Kittens That Get Seizures When They Sleep

The American Animal Hospital Association points out that it is common for cats and kittens to experience small twitches or tremors during sleep. Kittens may experience small tremors while they are in their REM cycle, which is the rapid eye movement cycle. A kitten may drift in and out of the REM cycle several times during sleep. It is the deepest cycle of sleep and the one in which they experience dreams. The brain is most active during the REM cycle. The small tremor you see could actually mean that your kitten is dreaming about chasing mice.

If you observe a seizure in your kitten, veterinary attention will be needed. A seizure lasts longer than a small twitch or tremor. Your kitten's body may become stiff during a seizure. A cat who is simply experiencing twitches will wake up when you say his name or gently pet him. A kitten experiencing seizures will not be able to wake up from them or respond to you during the seizures. It would be very unlikely that your kitten would have seizures only while sleeping. Take careful note of how long the seizure lasts and how your kitten appears while awake. Loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, and vomiting all indicate that something is wrong -- especially if seizures are also occurring at other times of the day either while awake or asleep.

If you see your kitten having what looks like a seizure, watch closely. When you see your veterinarian, the details of the seizure will be important clues that will help diagnose and treat your kitten. It is unlikely that the veterinarian will ever be able to observe your kitten having a seizure, as they occur randomly. Your kitten may lose control over his bowels during a seizure. Watch for breathing patterns, drooling, and try to count the duration of the seizure. If the duration of your kitten's seizure is prolonged or he has two seizures within a 24 hour period, he will need veterinary attention immediately.

Seizures in cats often indicate underlying medical issues. Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose whether or not your kitten is experiencing seizures as well as prescribe a suitable treatment plan. Treatment options range from providing a glucose product, surgery, or prescribing medication that works to prevent seizures from occurring. No seizure should go ignored or untreated. Kittens experiencing seizures could be at risk of choking during a seizure. Early treatment can help detect and successfully treat any possible underlying illnesses or diseases.