JoyBee&Ravan
Member Since 2018
Seizures from Sound?
Recently, researchers may have found another interesting possible cause of seizures in cats. In a recent issue of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, a group of British veterinarians reported on a new type of seizure syndrome termed “audiogenic reflex seizures” in which seizures are caused by a particular sound. In this study, seizures occurred in response to specific yet common everyday noises, such as the crinkling of aluminum foil, paper or plastic bags, the chinking of a metal spoon dropped into a food bowl and tapping on glass. Even the sound of ripping Velcro evoked a seizure in some cats!
Cats suffering from these seizures were typically older (more than 15 years). Many of the owners were surprised that noises could induce seizures in their kitties since they believed their cats were deaf! The authors of the study speculated that the cats experiencing the audiogenic seizures still had an ability to hear sounds in the feline ultrasonic range, which meant the cats could still hear high-pitched sounds like crinkling and clinking. However, the “deaf” cats had lost the ability to hear human voices and lower pitched sounds, causing their owners to assume their cats were deaf.
Recently, researchers may have found another interesting possible cause of seizures in cats. In a recent issue of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, a group of British veterinarians reported on a new type of seizure syndrome termed “audiogenic reflex seizures” in which seizures are caused by a particular sound. In this study, seizures occurred in response to specific yet common everyday noises, such as the crinkling of aluminum foil, paper or plastic bags, the chinking of a metal spoon dropped into a food bowl and tapping on glass. Even the sound of ripping Velcro evoked a seizure in some cats!
Cats suffering from these seizures were typically older (more than 15 years). Many of the owners were surprised that noises could induce seizures in their kitties since they believed their cats were deaf! The authors of the study speculated that the cats experiencing the audiogenic seizures still had an ability to hear sounds in the feline ultrasonic range, which meant the cats could still hear high-pitched sounds like crinkling and clinking. However, the “deaf” cats had lost the ability to hear human voices and lower pitched sounds, causing their owners to assume their cats were deaf.
