After Sleep, Young Cat Collapses -- This May Have Killed Another Cat?

Hello Everyone, I have had an episode with my cat and would like to see if anyone has any advice.

My cat is barely three years old (just turned 3 four days ago), abyssinian, weighs 6 pounds. Every night he goes to bed with me and sleeps at my side. Tonight around 3AM, we were both asleep when I felt him moving, followed by a loud thud and I realized he had fallen off my bed and was now flopping on the floor. He seemed aware of surroundings, wasn't panting or anything, no twitching but he couldn't stand and his legs kept giving out underneath him. Maybe about 40 seconds later he was able to stand and was fine. We're waiting right now for the vet to open, he is playing, he wants to eat breakfast. Clear eyes. Nothing wrong with his gait. Nothing unusual as far as I can tell.

I think this has happened once before, maybe about a week ago? We were sleeping again and I felt him moving, again I was asleep and it was dark so I can't say if he was just falling over on me or seizing, I don't know. I thought then he had fallen off the bed and flopping over trying to walk out of the room-- but by the time he got to the hall way he seemed completely fine. So fine, my husband and I thought I had had a very vivid nightmare. It didn't seem possible for a cat to flop like a fish off a high-up bed, be falling over and be fine in the span of about 30 seconds.

Now that we BOTH saw this attack though, we know it's happened at least twice. 

As if this wasn't enough, I am really, really scared because the cat I had before him died VERY suddenly, very unexpectedly with symptoms that looked a LOT like this. That cat (whom this cat never met), was 6 years old when he started having strange problems-- like he would try to jump on a chair and would completely miss it. He would jump in the air and fall short-- even though it was a tiny chair he had leapt on many times. He was back and forth at the vet, no one could sort out what it might be-- but before we got to do any deep analysis he had what looked like a massive seizure and died in my arms. We realized later he had probably had several seizures, we just didn't know what they were at the time. 

All his attacks happened while he was sleeping as well-- he had one where he rolled off my pillow, one he had been napping. His final attack he had been sleeping with me and got out of bed for breakfast and collapsed waiting for his bowl.

I had accepted my first cat had some neurological issue. He was a very funny cat, even before the seizures-- like on a personality disorder level. Since no one was ever able to figure anything out with his issues, I figured his brain had just never been wired right and that was what eventually killed him. This literally broke my heart. My cats are my children.

A year later we got this new kitten. Since we were never able to diagnose the other cat, we got rid of basically everything he ever had. Dishes. Toys. Beds. Carriers. I changed the type of food this kitten got-- he's on a high quality limited-ingredient wet food, only has dehydrated chicken for treats. The vet recommended we get no objects that were made in China, so all his toys are made in the USA. His bowls and plates are made in the USA. Leashes, collars, tiny shirts-- you get the idea. We stopped cleaning with any wet sprays. Child-locks are on any cupboards he shouldn't get into-- he is indoor only. I give him flea medicine from his vet only. We are really careful because of what happened to our other cat. I do a LOT of reading when it comes to cat care, just in case, because my biggest fear was the same thing that happened to my first cat would happen again because we never figured out what killed him. I never wanted that again in my life. I can't believe I was holding my little three year old cat with all these same feelings of terror going through me!

I just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas. I can accept one cat who was young and healthy having a hidden neurological problem-- but TWO? Who never met and shared nothing? It seems almost impossible to me. It seems impossible to have two completely unrelated cats have seizure/collapse issues. I feel very strongly it must be something in my apartment environment, though I can't figure out what the common denominator would be. Right? I just don't know!

One thing my husband and I thought about-- both of my cats had/have a spot on my fridge about our oven because it gets really warm up there. Sometimes our new kitten will go up there and cry because he wants the oven turned on to get warm and we oblige. Is it possible it could be some gas situation from our oven? There is no extractor fan, it vents hot air right into the kitchen. Like is this some low-grade gas poisoning? The last thing my kitten did tonight, he was sleeping on the fridge, then got up to go to bed with me. An hour later he was collapsing.

