Help! Was my cat having a seizure?

Question

Today one of my cats was laying on the floor. and I noticed he was making a clicking sound with his teeth, sort of like we do when we are cold, and it looked like his body was shaking a little. He wasn't cold, because it was 75 today. Then he looked out the window, went to it and continued the noise. I didn't see anything outside. What happened? He has never done that before! He's been okay all day after that.

No flea treatments.
He was on his tummy. I guess there could have been birds outside, but I didn't see any.

Answer 1

Were there birds outside the window? Cats "chatter"to call birds when they are hunting. Since you said he was walking to the window,I doubt that he was having a seizure, which usually consists of an inability to function (i.e. cannot walk). Both of my cats "call"birds, and there is even a cute video on e-baums world (called "barking cat") Check it out and see if that is anything like what happened to yours.

Answer 2

Was kitty clicking his jaws real fast while lying on is tummy on the floor? Probably kitty got over-excited over something he saw outside the window. Cats make this clicking chattering noise with their teeth and mouth when they see a prey like a bird or squirrel. If he was lying on his SIDE on the floor, then I'd worry. Just watch him closely for the rest of the day and if you are still in doubt, take him to the vet.
Don't rule out the possibility that kitty may have a really bad toothache becuase one of the signs is chattering jaws and shaking.

Anyway, how to recognize a seizure according to "PetPlace":

The severity of the seizure can vary between a far-away look or twitching in one part of the face to your cat falling on his side, barking, gnashing his teeth, urinating, defecating and paddling his limbs.

Seizures are symptoms of some neurological disorder – they are not in themselves a disease. Some underlying causes include:


Low blood glucose (sugar)

Liver disease (called “hepatic encephalopathy”)

Inflammatory or infectious diseases that affect the nervous system

Poisons or toxins

Brain tumor

Head trauma

Blood vessel disorders that affect circulation to the brain

Congenital problems – those present at birth – such as hydrocephalus (“water on the brain”).

Warning signs that require emergency veterinary attention:
1.. Seizures that last longer than 10 minutes
2. Seizures that occur more than twice in a 24 hour time period
3. Seizures that begin before your pet has completely recovered from the previous seizure

What to do if your pet has a seizure:
1. Do not panic. If your pet is having a seizure, he is unconscious and he is not suffering. Your pet may seem like he is not breathing, but he is.
2. Time the seizure. Actually look at a clock or watch and note the time; although it may seem like forever, it may only be 30 seconds.
3. Keep your pet from hurting himself by moving furniture away from the immediate area. Also protect him from water, stairs, and other sharp objects. If possible, place a pillow under his head to prevent head trauma.
4. Note what type of muscular activity or abnormal behavior does your pet exhibits during the seizures? Your veterinarian may want you to keep a record of the date and length of time of each seizure.
5. If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, call your veterinarian or veterinary emergency clinic immediately.
6. Pets do not swallow their tongues. Do not put your hand in your cat's mouth – you may get bit. Do not put spoons or any other object into your pet's mouth.
7. Keep children and other pets away from your seizing animal.
8. Remain by your pet's side; stroke and comfort your animal so when he comes out of the seizure you are there to calm him.

Answer 3

My cats do this when they hear a bird outside. His hearing and sight is better than our and they can hear/see a bird where we can't. But keep an eye on him, if he does again look at eyes they will either look like they're rolled back or have a blank stare to them, it could be a seizure. I had a dog with Epilepsy and she suffered seizures a lot even on medication.

Answer 4

My cat has made that noise before, and there were birds outside. I don't think anything is serious about that, I'm sure your cat's fine <3

Answer 5

cat seizure

Answer 6

that does not sound like a seizure to me. what is sounds like is the noise and goofy behavior that cats make when they see something outside- like a bird or bug or something. Their lower jaw does look like its shaking and they make strange noise. Its like a chatter. Even if you did not see anything outside-- your cat did-- it flew away when he ran up to the window. dont worry-- its sounds like a typical cat.

Answer 7

one time my cat licked the flea medication off the back of his neck and started doing really weird things (foaming at the mouth, running into walls....i thought he had rabies). it could be something like that. also, my cat growls sometimes and makes weird sounds with his mouth. so it could be nothing, but i would take him to a vet just incase anyways cause its better to be safe than sorry. hope hes ok.

Answer 8

get him to a vet ASAP. have you recently put any flea treatments on him? i know grocery store brands will cause seizures...call the vet, tell him what happend, it may have been a stroke and he could have brain damage

Answer 9

it very well may have been a petitmal seizure. take him to the vet to be checked. it can cause some brain swelling and other problems if left unchecked.

Answer 10

You should take him to a Good vet ASAP.... that happened to my dog and we ended up taking our dog to a Bad vet and he ended up dying....but you should find a really good vet and get help asap...