Strokes in cats, also known as vascular accidents, are caused by a lack of blood flowing to certain parts of the brain, or bleeding within them. Strokes and other abnormal neurological conditions cause some bodily functions to be lost, such as balance, equilibrium point, arm and leg control, vision, and consciousness. Immediate signs associated with a stroke can also indicate vestibular disease, seizures, or other medical conditions. Regardless of the cause, symptoms associated with stroke in cats require prompt and appropriate veterinary care.
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Part 1 of 2: Identifying Stroke Symptoms in Cats
Step 1. Check the cat's general alertness
If you notice that your cat is acting abnormally, have her general health checked. If he loses consciousness, check his breathing. Check if the cat responds to your voice. Look for signs of body shaking or convulsions.
Step 2. Look for signs of depression
Cats who have had a stroke may exhibit symptoms similar to depression in humans. The cat may appear calm beyond its habit of stopping responding in the way it often does.
This behavior may occur because he feels disoriented, dizzy, nauseous, and/or suffers from a severe headache
Step 3. Look for abnormal head tilt
You may notice that your cat is holding its head at an odd angle, with one ear lower than the other. Cats can also tilt, turn, or twist their heads. If this is caused by a stroke, the symptoms that occur can put pressure on certain parts of the brain.
These symptoms can also indicate other problems, such as vestibular disease, which causes damage to the vestibular tissue inside the cat's ear. This disease will affect a cat's sense of balance and orientation in a similar way to the signs of a stroke. The symptoms that arise should be considered and you should immediately take the cat to the vet, whether the cause is stroke or vestibular disease
Step 4. Watch for signs of an unstable or circular gait
Cats may not be able to walk straight. He can look like he's drunk, tilted to one side, or walking around in circles. Again, if a stroke is the cause, these symptoms are usually a reaction to pressure on a part of the brain.
- These symptoms can also indicate weakness on one side of the body or postural abnormalities. Cats can also take their steps incorrectly or show signs of weak legs.
- As with other symptoms caused by pressure on a cat's brain, an unstable gait and/or circling can also indicate vestibular disease.
- If your cat has tremors or moves his legs wildly and in a certain rhythm, this means he is having a seizure. In some cases, these seizures may not be noticeable, but you'll see a cat that loses its way afterward. This is called the postoctal phase of the seizure, and can last from a few minutes to several hours. Even if isolated seizures aren't that serious, you should still take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.
Step 5. Examine the cat's eyes
Watch his eyes carefully. If he has had a stroke, the pupils of his two eyes may be different sizes or his eyeballs may turn to the side. This condition is called nystagmus and occurs due to a lack of blood flow to the nerves that power the eye.
- If the cat's pupils are not the same size, then the third eye fold will be visible, and if the cat's head is tilted, this means it is more likely to have vestibular disease than stroke.
- The side effect of nystagmus may be that the cat feels nauseous because he is motion sickness.
Step 6. Examine the cat for blindness
Although this symptom is less common than other eye signs, some cats can also go blind due to a stroke. Even in cases of blindness not caused by a stroke, the symptoms are a sure sign that the cat has high blood pressure, which usually precedes a stroke.
Step 7. Examine the cat's tongue
The color should be pink. If the tongue is blue, purple, or white, it means he has a serious medical condition. He should be taken to the veterinary hospital immediately.
Step 8. Don't try too hard to look for stroke symptoms like humans do
The most common signs of a stroke in humans include partial paralysis and drooling on one side of the face. Cats don't react in the same way humans do. Symptoms in humans may not appear in cats when they have a stroke.
Step 9. Notice how quickly the symptoms appear
Because the blood supply to the brain stops quickly, the effects of a stroke also occur suddenly. If your cat has a loss of balance that continues to get worse over the course of several weeks, it may not be a stroke. However, you should still take him to the vet to treat recurring symptoms or prevent them from getting worse.
Step 10. Record how long each symptom lasts
The symptoms of a stroke usually last for at least twenty-four hours in cats. You should also take your cat to the vet as soon as symptoms appear (although this may not always be possible). Just like humans, cats can experience a mild stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). This means the symptoms may start to disappear after a day; however, make sure you take him to the vet, even if his signs lessen.
