Answer

Hello,

This is Dr. Christian. Welcome to JustAnswer. Typically seizures in older cats are caused by several possible things:

• Cancer of the brain
• Infections or inflammation in the brain
• Liver disease causing toxins in the bloodstream that can trigger a seizure
• Low blood sugar. This is typically caused by a tumor of the pancreas that produces too much insulin.

There are several possible causes for weight loss in a cat this age:

• Hyperthyroidism- This is caused by a tumor in the thyroid gland that causes overproduction of thyroid hormone. It causes a cat to have a very high metabolism. The tumor does not spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms are eating with weight loss, vomiting, increased thirst and urination, diarrhea, fast heart rate and heart diseases. It is a very treatable condition with medication or radiation treatment. Diagnosis is by bloodwork. Here's a link: http://www.petplace.com/cats/hyperthyroidism/page1.aspx

• Diabetes- Diabetes is a lack of control of blood sugar. The blood sugar becomes very high. The symptoms are weight loss, increased urination and thirst, more prone to infections, occasional vomiting and eventually loss of appetite and weakness. Treatment is usually a diet change and insulin injections. It is diagnosed with bloodwork and sometimes a urinalysis. Here's a link: http://www.petplace.com/cats/diabetes-in-cats/page1.aspx

• Kidney Disease- Kidney failure is very common in cats and is a condition that is not curable but certainly can be treated to improve a cat's quality of life. Symptoms include weight loss, vomiting, increased urination and thirst, and lack of appetite. Diagnosis requires bloodwork. Treatment usually includes diet changes, fluids and sometimes medications to improve anemia or lower phosphorous levels. Here's a link: http://www.petplace.com/cats/chronic-renal-kidney-failure-in-cats/page1.aspx

• Cancer- Cancer is a common condition as well and can cause a varied list of symptoms including weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy and lack of appetite. Some cancers are more treatable than others depending on the type.

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease- Inflammation of the wall of the intestine will cause a decreased capacity to digest food leading to malnourishment. Symptoms include diarrhea, weight loss and vomiting. This is sometimes caused by a food allergy. Diagnosis is usually made with an intestinal biopsy but many times treatment is prescribed to monitor for improvement. Treatment usually involves steroids, diet changes and sometimes antibiotics. Here's a link: http://www.petplace.com/cats/inflammatory-bowel-disease-in-cats/page1.aspx

• Liver Disease- Liver disease can be caused by cancer, infection or inflammation (hepatitis). The symptoms include weight loss, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes a yellow appearance to the skin called icterus or jaundice. Diagnosis usually starts with bloodwork but final diagnosis of the cause usually requires ultrasound and a biopsy. Treatment includes diet changes, possibly antibiotics, and liver medications to help improve its health and function. Treatment is also specific to the cause of the liver dysfunction.

The weight loss and seizures may not be related but if they are then you can see there are several conditions that may explain this (liver disease, cancer, feline leukemia or aids). There are some medications that can be given to help with seizures, especially if they become more frequent or more severe or last longer. The best option is to have her checked by your vet. If you have more questions please let me know.