[LoriO]

First off, yes we plan on calling the vet in the morning but in the meantime, looking for some advice here.

Tonight our 16 yo cat started yowling, I looked up at him just in time to see him flop on his side. When I got to him, he seemed really out of it , no signs of convulsions. After about 30 seconds he seemed to come out of it and went back to his normal routine.

Having worked EMS and as a 911 dispatcher, if this was a human I would immediately say seizure, do you think it is the same for cats?

Cat is 16, has hyperthyroidism and is on meds for that. Had basic bloodwork and thyroid levels checked at Christmas and things were good then.

[Beckham03]

It does sound like a mild seizure. I would call the vet this morning.

[SquishTheBunny]

I would think one of three things. Syncopal episode (or cardiac event), seizure or a saddle thrombus. Saddle thrombuses are VERY painful (would explain the yowling) and usually if the cat can dislodge it quickly, they return to normal within minutes.

The yowling doesnt really fit with a syncopal episode, and the laying of its side without any signs of twitching is not "common" of a seizure (but cant be ruled out).

I would ensure your vet listens very carefull for a murmur - if there is one present a cardiac ultrasound to look for smoke or any clots vs. hyperthyroid murmur is warranted. Often low doses of heparin is enough to prevent prone cats to thrombosis. In events where a thombus cant be cleared within minutes, the prognisis is grave at best.

Good luck wih your kitty!

[LoriO]

I would think one of three things. Syncopal episode (or cardiac event), seizure or a saddle thrombus. Saddle thrombuses are VERY painful (would explain the yowling) and usually if the cat can dislodge it quickly, they return to normal within minutes.

The yowling doesnt really fit with a syncopal episode, and the laying of its side without any signs of twitching is not "common" of a seizure (but cant be ruled out).

I would ensure your vet listens very carefull for a murmur - if there is one present a cardiac ultrasound to look for smoke or any clots vs. hyperthyroid murmur is warranted. Often low doses of heparin is enough to prevent prone cats to thrombosis. In events where a thombus cant be cleared within minutes, the prognisis is grave at best.

Good luck wih your kitty!

Thank you for the suggestions Squish. Will try and get an appointment for him to get looked at as soon as possible.

[Hulk]

sorry to hear about your poor kitty.

[SquishTheBunny]

Just another thought - ask for bloodwork, sometimes sudden glucose changes can cause strange behaviour. Its usually resolved with providing glucose supplimentation (like syrup, honey or food), they dont often become normal without it....but its worth checking out!

[LoriO]

Just another thought - ask for bloodwork, sometimes sudden glucose changes can cause strange behaviour. Its usually resolved with providing glucose supplimentation (like syrup, honey or food), they dont often become normal without it....but its worth checking out!

That was one of the things we had checked in December and it was normal but can't hurt to have them check it again.

[Canaqua]

Our old female cat had a similar incident five or so years ago, at age 17ish. She seemed to suddenly "check out" like no one was home, was stumbling when she walked, drooled and made some weird crying noises. It was Sunday, but our vet agreed to meet me at the clinic and have a look at her. By the time we got there, she was behaving normally. He examined her, took some blood, etc... Nothing turned up. His feeling is that it was a transient ischemic attack...tiny little stroke, which he said is not uncommon in elderly cats. She never had another, seemed to recover fully from it with no lasting neuro deficits and lived five more years...we had her euthanized just this year, at age 22, due to a tumor in her jaw that was starting to make eating difficult.