I honestly can't think what else it could be-- we are so hyper vigilant, there are no usual suspects in the house. I am so scared. I don't even want my cat in my house, because I am afraid something in here is killing him.

Maybe it's an unrelated attack, maybe it's something completely different-- but again, it seems SO similar and again what are the odds two different young cats combating seizures?

An additional note: Right after the attack happened I called the emergency vet. They were unhelpful, I was ready to bring him in but they seemed to hem and haw if it was necessary and couldn't give me a straight recommendation what to do. Since they seemed unconcerned and it was so close to our regular vet opening, we opted to wait the few hours. At least we can talk to a doctor who saw my other cat and I trust. But yes, we're going to the vet in about 30 minutes now. My cat still seems fine, he's upset he is not getting breakfast but otherwise he's looking out the window, drinking water, playing fetch with a toy running all over the place. Normal behavior.

I am so scared. I don't know what I would do if I lost another cat. They are my whole life. I can't believe this seems to be happening again. I haven't slept, I don't know what to do-- besides going to the vet and doing all the right things-- but I am afraid the vet will find nothing like before and we just won't know and then he'll die just like my other cat. I am really scared.

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone?

I have no experience with seizures in kitties.  I like you would be thinking something environmental.  Do you live in an older home?

I would have to look up again to be sure, it's from 1950s I believe. I know we had to sign a waiver for lead paint because I thought of that when my first cat died, but I don't have an evidence of this cat licking paint and we don't have any areas of chipping or anything like that.

One of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning is seizures so there is a possibility that the cat was affected by fumes. The problems your first cat had with jumping could be explained by this as well.

http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/respiratory/c_ct_carbon_monoxide_toxicosis

I really think you need to get your home tested for carbon monoxide levels, just to be on the safe side. If it's not that you can start to look for other possible cause for their symptoms, but this is something I think you should check first of all.

We are calling people today. We were looking up symptoms for poisoning in pets and there are some low-grade symptoms my husband and I both have as well (really general things like, like dizziness and headache, nothing overt). It's enough to totally have me in a panic though-- I know maybe I am overreacting just because I am reaching for anything, but yes, we decided to have our apartment managers get someone here today after we have the cat checked out at the vet.

You could buy a carbon monoxide detector and set it up; they're not that expensive. I would be inclined to believe your suspicions about an environmental condition causing this. I hope you find out what the heck is going on.

We're about to leave for the vet, I think we'll be boarding the kitten for at least a day and get people to check the gas. If that clears though (and the vet has found nothing else), I am still not sure I ever want to bring him back here! It makes me so scared imagining what could happen.

As far as I know, gas-powered ranges and grills come with warnings to use them only for cooking, never to use them for household heating.  The safest space heaters for that purpose come in small sizes that should easily fit on your stovetop -- about 10" in height, a little less in width and depth.  They are the ones with ceramic heating elements.  They are inexpensive.

I suggest that you have your Veterinarian check your kitty's B12, methylmalonic acid, and homocysteine levels for any indications of B12 deficiency.  There can possibly be emissions from gas-powered and other combustion machines capable of reducing or depleting available B12.  As we know from the proverbial canaries in coal mines, some creatures are much more sensitive than others to differences in environmental conditions.

I gather that you are in a chilly climate (?).  Is there any possibility of your finding another apartment or other dwelling without gas appliances?

Sorry for the delay in reply! It took most of the day at the vet and when I got home I was so exhausted and it turns out I made myself actually sick with a cold after all the stress and worry. Thank you everyone for the replies and the people who have sent me PMs too!

