Stroke in Cats: Symptoms and Treatment

Just a few years ago, it was believed that animals didn't suffer from strokes. However, modern veterinary medicine has proven otherwise. Thanks to new diagnostic methods, specialists have determined that approximately1 in 50 catsis susceptible to ischemic encephalopathy—that's what stroke in cats is called in the professional community.

Types and causes of strokes

The brain of most mammals can only function properly with normal blood flow. If a blood vessel ruptures or becomes blocked by a clot, the volume of blood flow is sharply reduced. This results in damage to brain tissue. This pathological process is calledfeline ischemic encephalopathy.

There are several types of stroke:

• Ischemic.

It occurs due to a clot within a blood vessel in the brain. Thrombi can form directly in the brain vessels (a condition called thrombosis) or elsewhere in the body, then break off and travel to the head (an embolism).

• Hemorrhagic.

It occurs due to a ruptured blood vessel in the brain. Bleeding from the ruptured vessel leads to blood accumulation in nearby brain tissue, which further worsens the animal's condition.

• Transient ischemic attack.

Characterized by a temporary disruption of cerebral circulation (symptoms disappear completely in less than 24 hours).

Regardless of the type of disease, a cat's brain tissue may be damaged so severely that euthanasia may be necessary.

Unfortunately, the exact causes of this condition are unknown. It is mistakenly believed that this condition only affects older animals. However, statistics show that the average age of cats who suffer a stroke is 7-9 years. The presence of certain other medical conditions can significantly increase the risk of cerebrovascular accident. Diabetes, parasitic infections, hyperadrenocorticism, hyperthyroidism, and physical trauma are particularly dangerous.

Symptoms of a stroke

Detecting stroke symptoms in cats without specialized equipment is quite difficult. The problem is that the animal will try to curl up into a ball or hide away from people. It all depends on the owner's attentiveness.

The following changes should raise concern:

• disturbances in the animal’s behavior (avoidance of people, timidity);
• constant twitching of the limbs;
• involuntary bowel movements;
• tilting the head at a certain angle;
• complete paralysis of the legs (often only on one side of the body);
• eye twitching, different pupil sizes;
• loss of balance, disorientation while walking;
• loss of consciousness;
• temporary blindness.

Each of these symptoms, when observed individually, could indicate any other illness. But a characteristic feature of stroke in cats is that all symptoms develop rapidly and simultaneously. A pet may appear completely normal and healthy, but within a minute, its behavior may completely change.

In hemorrhagic or ischemic strokes, an animal's condition may worsen within 24 hours if it doesn't receive adequate medical care (sometimes leading to coma or death). The symptoms of a mini-stroke usually resolve completely within 24 hours. However, this doesn't mean the animal doesn't need veterinary care. Signs of a mini-stroke are compelling evidence that there's a circulatory problem requiring professional medical intervention. Otherwise, the pet could suffer a full-blown stroke in the very near future.

Diagnostics

If you suspect that your pet is having a stroke, you should immediately take the animal to a veterinary clinic.

Caution! Do not provide any first aid yourself. Firstly, it is impossible to determine that your pet is developing ischemic encephalopathy without an examination. Secondly, the principles of veterinary medicine differ significantly from human medicine, so there is a risk of worsening your pet's condition.

It's essential to prepare your cat's complete medical history and provide it to your veterinarian. This information will not only help diagnose a stroke but also expedite the appropriate treatment. If circulatory problems are the result of an injury, the veterinarian will also examine other internal organs and do everything possible to stabilize the animal's condition.

Once first aid has been provided, the specialist will prescribe:

• complete blood count of your pet (including biochemical profile);
• urine analysis (to detect possible kidney or liver problems);
• thyroid hormone test (to determine whether the stroke was caused by hormonal imbalances).

In the most modern veterinary clinics, CT or MRI scans are mandatory to assess the extent of brain tissue damage and to rule out (or confirm) the presence of blood clots in the blood vessels.

