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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Tantrums
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Hi.
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I have a cat that is just a little over a year old. She is a long haired domestic (mut) and about a month ago, I watched a kitten for a few hours, and the next morning, my cat was VERY lethargic, would not eat, nothing. (I honestly thought she was dead, as she wouldn't move, and her eyes were glazed over). I rushed her to the vet, and they did multiple tests, but could not find a reasoning for it. My boyfriend is suggesting she was just throwing a tantrum, but that seems a little extreme to me, as I've had other cats over before, and she never acted like that.
Any ideas on this?
Dana,
Beautiful kitty! Gorgeous dog too!
I am not a vet and do not answer vet related questions because I do not want to give any incorrect information. I don't normally do this, but I sent your question to a good friend that has worked for a vet for 17 years and IS knowledgeable. She was nice enough to send me the following answer to forward to you:
"Its likely some type of neurological dysfunction and it was caused by the stress of the kitten so I would suggest she not get another pet or volunteer to keep that kitten again. It may be a type of seizure..there are complex ways they can manifest, but unless the cat has this problem much more frequently and she can possibly get a video of it its going to be just about impossible to diagnose. Many digital cameras will take short films, so if they have one and it happens again..they do need to film it for the vet. It will help as lot in understanding whats happening. Cats don't play dead with glazed eyes..he's thinking of possums..:) This cat has a short circuit that stress will set off and hopefully its not progressive. But seizure type disorders get worse the more often they occur because it easier for seizures to follow previously used neural pathways. And you don't necessarily shake and tremor..some are mental fog and confusion states. The cat can fall unconscious with epilepsy so that has to be considered.
But unless she has more, I would just keep the stress off and no other pets. If she has more, film if possible and then their vet will decide on what treatment and testing is advisable.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and toxoplasmosis are rare causes of central nervous system diseases, seizures or not.But they are causes.Hypertension also causes it and blindness in cats. But in young cats you can also have idiopathic but unlike dogs its rare in cats..Idiopathic (primary) epilepsy, with an undetermined cause. Primary epilepsy is relatively rare in cats, but can be congenital. Secondary is far more common. Cats develop more complex disorders in more parts of their brains then dogs do however.
But wait and see is about all to do now. Its unlikely even a Cat Scan or MRI would show much unless the cat was showing more symptoms more frequently. I would just really keep the stress off this cat."
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It was my thought too that it could have been some type of seizure. For further information, I have attached links to a couple of good articles about seizures that you may find informative:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/seizures.html
http://www.manhattancats.com/Articles/seizures.html
I hope this has been helpful and I sincerely hope your beautiful kitty is OK.
Tabbi
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Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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