What causes seizures in my 12-year-old cat only when sleeping?
It is a little unusual for seizures to happen during a sleep cycle, but if she seems disoriented after waking up this is probably what is happening. In a cat Cassie's age I would worry that the seizures are due to a primary brain disease and not something more benign like epilepsy. Kidney disease, liver disease, or hypoglycemia can also cause seizures but it would be less likely for Cassie to act like her normal self in between seizure episodes. Infections, some inflammatory diseases or cancer would be most common. Regardless of the cause of the seizures anti-epileptic drugs can sometimes help control the frequency and severity of the seizures, but if the underlying disease is not treated at some point the seizures will progress. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian to discuss testing and treatment options.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025