These temporary signs are strong clues that the cat has a medical problem that needs to be examined so that he doesn't have a full stroke in the future
Step 11. Check your cat's medical track record
While it's not always definitive and visible, strokes are more likely to occur in cats who already have certain medical conditions. If you take your cat to the vet on a regular basis, check their medical track record. If your vet has diagnosed your cat with kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, or an overactive thyroid gland, the chances of having a stroke are much higher.
Part 2 of 2: Caring for a Cat Suffering from a Stroke
Step 1. Take the cat to the vet immediately
The sooner he is taken to the vet, the sooner he will receive treatment, which will increase his chances of recovery. Strokes in cats are less dangerous than strokes in humans; however, this situation remains serious and requires immediate attention.
- You may be able to call while your cat is in its crate to tell your vet about the symptoms you've noticed.
- If it's at night, you may need to take your cat to the veterinary emergency department.
Step 2. Help the vet
He or she will ask several questions to help determine countermeasures. He will ask a lot of things about cat behavior, so make sure you pay attention to your cat. The vet will also ask if the cat has ingested anything such as a plant, medication, or poison that is causing symptoms. He or she may also want to know if the cat has been traumatized before developing signs of a stroke. In addition, changes in his food and drink intake will also be investigated. The vet may also ask if the cat is vomiting, has diarrhea, or is weak.
You should know if your cat has also been vaccinated against rabies in recent times
Step 3. Request medical tests
The vet may suggest blood, urine, x-ray, or ultrasound tests. These tests can help determine stroke or other causes that often coexist with strokes in cats (which were discussed in the first part of this article). If your vet thinks your cat has a serious neurological problem, he or she may advise you to see a veterinary neurologist. The specialist can then perform further testing procedures, such as an MRI/CT scan, to identify blood clots or areas of damage to the cat's brain.
These tests are performed on animals in a similar way to tests on humans
Step 4. Take care of your cat
In many cases, the cat's symptoms may subside within a few days of home treatment. In some other cases, the cat may need to be hospitalized in a veterinary hospital. Its neurological effects on cats are difficult to determine. You and your vet will need time to understand the long-term effects of the cat's medical condition.
- If your cat shows symptoms of motion sickness, a medication such as Cerenia can be used to relieve it.
- If your cat's appetite has decreased, there are several options for increasing it, such as Mirtazapine.
- If your cat is having seizures, your vet may prescribe anti-seizure medications, such as phenobarbital.
Step 5. Research the possibilities
If the symptoms suggest vestibular disease, the cat may recover spontaneously within a few days. However, in some other situations, the cat's head may continue to tilt. This may be the only long term effect and the cat stays healthy. Other cats may continue to have balance problems. Because the brain is such a complex part, the final outcome of a neurological attack cannot be completely predicted.
You may not be able to bear to see your pet have trouble walking. Don't worry, he's usually not in pain
Step 6. Protect the cat
All cats that have experienced neurological problems should be kept indoors to keep them safe. You may have to keep him in one room for a while after he is discharged from the hospital. This is important for safety, especially if you have other pets in the house, which may attack the cat because it is acting abnormally.
Step 7. Help the cat eat and perform other functions if needed
While your cat is recovering, you may need to help her eat, drink, or go to the toilet box. All of this will depend on the severity of the condition. You may need to pick him up and take him to his feeding, drinking, or litter box. Watch for signs that indicate that he is hungry or that he needs to pee, such as meowing or showing general discontent.
It will take you some time to see if this will be permanent or temporary for the cat
Step 8. Be careful with children around the cat
While keeping an eye on the cat and noticing its symptoms, be careful with all children around the cat. If your cat is confused, disoriented, or has convulsions, he may accidentally bite or scratch. Keep children away to avoid potential injury.
Step 9. Be patient
With proper care and attention, some cats make excellent recovery. Even in these situations, the recovery process can take 2-4 months. Be patient with your cat and remember that he needs you while he recovers.
Tips
- If you're not sure what's wrong with your cat, always call the vet.
- Although not necessarily associated with a stroke, a cat should be taken to the veterinarian if he experiences any of the following symptoms: loss of consciousness, convulsions, walking in circles, sudden inability to use his hind legs, tilted head, eyes that move rapidly. speed, loss of balance, inability to stand or walk without falling, uncoordinated gait, sudden blindness or deafness, unfocused or confused gaze at a point in the distance, standing in one place and staring at a wall, or pressing head against a surface something for minutes.
