Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
will help alert a cat to cars and other animals that can pose a threat. Deaf
cats are at risk when they are outside unsupervised.
Deaf cats are easily startled, and in my experience can be more
aggressive.This may arise from the cat feeling more defensive due to an
inability to hear anyone approaching. Still, deaf cats can make good pets
and live normal life spans. If you are unsure about your cat's ability to
hear, consult your veterinarian.
Head Tilt
A head tilt is a sign of diseases of the external, middle or inner ear as
well as diseases of the brain. Diseases that affect the ear include trauma,
bacterial or mite infections, polyps, tumors, foreign bodies, punctured
eardrums and ototoxic drugs. In addition to a head tilt, other possible
clinical signs of ear disease are circling, loss of equilibrium, vomiting
and listlessness. A head tilt could be a symptom of serious disease, so a
thorough workup by your veterinarian is warranted.
The workup for a head tilt is similar to that of other neurological
diseases, and may include an exam of the ear canals and tympanums
(eardrums), blood and urine tests, skull X rays, CAT or MRI scans,
cerebral spinal fluid tap and a BAER test. Treatment and prognosis
depend on the cause, but cats with head tilts often need help in getting
around, jumping up or down, using stairs, eating and getting in and out
of the litter box.
KITTIES AND CONVULSIONS
A seizure is an uncontrolled release of electrical activity from the neu-
rons of the brain.When you observe a seizure, it may seem as though it
lasts for a long time, but in reality seizures rarely last more than 30 to
60 seconds. Seizures are scary, because your normally responsive pet will
not recognize you and may even bite you if you try to hold her down.
There is nothing you can do to stop a seizure in progress.The best
thing to do is to be sure the animal cannot fall off something and hurt
herself, and then leave her alone. Why do cats have seizures? There are
many possible causes.
Epilepsy, a disorder that triggers recurrent seizures but has no under-
lying disease process occurring in the brain, is not as common in cats as
it is in dogs or humans. Most feline seizures are triggered by specific
causes. Idiopathic epilepsy is a seizure condition with no known cause.
