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Strokes in Cats:

For a number of years, experts believed that stroke in cats were not something that was even considered to take place.

However, extensive research over the last decade has shown that cats, as well as dogs, are also prone to suffering from strokes. In fact, many pet owners are still unaware of the fact that their animal has the potential to suffer from a stroke.

Strokes in cats are the result of the reduction in amount of blood supply to the brain which may be caused by the presence of some underlying medical condition, or accidental injury and poisoning. Strokes can be sub categorized into Ischemic strokes, where the condition is caused by the reduced supply of blood to the brain; and hemorrhagic strokes which is the result of the breaking of a vessel in the brain.

Some of the more common underlying medical conditions that lead to a stroke include heart disease, Cushing’s disease, kidney disease, brain tumors and thyroid disease. The most common symptoms of stroke in cats include difficulty in walking and balancing, a noticeable head tilt, sudden and unexpected behavioral changes as well as the sudden loss of vision and bowel control. While strokes in cats are unlikely to have the same level of impact as they do in humans, they should not be taken any more lightly.

Some rare cases of strokes may find the root cause to be an internal parasite or the dislodging of a fragment of fat or spinal cartilage getting trapped in the brain. If a cat’s brain did not develop normally or the cat has inherited a blood clotting disease, it is more likely to suffer from a stroke than normally developed cats.

Just as with humans, cats are also likely to suffer from a heat stroke, however, the complications of this are likely to be temporary than when compared to a stroke involving the brain. The degree of prominence of the symptoms you see when you cat has suffered a stroke will depend significantly on the part of the brain affected and the degree to which it is destroyed. If a certain part of the brain is severely destroyed, chances of complete recuperation may be minimal. Studies have shown that the B class of vitamins, especially vitamin B6 and B12, are known to be very effective in protecting the body against a stroke and seem to be as potent when administered to cats. The best way to ensure maximum recovery for the animal will be to diagnose the condition as early as possible.

Submitted on December 9, 2009