Why does my cat faint?

Fainting in cats can be a symptom of various pathologies, whether of lesser or greater severity.While resuscitation is not required, the visit to the veterinarian is required, as we must find the underlying cause that causes fainting.

In this Animals and Pets Online article we will explain why a cat faints , along with the main causes of fainting in cats, first aid to apply and other important details you need to know.

The syncope in cats

What we colloquially describe as fainting, in medical terms is called syncope .It consists of a momentary loss of consciousness , so that the individual, In this case, the cat falls to the ground without being able to avoid it and without being aware of it.It can have a variable duration.

But how does syncope occur in cats? It is mainly due to a lack of oxygen supply to the brain , which may be caused by the decrease in blood flow, the decrease in blood pressure, the partial pressure of arterial oxygen or the decrease in concentration of hemoglobin.It may be accompanied by drooling and urination on some occasions, although it should be noted that it is not the most frequent.

Usually, the cat recovers after a few seconds , because the episodes are short and sudden.It is likely that when you wake up you will be disconcerted and nervous, in addition to trembling.This disorientation should disappear in a short time.

Causes of syncope in cats

There are several causes that can cause syncope or fainting in the cat, which can only be confirmed by diagnostic tests .As we mentioned, the syncope is a syndrome, not a disease, so below we will show you the pathologies that commonly cause it:

• Heart disease : it is the most common cause that Explains why a cat faints.Heart disease occurs when blood is not pumped properly into the body.Cough, whitish gums, tachycardia, and pulmonary edema are among the symptoms of heart disease.fainting.
• Feline leukemia : Leukemia is a disease caused by a virus.It is transmitted quickly between felines and the affected cat will require lifelong treatments and care.the symptoms of this disease are fever, fatigue and loss of appetite.All of this can cause weakness and even syncope.
• Medication intake : All drugs are susceptible to side effects, but these only manifest themselves in some patients.If your cat is receiving any treatment and passes out, inform your veterinarian immediately, as the syncope may be due to the effect of the drug or the interaction between different drugs.
• Pneumonia : Pneumonia is a lung disease that has various causes, such as feline calicivirus, obstruction of the airways due to obstruction and sudden changes in temperature.Among the symptoms we highlight the difficulty in breathing, lethargy and difficulty to swallow.All this can cause fainting if the cat runs out of air, even for a short time.
• Anemia : A cat suffers from anemia when his blood has a number of red blood cells per of below normal parameters.Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood, so this decrease has several consequences.Among them it is possible to mention the decrease in appetite and fatigue, which causes fainting when the cat It is very weak.
• Poisoning : The intake of toxic substances can also cause fainting in the cat, as occurs in cases of poisoning and poisoning.Poisoning occurs when the cat ingests by mistake dangerous substances, such as cleaning products, medicines for humans, animals or toxic plants and insecticides, between others.Among symptoms are excessive salivation, dilated pupils, tachycardia, sneezing, diarrhea and vomiting.If it happens that your cat vomits and then passes out, or the other way around, it is possible that the cause is poisoning or intoxication.

The veterinarian is the only professional figure trained to confirm a diagnosis, as well as to prescribe an effective treatment.If you suspect that your cat suffers from any of the diseases mentioned visit the specialist soon, this way your cat could have a better prognosis.

What to do if your cat faints?

Seeing your cat faint can be very disturbing, so it is very likely that your first reaction is to get nervous, however, this is the time when your cat needs you most, so you should do an effort to remain calm .

Place the cat on a flat surface and hold its body from the torso to the hind legs to raise it a little , so that the head is lower.Perform this operation very carefully, you will help the blood reach the brain.After this, cover the cat with a blanket so that it does not lose body heat.

You should stay tuned for any reaction that manifests while you are unconscious, be it tremors, involuntary urination, drooling or vomiting .If you notice that you vomit, place your head with your nose down so he can drive him out.If you don't, he could drown and die.

Wait until he regains consciousness, a few minutes.When he wakes up he will be nervous and clumsy.Try to calm down with caresses and talk to him in a calm voice .When you notice that he is more relaxed, it is time to go to the veterinarian.It is most advisable to go the same day the syncope episode occurs to determine the cause quickly.

This article is purely informative, at Animals and Pets Online we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in the event that he presents any type of condition or discomfort.

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