| Stupors in cats are much more than just your cat | | | | It is almost always an inflammation in your cat's brain |
| losing consciousness; it is a life threatening situation | | | | and is caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, or |
| that will need immediate attention. This lack of an | | | | tick infections. The actual symptoms will depend on |
| alert state of mind in your cat could be the result of | | | | what part of your cat's brain has been infected and |
| several different sinister underlying conditions such as | | | | will include seizures, blindness, behavior changes, |
| Hydrocephalus or other related diseases. | | | | mental depression, as well as imbalance and lack of |
| There are five basic levels of consciousness that are | | | | coordination. However, the most telling sign is a |
| recognized in cats and it's extremely important to | | | | stupor like affect in your cat. |
| understand the differences and be able to properly | | | | Hydrocephalus can also be the cause of stupors as it |
| identify this condition in your cat if you ever | | | | is a neurological disease in which there is an excessive |
| experience it. | | | | accumulation of fluid in the brain. This disease is |
| The five levels include normal, depressed, disoriented, | | | | especially dangerous as it slowly affects your cat. It |
| stuporous, and comatose. | | | | usually starts with spastic or clumsy walking followed |
| A normal state is when your cat has no obvious | | | | by sudden bouts of circling. |
| symptoms of any type of irregular responses to | | | | As this disease progresses, your cat's head may |
| basic stimuli, and this state can vary tremendously | | | | start to tilt and they may develop very abnormal |
| depending on the personality of your cat. Dull or | | | | eye movements. If your cat suddenly cries out in |
| depressed is a state that your cat enters into when | | | | pain, the next step of this disease is usually an |
| they are sick or starting to become ill. They may | | | | altered mental state, seizures, stupors, or the worst |
| sleep a lot but they will also respond very easy to | | | | case scenario, a coma. |
| any type of stimuli. | | | | Hypoglycemia is yet another potential cause of a |
| Disorientated or demented states can very often be | | | | stupors developing in your cat and this is the result |
| confused with stuporous levels; but there are major | | | | of a gradual or very rapid decrease of your cat's |
| differences. Demented is usually a progressive | | | | blood glucose, or their sugar concentrations. This |
| condition much like Alzheimer's disease where your | | | | condition is very common in kittens and very young |
| cat is suffering from or showing signs of dementia. | | | | cats that have not fully developed their ability to |
| Dementia is a state where your pet will start to | | | | regulate their blood glucose concentration. |
| show signs of loss of cognitive functions as well as | | | | Signs to watch for in the development of this |
| demonstrating apathy to most conditions. | | | | disease are dilated pupils and the appearance of being |
| With this state of consciousness your cat will | | | | suddenly blind. This will most often be followed be |
| responded to stimuli but their reactions will seem | | | | trembling and muscle twitching, seizures, and than a |
| very odd to you as they will become hyperactive, | | | | stupor. |
| hysterical, or very irritable to the point of being | | | | The final two major potential causes of stupors will |
| aggressive. | | | | be drug intoxication or a reaction to a toxic |
| Stupors in cats is the next step beyond this state of | | | | substance. Drug intoxication in cats may be very slow |
| consciousness where your cat will not respond to | | | | in development as cats have a very slow rate of |
| any type of normal stimulus but will respond to very | | | | bio-transformation in their liver. They also have |
| strong stimuli such stroking very hard or pinching . | | | | unusual receptor site sensitivity from many drugs. |
| The fifth stage is where you cat is comatose and | | | | An example of this is that most cats develop a very |
| unresponsive to anything. In this state of | | | | excitable state after being administered morphine |
| unconsciousness, they usually do not survive. | | | | rather than the sedative state it is intended for. If |
| Causes: | | | | you suspect a drug reaction is the cause of the |
| There are several potential causes of what may | | | | stupor, it will be extremely important to make note |
| have placed your cat in this very serious and life | | | | of the series of events leading up to the stupor. |
| threatening position. If you suspect that your cat | | | | There is an entire litany of toxic substances that |
| may be falling slowing into stupors, or suddenly | | | | may have caused this condition in your cat including |
| appears that they are in a stupor, it will be extremely | | | | over 24 types of plants and shrubs as well as several |
| important to make several notes on what happened | | | | very common household chemicals including drain |
| or is happening for your veterinarian. | | | | cleaners, furniture polish, and several bathroom |
| They will need to know when the first incident | | | | cleaners. |
| occurred and how long it lasted, as well as is this the | | | | Summary: |
| first such episode or has it happened before? Has | | | | Stupors in cats are very easy passed off as lethargic |
| your cat taken any new medications or been | | | | states. However, it is extremely important that if you |
| exposed to any type of toxicity? And finally, does | | | | suspect this condition at all to make as many notes |
| your pet have any type of a disease that may be | | | | as you can think of both prior and during the stupor. |
| the cause such as epilepsy, diabetes, or a heart | | | | If your cat does demonstrate any signs of altered |
| condition. If they are your regular veterinarian they | | | | consciousness, lay them down as quickly as possible |
| will know your cat's background but they will still | | | | to protect them from injury, but be very careful as |
| need to be notified of anything new or different. | | | | they may not know what is happening and may |
| The first potential cause may have been some type | | | | attempt to claw or bite you. It will also be very |
| of a trauma that has happened to your pets head as | | | | important to lay them either on a board or a very |
| well as brain tumors and a condition known as | | | | tight blanket or rug before moving them. |
| Encephalitis. Encephalitis is an inflammatory disease of | | | | If trauma is the cause, moving them sharply may |
| your cat's central nervous system that includes the | | | | place their life in further danger. If you suspect |
| brain and the spinal cord. It is also one of the most | | | | poisoning, try to find what you believe may have |
| common neurological diseases to both cats as well as | | | | triggered this and bring it with you to the veterinarian. |
| dogs. | | | | How you react may save your cats life. |