Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Identifying the symptoms of stroke in a cat
• Part 2 of 2: Grooming a cat that has had a stroke
• Tips

A stroke, also called brain disease, is caused in a cat by a lack of blood in the brain or bleeding in the brain. Strokes and other abnormal neurological events can affect certain bodily functions, such as balance, equilibrium, limb control, vision, and consciousness. The first signs associated with a stroke can also indicate brain disease, epilepsy, or some other condition. Regardless of the cause, the symptoms associated with a stroke should be treated promptly by a veterinarian.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Identifying the symptoms of stroke in a cat

1. Check the cat's general alertness. If you notice that your cat is acting strangely, you should investigate its general health. If the cat has lost consciousness, check its breathing. Determine if the cat responds to the sound of your voice. Watch for chills and spasms.
2. Watch for signs of depression. A cat who has had a stroke may exhibit symptoms that people commonly refer to as depression. The cat may appear unusually quiet and may not respond as it normally did.
   • This behavior can be caused by the cat being disoriented, feeling dizzy or nauseous and / or suffering from a severe headache.
3. Watch for abnormal head tilt. You may notice that the cat is holding its head at an odd angle, with one ear higher than the other. This can be a tilting or rotating movement. If this is due to a stroke, this symptom usually means that there is pressure in a certain area of ​​the brain.
   • This symptom can also indicate another problem, such as brain disease, which can cause damage to the inner ear. Brain disease affects the cat's balance and orientation in a way similar to a stroke. The symptom is cause for concern and should be promptly treated by the vet, whether the cause is stroke or brain disease.
4. Watch for unstable walking or running in circles. You may notice that your cat cannot walk in a straight line. The cat may swing, as if drunk, may keep tumbling to one side or walking in circles. If this is caused by a stroke, then again the cause is probably pressure on a certain area of ​​the brain.
   • These symptoms can also present as weakness on one side of the body or lack of control over the body. It is also possible that the cat is misjudging its steps or showing signs of weakness in all paws.
   • As with other symptoms caused by pressure on the cat's brain, shaky walking and walking in circles can also be signs of brain disease.
   • If your cat has tremors or is moving its limbs wildly and rhythmically, this probably indicates an attack. After that, the cat may be disoriented. This is the post-octal phase of an attack and can last from a few minutes to several hours. While a single attack is not an immediate cause for concern, it is good to take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.
5. Examine the cat's eyes. Take a good look at your cat's eyes. If he's had a stroke, the pupils may be of different sizes and his eyes may flick from side to side. This is called nystagmus and is caused by a lack of blood flow to the nerves that control the eyes.
   • If your cat's pupils are of unequal size, his third eyelids are visible and he tilts his head, it is probably not a stroke, but a brain disease.
   • A side effect of the nystagmus is nausea from movement / disorientation.
6. Check the cat for blindness. Although less common than other eye-related symptoms, some cats go blind from a stroke. Even in cases where the blindness is not caused by a stroke, it is a clear sign that the cat's blood pressure is too high, which often precedes a stroke.
7. Check the cat's tongue. It should be pink. If the tongue is purple, blue, or white, there is a serious problem. Take the cat to a veterinary clinic right away.
8. don't look too much for stroke symptoms that people show. The most obvious stroke symptoms in humans are partial paralysis and drooping of the face on one side. Cats don't experience stroke in the same way that humans do. The symptoms of stroke in humans do not usually present in cats.
9. Pay attention to how quickly the symptoms present. Since blood loss happens quickly on one side of the brain, its effects are also sudden. For example, if your cat shows a decreased balance over a period of several weeks, a stroke is unlikely. However, you should take your cat to the vet for any recurring and persistent symptoms.
10. Keep track of how long the symptoms last. Stroke symptoms usually last for 24 hours in cats. You should take your cat to the vet as soon as you notice symptoms, but that may not always be possible. Like humans, cats can have a minor stroke, or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). This means that the symptoms will diminish after a day; but you should still take the cat to the vet, even if the symptoms subside.
    • These temporary signs are a strong indication of a problem that requires further medical investigation to prevent the cat from having a full-blown stroke in the near future.
11. Examine your cat's medical history. While not an immediately apparent symptom, strokes are more likely in cats that have underlying medical problems. If you take your cat to the vet regularly, check his records. If the vet has previously diagnosed the cat with kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, or overactive thyroid glands, the risk of a stroke is much higher.

