Signs of a stroke in cats include stumbling, pressing their head against a hard surface, and weakness. Strokes in cats require immediate and sometimes ongoing treatment to give your cat the best chance for recovery.
Although there is no specific treatment for strokes in dogs and cats, most pets tend to recover within a few weeks. However, recovery may not be possible if the stroke has affected a vital part of the brain.
The good news is that if your cat receives speedy treatment (within the first 24 hours), they'll often make a full recovery within a few weeks. However, depending on the cause, they may be at risk of another stroke in future.
Can my dog or cat have a stroke? Cats and dogs can have strokes, but they seem to occur less frequently in pets than in people. Pet owners often don't notice signs of a mild stroke in their companions since animals can't tell you when they feel dizzy, lose sight in one eye, or have memory problems.
Oxygen therapy to promote healing of brain tissue. Seizure medications to help control seizures or decrease pressure in the skull. Physical rehabilitation (physiotherapy for cats) to help address neurological deficits. Improvements to diet, nutrition or hydration.
Signs of a stroke in cats include stumbling, pressing their head against a hard surface, and weakness. Strokes in cats require immediate and sometimes ongoing treatment to give your cat the best chance for recovery.
There is no specific treatment to repair damage to your pet's brain following a stroke. However, your vet will try and identify a possible cause to prevent further strokes. Some pets make a full recovery from their stroke, others may suffer permanent damage. Physiotherapy can be helpful in their rehabilitation.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of these signs of stroke appear: Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; Trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Trouble walking, dizziness, or problems with balance; severe headache with no known cause.
The cat may be experiencing a transitory problem with its vestibular system—the complex arrangement of nerves and other components that governs its sense of balance and coordinates the movement of its head and eyes. Such a disorder and its alarming manifestations are typically temporary and ultimately harmless.
Call your veterinarian immediately if your cat seems dizzy or “drunk”—vestibular disease can happen quickly and can be scary, for both you and your pet!
Ischaemic Stroke
If blood supply to a cat's brain stops or is suddenly interrupted, a stroke can occur. The condition can also happen due to underlying illnesses which cause an artery to narrow or become clogged.
"Cats tend to like soft, gentle strokes that move in the same direction of their fur, rather than back and forth petting," Samantha Nigbur, an ASPCA Behavioral Sciences Team Counselor, says. Generally, the best places to pet a cat are where the scent glands are located around her face.
A stroke keeps blood from reaching the brain and leads to brain tissue damage. About 10% of people who experience a stroke eventually develop severe pain that is called post-stroke pain, central pain, or thalamic pain (after the part of the brain typically affected).
Some cats will grooms themselves immediately after you pet them to eliminate your scent and even out their own scent. Displacement behavior. Some cats will use grooming or licking as a displacement behavior. When some cats are stressed, they will cope by grooming (which gives them comfort).
The most common cause of rear limb paralysis in cats is a blood clot that goes to the back leg, called a saddle thrombus or arterial thromboembolism (ATE). This clot blocks blood flow to the affected limb(s). A clot in the back leg suddenly causes the cat to be unable to put full weight on the affected leg.
Vestibular disease can disrupt either the inner ear or brain parts of this system, causing your cat to lose their balance. It can happen to both male and female cats of any age but is seen more often in older felines.
Signs Of Obvious Distress
Cats are typically very stoic animals, so if your cat suddenly seems to be in distress, it is a cause for concern. Howling, crying, hiding, and otherwise acting in a way that is out of character for your pet should alert you that something may be seriously wrong.
Certain conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or problems with your vision, thyroid, nerves, or blood vessels can cause dizziness and other balance problems.
Cat Limping May Indicate a Veterinary Emergency
If you notice your cat limping, it could be an injury or other medical condition impacting a muscle, joint, bone, paw, or other tissue. Cat limping can result from trauma like jumping, falling from a high surface, or being hit by a car.
Because the cause of a stroke and the amount of damage it causes in the brain vary widely, there's no “typical” duration of a stroke. Some strokes last for a few minutes while others continue for hours or even days.
Stroking a pet can have a calming effect on both owner and animal. It can help lower the heart rate and promotes the release of oxytocin – the same hormone that is elicited when a mother looks or touches her baby. However, it is also important to understand that dogs differ in their 'touch sensitivity'.