Seizure-like episodes just after a hairball

[Phoebe's human]

Some months back my cat Phoebe (age 12) went into something like a seizure just after having a hairball. She fell off her windowseat, a drop of a couple of feet, and lay very still on the floor. There were a few writhing movements. The whole thing lasted less than half a minute, I'd say. Then she seemed a bit shaken for a short time but soon was fine.

She's had quite a few hairballs since then with no more problems of this kind. But today she went into another strange spasm episode again. This time she was on the ground when she had the hairball and so she didn't fall from any height.

I've noticed that she's being careful to get off of any height whenever a hairball is about to happen.

I mentioned the episode to the vet after the first time, and the vet tech said she'd seen cats go through this.

I'd never heard of it before. I'd like to know if anybody here knows anything more about it.

[Traci]

Sometimes, some type of stimuli can cause these, whether they are true seizures or not are another story (vs nerve stimuli or something else). In any case, you never take them lightly, and perhaps it would be a good time to check Phoebe's bloodwork, her heart, her muscle enzymes etc and possibly even an xray to play it safe.

Do your ultimate best to describe the event(s) to your vet, not just the tech, your vet needs to know.

[Phoebe's human]

Thanks, Traci!

The vet was there too and I told him about it.

I think what he said was that if it happened again, to let them know, but I'm not sure I remembered right.

I'll give them a call. She did have a lot of bloodwork done in late December but it looks as if some more may need to be done now.

[Phoebe's human]

An update here because I'm not sure what to do.

Phoebe had another seizure today but with no hairball. It lasted about 45 seconds. Right afterwards she gave a few very strange howls, but she did that before when she had seizures.

Then she hid under the bed, and I could see she was under there with her tongue hanging out, maybe panting. That didn't last long.

Less than two hours later she was eating a little and sitting on my lap and purring.

My inclination is not to contact the vet unless she takes a turn for the worse.

The vet's advice was to worry more about it if the seizures lasted longer and/or were becoming frequent.

In February Phoebe did well on her 6-months physical exam.

Do some cats have seizures for no known reason--maybe in connection with aging? Phoebe is 13.

[Traci]

Phoebe's human, can you tell me how many seizures Phoebe has had since the very first one last year? You've mentioned three of them here on the forum.

Were they all short like this last one, nothing longer?

Did you notice anything happening right before each seizure? Any connection besides hairballs? Sounds, lighting, external stimuli, certain food eaten directly before, etc etc.

Was bloodwork done in February? Was urinalysis also done? Thyroid function checked?

Has Phoebe ever had a complete heart workup done? Like xrays, ECG, blood pressure check? If not, I'd advise to do so, especially if she's never had these done. Xrays can also help rule out internal or bone lesions or masses that sometimes can contribute to seizures.

The problem with waiting on certain diagnostics is that at some point, at any time, the seizures could start occuring without warning, more frequently, more severe. It would be best to hope to nip this in the bud with a diagnostic workup. Please call your vet first thing tomorrow morning to discuss that with him. Unless of course, anything develops tonite, in which you'd want to get Phoebe in to the emergency vet promptly.

It could be age related, as in a lesion or brain tumor etc, but let's not jump the gun just yet. Talk to your vet about potential diagnostics and tell him you don't want to wait around until something could happen you're not prepared for.

[Phoebe's human]

Thanks for the prompt reply!

In June she had a workup that was called "Senior Feline w/spec fpl & cardio" with "feline cardiopet add-on srfe." I'm looking at the invoice and can't recall what those notations stand for exactly except that it was referred to as a cardio workup.

In March 2011 she had a complete physical.

She's had the 3 seizures that I mentioned--2/10, 6/10 and today. No connections except the hairballs.
This one today may have lasted a bit longer than the others--all were well under a minute.

[Traci]

I still suggest making an appointment, at least calling first to discuss potential diagnostics. (an xray would be good)

Remind him about the previous seizures and the connection to the hairballs, particularly regurgitation or vomiting, it might be a long shot, but maybe her esophagus, GI tract or nerve function should be checked. Also tell him about the way she yowled after her seizures, and then particularly today when she HID, PANTED, TOUNGUE PROTRUDED - the latter doesn't seem consistent with the previous seizures. If you think it took two hours or more for her to be fully recovered from the seizure, make sure to mention that as well, because a prolonged recovery should always be noted in taking the history of these seizures.

Please don't undermine this, even though they've been short and far and few between, nothing is predictable with seizures. You really want to make sure there isn't some underlying problem going on possibly going undetected.