beautiful story about Sylvester. I love to hear kitty survivor storys like that. And good for you to tell off that vet! lol!
Cats can have seizures for so many reasons, not necessarily anything you have in your home that caused them. I hope Booger (love the name, by the way) gets well soon! Will you let us know what happens?

Destany

((((Destany)))))) Thanks... your words mean alot.. and yup, when it comes to vets.. I seek out those that CARE... It is nice of you to say about the fact that its not necessarily something around the house.. Coz one does start questioning everything one does in order to try to figure out what has happened..
Booger is black and white, and Hmmmmm, I thought I had pics of them in here somewhere.. but.. I'll have to peek around.. as its been awhile since I've been here.. Anyway.. he has ablack face with a little white line down from his snoot! *chuckle* AND he was born in October... So... booger is for his white mark... lol and for boogy man! Strange how we come upon names for our critters.. ";oD When we call for him, he is Boogedy Booger... And often just gets called Boogedy.. He's a sweety.. he is BIG (not fat though) And when you hold him, he wraps his paws around your neck.. and if you hold him as you would a baby, he keeps gently patting your face with his paws.. It's pretty cute..
And Sylvestor.. the one that survived the bad one when he was little.. he is ornery as the DICKENS! He will want you to pet him, then when your not paying attention he'll SWAT you! And he doooo have claws! lol He won't do it to me, or my son, coz he knows better, but he will to others... So I just warn all to leave him be! Or... at their own risk! LOL! He's earned the name.. "Cat from Hell!" but I adore him... He's "special" to me... he's a survivor... and he can be pretty funny with my son or I.. He's just a "couple person" kinda cat! lol
Even Tuff E. Nuff, our 85lb white male boxer respects Sylvestor! Sylvestor has been known to CLOBBER him if he gets in his way.. And Sylvestor will PLANT himself smack dab in the middle of the hallway... ON PURPOSE... and I have to go stand NEXT to him, or make him MOVE before Tuff will go past! lol Otherwise Tuff will sit there and whine until I come "save him"! *shakin' head* Goofy dog.. And Sylvestor knows JUST what he is doing.. coz if I bark "Sylvestor!" at him.. he'll begrudgingly move.. Little turd! lol He's 22 lbs.. so he's not that little.. All my cats have been BIG.. not sure why.. they all are domestic cats... b w... Guess they eat well! lol
Well.. this chicca has work to do.. Thanks again for you kind words.. and encouragement..
Boogey seems to be doing well.. and the girl next door did give me the name of a vet.. So I will look into this if he does it anymore...

K

Have his sugar levels checked.

My diabetic cat would have strange behavior followed by gobbling food when his sugar levels would drop dramatically (hypoglycemic episodes)

Good Luck

Hi Billy D!

Thanks for the information.. I REALLY appreciate your input... So far we don't know what his diagnosis is for sure. The vet put him on Phenobarbital. The little "twitches" he has still persist... but he has not had anymore seizures. Thank God. The vet said that he may have brain tumors, and if this is so, theres not much I can do. '( She said that his complete change of personality would be typical of such a diagnosis. He has always been a recluse and only came out at night and mostly only came to me.. But since we moved here to Sedona Az., he has been wayyyyy friendly and no where near as timid as he was, he lays around in livingroom, greets ppl that come in, is all cuddly etc... This is all a HUGE change for him! But it's most welcome... only I sure wish it didn't have to come with a health threat...
As it is, he seems to be ok... he eats well, drinks, potties, **holding nose** lol And all seems normal otherwise... Just so odd to see such a total change in the little guy.. (little? He weighs in at around 20lbs!) lol And he's not fat!
Well.. again, (((((BillyD)))))) Thank you for your information.. I appreciate it greatly!

K