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Cats/cat neck spasms

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Expert: - 3/12/2011


Question
QUESTION: hi i have a male cat that is 2 years old. off late while playing hes been experiencing neck spams he cant move his neck to the left and his eyes are constantly moving to the right.he keeps moving in circles this lasts for about 3-4 minutes and then he behaves normal as though nothing happened earlier.i would like to know whats wrong with my cat ??
thank you

ANSWER: Ayesha,

This behaviour sounds a odd to me - it's possible that your kitty may have some sort of brain injury or he may have a seizure disorder. My recommendation would be that you take video of your cat while this is happening and show it to your veterinarian to have him/her evaluate your kitty for the possibility of a seizure disorder such as epilepsy. If you have any further cat related questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me again - I'm happy to help in any way that I can.

Kind regards,

Ali

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: well its just happened twuce since thursday so yes i will try to video him out.how severe could be this case ??? and what kind of brain injury are you talking about exactly.
thank you for your help

Answer
Ayesha,

Could he possibly have fallen off of a high piece of furniture and hit his head? Sometimes that will result in neurological symptoms like the ones you describe.....Epilepsy isn't a big deal if that's what's going on, he may need medication on a daily basis but if you pair pills with treats most cats are pretty laid back about getting them, particulary once they get used to a routine...If your kitty has managed to hit his head and give himself a slight concussion his neurological symptoms should settle down reasonably quickly over the course of a few days...Another thing you may want to look into is having the vet look at his ears because a nasty middle ear infection could also cause the type of behaviour you're seeing. If you have any further cat related questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me again at any time - I'm more than happy to help you and your kitty in any way that I can.

Kind regards,

Ali

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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