Seizure?

ForJazz · 12-03-2005, 12:33 PM

My friend's cat Billy just died suddenly. They had him since he was a kitten and he was only 4 years old. The other day my friend's mom saw him having what looked like a seizure. She rushed him to the vet right away, but by the time she got there it was too late. He has had no history of this.

If anyone else has seen or heard of a similar experience, please let me know all you can. I think it would help the family a lot if they just knew what happened. They are all having the normal guilty feelings that you have after a pet dies, thinking that there must have been something they did wrong. Any help would be appreciated.

coaster · 12-03-2005, 05:38 PM

Sad that a cat that young should die suddenly. Had he been outside? Do they think it was poison?

ForJazz · 12-03-2005, 07:39 PM

Billy didn't go outside that I know of. They are not sure what happened to him or why he had the seizure-type thing.

jennifer2 · 12-03-2005, 11:36 PM

The only way they would be able to have a chance to know for sure would be to have a necropsy done. Even then they may not get any answers.
Poison, electrocution, acute illness or a genetic defect are the only things that come to mind.
I know dogs get epilepsy, I'd assume cats do also.

Jennifer

nanook · 12-03-2005, 11:46 PM

I'm so sorry. your friends must be devistated.
One of the most common causes of sudden death in cats is Cardiomyopathy. Unfotunately it usually has no symptoms so, if that's what it was, there was no way they could have known. Other causes could be heartworm, some birth defect or poisoning. There's no way to know for sure without doing an necropsy.

emma_pen · 12-07-2005, 02:26 AM

Epilepsy in cats is very rare, I've never experienced it. Had they treated him for fleas or anything? Like others, poisoning would be onwe of the first things that springs to mind.

Parker · 12-08-2005, 05:02 PM

We have one cat at the clinic that is epileptic. He's ~ 11 months old now and this started about 3 months ago. It is possible. However as a cause of death, probably very unlikely.

Unfortunately, there are many, many things that could cause his seizure like activity and subsequent death. Heartworms and poisoning are two of the big ones that come to mind. The only way to really tell would be a necropsy, however that is just for their peace of mind....

12-03-2005, 12:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
ForJazz Premier Cat Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 4,884	Seizure? My friend's cat Billy just died suddenly. They had him since he was a kitten and he was only 4 years old. The other day my friend's mom saw him having what looked like a seizure. She rushed him to the vet right away, but by the time she got there it was too late. He has had no history of this. If anyone else has seen or heard of a similar experience, please let me know all you can. I think it would help the family a lot if they just knew what happened. They are all having the normal guilty feelings that you have after a pet dies, thinking that there must have been something they did wrong. Any help would be appreciated. __________________ Julie

12-03-2005, 07:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
ForJazz Premier Cat Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 4,884	Billy didn't go outside that I know of. They are not sure what happened to him or why he had the seizure-type thing. __________________ Julie

12-03-2005, 11:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
jennifer2 Cat Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,683	The only way they would be able to have a chance to know for sure would be to have a necropsy done. Even then they may not get any answers. Poison, electrocution, acute illness or a genetic defect are the only things that come to mind. I know dogs get epilepsy, I'd assume cats do also. Jennifer __________________ Jennifer and the monsters They say... it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a Day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

12-03-2005, 11:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
nanook Premier Cat Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 4,757	I'm so sorry. your friends must be devistated. One of the most common causes of sudden death in cats is Cardiomyopathy. Unfotunately it usually has no symptoms so, if that's what it was, there was no way they could have known. Other causes could be heartworm, some birth defect or poisoning. There's no way to know for sure without doing an necropsy. __________________ Victoria

12-08-2005, 05:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
Parker Tom Cat Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 517	We have one cat at the clinic that is epileptic. He's ~ 11 months old now and this started about 3 months ago. It is possible. However as a cause of death, probably very unlikely. Unfortunately, there are many, many things that could cause his seizure like activity and subsequent death. Heartworms and poisoning are two of the big ones that come to mind. The only way to really tell would be a necropsy, however that is just for their peace of mind.... __________________ ___________________ Signature courtesy of ForJazz!

12-03-2005, 05:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
coaster Banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 17,798	Sad that a cat that young should die suddenly. Had he been outside? Do they think it was poison?

12-07-2005, 02:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
emma_pen Cat Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,655	Epilepsy in cats is very rare, I've never experienced it. Had they treated him for fleas or anything? Like others, poisoning would be onwe of the first things that springs to mind.

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