VET REPORT

The doctor felt really, really, really strongly what happened to my first cat had nothing to do with my second. She said it was only a coincidence. She said it's worlds of difference between a six year old and a three year old. If something had taken down an adult six year old, the three year old would have shown signs much earlier. I still feel it's really unusual. I have had cats all my life and never had something this extreme in one, let alone two back to back. All cats in my life have lived well into their teens without ANY issue. I think six and three are really young. I asked about gas, she felt there was no chance that was an issue. She said if it was, the seizures would have happened at the site (i.e. above the stove).

They ran full diagnostic lab work, she said if there was anything -- like if he ate lead paint-- that would show up. I haven't seen the paperwork myself because it came in today, she called and said there were no abnormalities, except for a small blip with his kidneys. She seemed really unconcerned and said it was such a low level variance it could be anything. His kidneys are functioning a 100%, urine is good, she suggested adding water to his wet food, the test result had to do with proteins. Again, she was very unconcerned and said it had nothing to do with seizures, but because I am worrier/crazy I am really stressed it's somehow Amyloidosis  (really common with abys) but we'll just have his blood tested in two weeks when we pick up his medication.

Right now she put him on phenobarbital. She said regardless of the cause, it's clear he is having seizures so those have to be managed. He started the prescription that day, it's 1/2 a tiny bill every 12 hours.  The day of I was even crying about the medicine because she said side effects could be a change in mood (being more sedate, etc) or wobbly hind legs. Luckily, no adverse side effects so far.

Now that she has cleared metabolic causes, she highly recommend we speak with a neurologist, they would know more and might have other ideas. Right now, the presumed diagnosis is epilepsy.

We have called a neurologist to make an appt, see if they think two cats is strange, if they recommend an MRI, etc. I am sure they are closed for the holiday weekend in the US.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a neurology visit? What should I ask? What should I be prepared for?

VARIOUS REPLIES

I am actually in a warm climate! Sometimes it dips into the 30s and without a functioning furnace that is cold! But often the stove is on for an hour or two while we cook dinner and that is when the kitten likes to sleep up there. We have no microwave (they blow fuses in my building) so we use our oven for all our cooking. 

BUT!! Because I still can't believe there isn't some environmental something no matter what everyone says, I called my apt managers to have the assorted vendors to come check the appliances (water heater, stove, furnace) also leaving all the windows open. We bought a CO detector. Again, I know the vet said there was no way it was related, but I figure can't hurt. 

Would low B-12 levels have shown up in his lab work?

Sorry for this huge enormous reply. Thank you everyone who took the time to read everything.

lostsailors said:

 
Would low B-12 levels have shown up in his lab work?

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I would not expect them to be reported unless they were specifically ordered by the Veterinarian.  Even with B12 levels in normal range, there may not be normal availability or absorption.  This is why the other two chemistry tests (which measure some chemical effects of B12 deficiency) should be done along with that one.

Are there any fluorescent lighting bulbs in use at your place?  In case the problem is indeed Epilepsy, I suggest you discontinue use of any and all fluorescent lighting bulbs there.

I can ask my vet about B-12-- are there any particular symptoms I should look out for? (ETA: Besides the seizure mystery we are trying to solve!)

No fluorescent lighting anywhere.

See the Clinical Signs section in this item linked here:

http://www.vetbook.org/wiki/cat/index.php/Cobalamin_deficiency

That is good that you are not using any fluorescent lighting.  When those bulbs are going bad -- even before one might notice that they are going bad -- their flashing can trigger epileptic seizures.

Thank you! I will definitely ask my vet-- I wonder if it's worth asking the neurologist too? Would they be looking for something like metabolic encephalopathy?

Luckily my kitten doesn't seem to have most of the symptoms like lethargy or weight loss.

Brain changes are harder to find and would be more likely from a very long, critical deficiency, with other symptoms most likely showing up long before.  I would want at least the B12 and MMA measured.  The MMA result can indicate a deficiency even with a B12 result in normal range.  Make sure the Doctors know that you have been using a gas range and that your kitties have been hanging out nearby, and what has happened with this kitty and your other kitty.