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I'm so awfully, awfully sorry about the loss of your precious little girl, Alicia. Though seizures usually occur in cats 2-3 years old or older, it's not unheard of for seizures to strike a kitten or young cat.

Most seizures in cats are not due to detectable causes such as trauma, but are caused by idiopathic (unknown cause) epilepsy, a condition vets generally refer to only as epilepsy.

The epileptic cat will have the first seizure between two and three years of age. This time frame may vary, but rarely is epilepsy seen in the very young. Seizures will vary in intensity and are usually described using three terms: petit mal, grand mal, and status epilepticus.

Petit mal seizures are the mildest form. The cat may simply develop a blank stare, shake one leg, or cry out in pain. Petite mal seizures usually last less than one minute. Grand mal seizures are the most common. This seizure is characterized by a cat falling to one side, urinating or defecating uncontrollably, paddling the feet as if swimming, frothing at the mouth, and it may also cry out. This cat will be unaware of surrounding activities. Grand mal seizures usually last five minutes or less. Status epilepticus is the most severe form of seizure. It appears exactly like a grand mal seizure, but it may last for several hours - or as soon as the cat seems to recover, it immediately degenerates back into the seizure.

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder and although usually not curable, it can be controlled. The petit and grand mal seizures, in most cases, are not life threatening unless they occur at a time when the feline is in an unsafe, or uncontrolled environment.

Status epilepticus is a very serious seizure state. With the body convulsing violently, the internal body temperature will become critically high. Organ damage and death can result.

The exact cause of epilepsy is not known, but whether the cause is unknown or trauma induced, the condition results in an uncoordinated firing of the neurons (nerves) within the brain. Normally, the neurons transmit impulses in a uniform and coordinated fashion, allowing for precisely timed movement and thoughts. During an epileptic seizure the neurons function independently of each other.

Please note that there are many things that can cause cats to have seizures:

1. A condition similar to a stroke in which the blood supply to a cat's brain is restricted. This is the cause of about 20% of seizures in cats.
2. A severe parasite infestation, especially if the immune system is stressed.
3. Liver or kidney problems.
4. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
5. Thyroid problems.
6. Feline diabetes.
7. Cancer, including brain tumors and lymphoma.
8. A head injury.
9. Lead poisoning.
10. Certain infections, including feline infectious peritonitis, feline leukemia virus, and feline immune-deficiency virus can cause frequent seizures. Cryptococcosis, a fungal infection that appears first in the lungs and spreads to the nervous system, and rabies can also cause seizures.

Here is a link to seizures in cats:

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/seizures.html

Please know that my thoughts are with you and your boyfriend during this very traumatic and sad time. If you need to talk, please know that you can talk to us.