Narcolepsy in Cats: An Overview
Dog Breeds
Narcolepsy in cats is an uncommon and poorly understood medical condition that involves sudden daytime sleepiness, partial to complete flaccid paralysis and/or periods of collapse and unconsciousness that eventually resolve spontaneously.
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Definition
Narcolepsy in cats is an uncommon and poorly understood medical condition that involves sudden daytime sleepiness, partial to complete flaccid paralysis and/or periods of collapse and unconsciousness that eventually resolve spontaneously.
How Narcolepsy Affects Cats
Cats suffering from narcolepsy fall into a deep sleep (or become unconscious) abruptly, become partially or completely paralyzed and then awaken with complete recovery, as if nothing had happened. Narcolepsy is not simple sleepiness or cat-napping and is neither life-threatening nor painful. Affected animals frequently exhibit muscle twitching as happens during periods of deep, rapid eye movement (“REM”) sleep. Narcolepsy is more common in young animals. It usually occurs during the daytime and often is precipitated by activity, eating or excitement. The episodes tend to be short - seconds to minutes - and can recur frequently or only occasionally. Most affected cats can be roused by loud noises, petting or other external stimuli. Narcoleptic episodes can be mistaken for epileptic seizures. Again, this disorder is rare in domestic cats.
Causes of Feline Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy in cats - and in dogs and people - is poorly understood. It is considered to be an inherited disorder. The current hypothesis is that the narcolepsy syndrome is somehow associated with a deficit in either a certain sleep-related neurotransmitter or in the cellular receptors for that neurotransmitter.
Preventing Narcolepsy in Cats
Narcolepsy cannot be prevented. It usually does not require treatment, unless severe and potentially dangerous episodes are interfering with the cat’s quality of life.
Special Notes
Diagnosis of feline narcolepsy is best done at a veterinary teaching hospital or other highly specialized medical facility, as most general veterinarians will not see it during the course of their practice.
Symptoms and Types