Neurological Disorders in Cats · Kinship Leave a comment

In case you and your cat have been hanging out for just a few years, you’ve in all probability gotten accustomed to one another’s quirks and occasional odd behaviors. However what in case your cat abruptly begins performing surprisingly, and so they don’t appear to have any management over it? In case your cat is abruptly staring off into house, they is probably not plotting their world domination — they might be displaying indicators of a neurological downside. Let’s speak about cat neurological points.

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What causes sudden neurological points in cats?

Neurological illness in cats refers to any challenge that impacts a cat’s mind, spinal twine, or nerves. Indicators might be so refined that they’re barely noticeable or so extreme that they fully alter a cat’s skills and behaviors. A cat can go from leaping throughout the furnishings to barely with the ability to stroll or go from being vocal and expressive to being depressed and poorly responsive. Cats may have seizures from some neurological illnesses. Dramatic modifications like this may be scary, particularly once they come on abruptly. 

Cats can develop neurological points in response to:

Signs of neurological points in cats

Neurological points in cats can manifest as modifications in a cat’s alertness, habits, sensory skills, and motion. A cat can seem usually unwell with no clear hyperlink to a neurological challenge — till neurological signs floor. These indicators ought to by no means be ignored. In case you spot any of those indicators, take your cat to the vet immediately:

• Seizures

• Issue strolling

• Dragging any limbs

• Ataxia (unsteady gait)

• Strolling in circles

• Head tilt

• Speedy eye motion

• Dulled psychological exercise

• Disorientation

• Head urgent

Eight frequent cat neurological points

Epilepsy

When vets speak about epilepsy, we’re sometimes referring to main epilepsy, a situation during which a pet has seizures for no identifiable trigger. Main epilepsy happens much less continuously in cats than it does in canine. An epileptic cat could have irregular mind exercise that results in both generalized or focal seizure exercise. 

Generalized (or grand mal) seizures contain full-body convulsions and a brief lack of consciousness. Cats may additionally drool and lose management of their bowels or bladder throughout a seizure. Focal seizure exercise, then again, is much less dramatic. A cat having a focal seizure will sometimes show irregular, uncontrollable motion of only one space of their physique, like twitching of the face or a limb.

As a result of idiopathic epilepsy means seizures with out a identified trigger, a prognosis requires ruling out different potential identified causes first. So, in case your cat begins having seizures, your vet could advocate blood work and neurological screening, which includes an MRI and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) faucet. Remedy for epilepsy includes medical administration. Epilepsy in cats can oftentimes be managed with each day oral drugs and periodic blood work to make sure the treatment is well-tolerated. 

Mind tumors

When a cat has seizures, a kind of “identified causes” we advocate trying to find is a mind tumor. The three most typical forms of mind tumors in cats are meningiomas, lymphoma, and pituitary tumors, in that order. Meningiomas make up greater than 50 p.c of feline mind tumors. They’re slow-growing and normally benign, however as a result of they put stress on the mind, they nonetheless trigger signs. Signs of mind tumors in cats can embody seizures, habits modifications, strolling in circles, wobbly strolling, and blindness. 

Many individuals assume that nothing might be finished for a cat with a mind tumor, however that’s not true. Remedy choices can embody surgical procedure, radiation, chemotherapy, and drugs. Cats with meningiomas usually do properly with surgical removing. Moreover, drugs can assist management seizures, and steroids can presumably shrink the dimensions of a tumor. 

Vestibular illness

The vestibular system is accountable for sustaining a cat’s sense of steadiness. A cat’s vestibular system might be disrupted by tumor progress, an infection, irritation, trauma or from an unidentifiable trigger. In cats, the most typical causes of vestibular illness are interior ear infections and nasopharyngeal polyps. Vestibular illness in cats usually leads to lack of steadiness and coordination, a head tilt, and speedy eye motion (nystagmus). 

Remedy could embody remedy for an interior ear an infection, polyp removing, or particular remedy for any underlying illness that’s recognized. If no trigger is recognized, cats are handled with supportive care, which may embody anti-nausea drugs and taking additional precautions to make sure that a cat doesn’t fall and injure themselves attributable to lack of coordination. 

Spinal points

Cats may develop spinal illness that may impression their power and talent to stroll. Intervertebral disc illness in cats happens when the jelly-like inside of a disc hardens, turns into displaced, and applies stress to the spinal twine. This will happen attributable to degeneration or trauma, however happens in cats much less continuously than it does in canine. 

Cats may develop spinal points secondary to bacterial infections or viral infections like feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Cats with spinal points can show ache, hindlimb weak spot, reluctance or unwillingness to leap, dragging of the hindlimbs, or lack of bladder or bowel management. 

Remedy for spinal points is determined by the trigger and the severity of indicators. Some cats can get better with medical administration, which can embody ache management, anti-inflammatory drugs, and strict relaxation. In some circumstances of IVDD, surgical procedure could also be beneficial.

Cerebellar hypoplasia

Cerebellar hypoplasia is a situation during which the cerebellum — the a part of the mind accountable for coordination and effective motor expertise — doesn’t develop correctly. If a pregnant cat or new child kitten is contaminated with panleukopenia (feline distemper), there’s a threat that the kitten’s cerebellum will probably be underdeveloped. 

Kittens with cerebellar hypoplasia show very distinct signs together with a wobbly gait (ataxia), dramatic limb actions, and physique and head tremors. These indicators turn out to be obvious as a kitten grows and begins to stroll round. 