Treatment methods

Initial medical care will be aimed at relieving painful symptoms and preventing death. Specifically, the pet will receive oxygen therapy. The cat will be placed in a special chamber or provided with supplemental oxygen through a special mask. This inexpensive and completely painless procedure will promote the restoration of damaged brain tissue. A saline drip may also be placed to prevent dehydration and a catheter may be inserted to facilitate urination.

Once the cat's condition has stabilized and the veterinarian has determined the type of disease, medications will be administered to prevent the development of new blood clots and heal damaged vessel walls.

If possible, it's best to keep your pet in a boarding facility, as the risk of another stroke increases tenfold during the first few days after a stroke. It's important to remember that proper treatment directly impacts the animal's future health. Therefore, it's best to entrust your cat's care to professionals.

If there are no 24-hour veterinary clinics in your city, you'll need to arrange for 24-hour care at home. First, place an absorbent pad on the cat's bedding (which should be dry and warm). It's likely that your cat will urinate on its own at first. Second, ensure it gets enough water. If your pet can't lap on its own, administer water down its throat (using a nipple or a large syringe) every few hours. Feed only liquid food twice a day. Read more on our website. What to do if a cat doesn't drink water.

Rehabilitation

For the first 2-3 days after a stroke, pets are usually kept in the clinic under 24-hour observation by specialists. This is necessary to assess the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment and reduce the risk of a recurrent stroke.

After discharge, the veterinarian will develop an individualized recovery plan. Rehabilitation can be carried out independently at home or with the help of a rehabilitation specialist.

During the recovery period, it's important to review your cat's diet. Chewing may be impaired, so consider feeding semi-liquid food, wet food, or pâtés. Feedings should be more frequent—up to 5-6 times a day—making sure your pet gets enough fluids, especially if they're not drinking well on their own.

If your cat continues to have mobility and sensory issues, it's best to place the bed on the floor and place an absorbent pad underneath. To prevent bedsores, gently turn the cat every 2-4 hours.

Massage is helpful for restoring mobility. At home, you can gently massage your limbs to improve circulation. A course of therapeutic massage with a specialist is also possible. In some cases, physiotherapy treatments such as electrophoresis or magnetic therapy are also prescribed, usually in courses of 10 sessions.

The recovery period after a stroke in cats can last from several months to a year and a half. It's important for owners to be prepared for the fact that a full return to their previous condition is not always possible. However, there is still a chance for improvement and even full recovery.

It's important to schedule appointments with a veterinary neurologist in advance. Follow-up visits are usually scheduled every 2-3 months to monitor progress and adjust treatment if necessary.

During the recovery period, stress levels should be minimized. Protect the cat from loud noises, bright lights, and contact with other animals and small children, who may frighten or accidentally hurt it.

It's crucial to surround your pet with care and attention. Talk to your cat often, pet them, support them, and praise them for any successes. An emotional connection with their owner plays a vital role throughout the entire recovery process.

Prognosis for the life and health of a cat that has suffered a stroke

The prognosis for a cat that has suffered a stroke will depend on the underlying condition that triggered the stroke. A veterinarian can only provide a specific prognosis after examining a brain scan.

Important to know! It is extremely difficult to restore tissue damaged in the first 24 hours after a stroke. Therefore, if areas of the brain responsible for vital functions have been damaged, a full recovery of your pet should not be expected.

If a stroke is identified and treated within a few hours, the chances of a full recovery increase several-fold. As for the fatality rate, no official studies have been conducted to date. However, veterinarians claim that without adequate medical care within the first 24 hours, nearly 80% of animals die. However, the mortality rate among pets who get to a veterinarian promptly is only 10%.

You can also ask our website's staff veterinarian a question, who will answer them as quickly as possible in the comments box below.

Read also:

• Heart attack in cats
• Anemia in cats
• Diabetes in cats