Part 2 of 2: Grooming a cat that has had a stroke

1. Take the cat to the vet immediately. The sooner he gets to a vet, the better the care the animal will receive, which means he has a greater chance of recovery. Stroke is not always as serious in cats as it is in humans; however, it is a serious occurrence and requires immediate medical attention.
   • Call the vet while you put the cat in its travel cage to tell it about the symptoms you have seen.
   • If it is night, you can take him to an emergency veterinary clinic.
2. Cooperate with the vet. The vet will ask you questions to determine what to do. He will ask a lot of things about the cat's behavior, so make sure you pay close attention to the cat. He will ask if your cat may have eaten anything, such as a plant, medication, or poison, that could be causing the symptoms. He may also ask if there has been any previous trauma, such as a fall. Questions about food and water intake are also not uncommon, and whether the cat has vomited, had diarrhea or was generally lethargic.
   • You need to know if your cat has had a recent rabies vaccination.
3. Have research done. The vet may recommend blood tests, X-rays or ultrasounds. These tests can help diagnose stroke or the underlying problems often associated with stroke in cats (see Part 1). If the vet thinks there is a serious neurological problem, a consultation with a specialist neurologist may be required. The specialist may recommend additional tests, such as an MRI or CAT scan, that can identify a blood clot or damaged area in the brain.
   • These studies are conducted for animals in a similar way as for humans.
4. Take care of your cat. In many cases, your cat's symptoms may disappear after a few days of loving care at home. In some cases, the cat must be admitted to the vet. Neurological consequences can be difficult to determine. You and the vet will need time to determine what the long-term consequences may be.
   • If your cat has travel / motion sickness as a symptom, a drug like Cerenia can be given to control it.
   • If your cat has little appetite, you can increase the appetite with, for example, Mirtazapine.
   • If your cat is having seizures, the vet will likely discuss the options of medication to suppress them, such as phenobarbital.
5. Investigate the possible consequences. If the symptoms were caused by brain disease, the cat can recover in a few days. In other situations, the cat may continue to tilt its head. This may be the only lingering remnant while the cat is otherwise healthy. Other cats have balance problems. Since the brain is complicated, the consequences of a neurological event can never be fully predicted.
   • It can be very difficult to see your pet in such trouble. Don't worry too much, he probably isn't in pain.
6. Protect your cat. Any cat that has neurological problems should be kept indoors for its safety. You may need to confine the cat's space to one room for a while. This is for the safety of the cat, especially if you have other pets that may attack the cat for exhibiting abnormal behavior.
7. Help the cat to eat and perform other bodily functions as needed. You may need to help the cat eat, drink and defecate during the recovery period. This depends on the seriousness of the situation. You may need to lift him and carry him to his food, water, or litter box. Watch for signs that he is hungry or needs to go to his litter box, such as meowing or general dissatisfaction.
   • It will take a while to know if this is a temporary or permanent situation for the cat.
8. Be careful with children. Watch children around your cat while you monitor it and keep track of its symptoms. If your cat is confused, disoriented or has seizures, the cat may bite or scratch unintentionally. The best way to avoid accidental injury is to keep children away.
9. Be patient. Cats can recover well with proper care. However, even in positive situations, recovery can take 2-4 months. Be patient and remember how badly your cat needs you during recovery.

Tips

• If you are unsure what exactly is wrong with your cat, you should always contact the vet.
• While not all are stroke-related, take the cat to the vet if it shows the following symptoms: loss of consciousness, seizures, walking in circles, sudden inability to use hind legs, head tilt, rapid movement of eyes, loss of balance, inability to stand or walk without falling over, walking uncoordinated, sudden blindness, sudden deafness, looking into the distance unconcentrated or confused, staring at walls standing still or pushing head against a surface for minutes .