Cerebellar hypoplasia might be confirmed by performing an MRI, however in my expertise, most kittens are recognized primarily based on their historical past and medical indicators.There’s no remedy for the situation, however cat dad and mom can present a secure residence by retaining their kitty indoors and making environmental modifications that cut back likelihood of damage. Kittens with gentle to average signs of cerebellar hypoplasia can develop as much as be pleased, loving pets, just a bit clumsy and unsteady on their ft. 

Hyperesthesia syndrome

Feline hyperesthesia syndrome is a situation during which a cat’s pores and skin turns into hypersensitive and twitchy. The trigger for this situation is unknown, however a well-liked principle is that these cats are experiencing a type of maladaptive ache, or discomfort within the absence of trauma. One other principle is that feline hyperesthesia syndrome is a kind of compulsive habits dysfunction. 

Cats with hyperesthesia syndrome could have muscle spasms alongside their again and episodes of tail chasing, intense overgrooming, vocalization, operating and leaping. It’s usually troublesome to cease a cat from licking and chewing on themselves throughout an episode, and they’re going to groom themselves to the purpose of self-trauma. 

There isn’t any remedy for hyperesthesia that has been constantly efficient. Stress discount is a standard advice. Some vets and cat dad and mom have seen success with drugs, however outcomes differ. 

Cat dementia

Feline cognitive dysfunction, or cat dementia, is a standard age-related change in senior cats. As cats age, their brains truly shrink in measurement and accumulate protein. These modifications impair the mind’s cognitive skills attributable to decreased communication between cells. Senior cats with cognitive dysfunction will usually present modifications past the standard “slowing down” that pet dad and mom count on. 

Cats with dementia can show disorientation, restlessness, staring off, ignoring individuals and different pets, home soiling, vocalization, and modifications of their sleep, consuming, and grooming habits. Remedy for feline cognitive dysfunction sometimes includes a mix of treatment, dietary supplements, enrichment, and environmental modifications. 

Meningitis and encephalitis

Meningitis refers to irritation of the meninges (the membrane that covers the mind and spinal twine). Encephalitis refers to irritation of the mind. Oftentimes, if irritation is current, it includes each the mind and the meninges — a situation referred to as meningoencephalitis. 

Cats can develop meningioencephalitis from infections brought on by micro organism, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is the most typical trigger in cats. The illness can be immune-mediated or haven’t any detectable trigger. Signs of meningitis or encephalitis in cats can embody seizures, blindness, neck ache, uninteresting mentation, wobbly strolling, and fever. 

Remedy for meningitis or encephalitis in cats is determined by the trigger. If there may be an underlying an infection, remedy requires treatment to deal with the an infection like antibiotics or antifungal treatment. Cats with immune-mediated illness could profit from steroids. Remedy may additionally embody supportive care to deal with ache, fever, or dehydration. 

When to see a vet

Any cat that’s displaying neurological indicators needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately. When evaluating a cat with neurological signs, I’ll begin with a medical historical past and bodily examination. My bodily examination will embody a neurological examination, the place I consider the cat’s reflexes. Blood work can provide me a sign of whether or not or not there’s an apparent an infection, however could not present what the cat is contaminated with. 

Many occasions I’ll advocate analysis by a veterinary neurologist, so {that a} full neurological work up might be carried out. This usually contains gathering a pattern of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to search for organisms or irregular cells and an MRI. These are carried out beneath anesthesia. 

In case you encounter a cat with neurological indicators that’s unknown to you or has an unknown vaccination historical past, it’s greatest to contact native animal management and allow them to deal with it. Keep in mind: rabies is a neurological illness that’s contagious and lethal. Keep secure and maintain your distance. 

Bottom line

Neurological points can have an effect on a cat’s mentation, habits, sensory skills, and motion. 

There are numerous potential causes for neurological points in cats, together with trauma, an infection, irritation, tumors, and congenital illness. In case your cat is displaying indicators of neurological illness, it’s essential to have them evaluated by a vet immediately. Analysis by a veterinary neurologist could also be beneficial to discover a prognosis and acceptable remedy plan. 

References

• ‌Callanan, John J. “Meningitis, Encephalitis, and Encephalomyelitis in Animals.” Merck Veterinary Handbook, 2 Mar. 2021, www.merckvetmanual.com/nervous-system/meningitis-encephalitis-and-encephalomyelitis/meningitis-encephalitis-and-encephalomyelitis-in-animals.

• Cohn, Leah, and Etienne Cote. Cote’s Scientific veterinary Advisor: Canines and Cats – E-Guide (4th Version). Elsevier – OHCE, 2019.

• “Congenital and Inherited Cerebellar Problems in Animals – Nervous System.” Merck Veterinary Handbook, www.merckvetmanual.com/nervous-system/congenital-and-inherited-anomalies-of-the-nervous-system/congenital-and-inherited-cerebellar-disorders-in-animals.

• Pakozdy, A et al. “Epilepsy in cats: principle and follow.” Journal of veterinary inner medication vol. 28,2 (2014): 255-63. doi:10.1111/jvim.12297.

• Thomas, William B. “Inflammatory and Infectious Ailments of the Spinal Column and Wire in Animals.” Merck Veterinary Handbook, 29 Oct. 2021, www.merckvetmanual.com/nervous-system/diseases-of-the-spinal-column-and-cord/inflammatory-and-infectious-diseases-of-the-spinal-column-and-cord-in-animals. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

• Troxel, Mark T, et al. Feline Intracranial Neoplasia: Retrospective Evaluate of 160 Circumstances (1985-2001). Vol. 17, no. 6, 1 Nov. 2003, pp. 850–859, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2003.tb02525.x. Accessed 7 Aug. 2023.