Anti-inflammatory agents combined with drugs designed to draw fluid out of the central nervous system can help reverse signs of paralysis, yet their usefulness is dependent on the extent of the nervous injury and how quickly therapy is instituted. In some instances, surgery may be required to repair a vertebral fracture, excise an offending tumor, or remove a diseased intervertebral disk. Cats that have sensory paralysis in a limb might require limb amputation to prevent self-mutilation to the leg. In instances where an irreversible paralysis involves more than one limb, or involves the malfunction of internal organs, pet owners must seriously consider not only their cat's quality of life as a paralytic but their own as well, before prolonged therapeutic or rehabilitative measures are undertaken. A seizure is defined as uncontrollable behavior or muscle activity caused by an abnormal increase in the brain's nervous activities.
Epilepsy is the term used to describe recurring seizures.
Because the causes are so numerous, a thorough examination and blood workup by a veterinarian is warranted whenever a cat exhibits seizures. In some cases, managing or eliminating an underlying cause will eliminate the seizures. In others, such as with idiopathic epilepsy, there is no known cause, yet by ruling out the other potential causes and establishing a pattern of occurrence, one can effectively manage most cases with anticonvulsant medications. With idiopathic epilepsy, seizures can begin at any stage in life but usually begin around 1 to 3 years of age. In contrast, if it occurs in older cats, some traumatic cause, such as a stroke, should be considered.