Why does my cat twitch her back sometimes?

hardtopvette · Feb 18, 2008

I didn't know what else to put in the title so hopefully I can make some sense out of this. My cat is now just a little over 1 year old. She is 100% healthy always has been. Something I have noticed her do and she has always done this as long as I can remember so it may very well be normal I don't know. Every once in a while she will twitch her back like the area in front of her tail. I did a search and didn't find anything but the best way to describe it is like what a horse does if it feels a fly on its skin. She has never been outside, we live in a brand new home so its not like there are any pests or anything (plus its winter). Just curious if maybe something is bothering her back there or if this is something other cats do as well.
P.S. she does not act like she is in pain she is always super playful and everything else is 100% normal.
Here is my favorite picture of her :-)

Thanks guys,
James

graciecat · Feb 18, 2008

First of all I just want to say how adorable your girl is.
We have three cats, Gracie and Elliott never do the twitching thing but Annabelle does it all the time...and your description is very good...it makes you think of a horse trying to get a fly off of it's back.

I have no idea why she does it, and I never really thought to ask the Vet about it.

Just wanted you to know that your girl isn't the only twitcher out there.
I'll also be interested to see if anyone else has a twitcher.

mschauer · Feb 18, 2008

Toby does it also. Sometimes he does it so much I'm worried he's developing "rolling skin" syndrome:

http://www.lclarkecushingvmd.com/sho...=178&Private=0

I'm glad to know that other cats do it.

stephanietx · Feb 18, 2008

Hannah does it, too! I just thought she was a weirdo! LOL

Stephanie

addiebee · Feb 18, 2008

I usually see that with cats that are nervous about something... like muscles rippling. Maybe someone has a better answer.

renovia · Feb 18, 2008

I think it's just a twitch - usually they groom that area afterwards.

calico2222 · Feb 18, 2008

It could be a dry skin itch. Some of my cats do that during the winter when the house gets dry (and mommy forgets to fill the humidifier). Do you get shocked when you try to pet her? If so, the air may be too dry and irritating her skin. If you don't have a humidifier, maybe get one, or you can also boil a pot of water on the stove to add some moisture to the air. I wouldn't worry about it too much unless it becomes a constant thing but you may want to ask your vet about it just to be safe.

BTW, your girl is absolutely beautiful!

bonnie1965 · Feb 18, 2008

She is gorgeous! Love the little nose spot

My Daphne does the rolling skin thing, as well. Not all the time, just sometimes. I liken it to me getting chill on my back

gingersmom · Feb 19, 2008

Originally Posted by mschauer

Toby does it also. Sometimes he does it so much I'm worried he's developing "rolling skin" syndrome:

http://www.lclarkecushingvmd.com/sho...=178&Private=0

I'm glad to know that other cats do it.

Ginger is my twitcher - she'll get a wave of twitches like a ripple across her back - she gets spastic when she's playing sometimes, too - her movements become jerky, and her eyes get huge and her ears go way back. She'll do a mad dash and then sit there, twitching all over her back, looking around at "ghosts" on the ceiling.

But I've seen no other symptoms, and her purrsonality is VERY sweet (for a tortie, that is!

)

momofmany · Feb 19, 2008

Koko is my twitcher here. I actually had a skin scrape done on her once to see if she had parasites and she didn't. We've never found a medical reason for the condition.

theallis5 · Feb 19, 2008

Pennie does it too. I thought it was a pregnancy thing.

mschauer · Feb 19, 2008

Originally Posted by theallis5

Pennie does it too. I thought it was a pregnancy thing.

Oh no! Toby might be preggers??? Well, he did sneak out a couple of weeks ago...

kittymonsters · Feb 19, 2008

Pumpkin is my twitcher. that "rolling skin" link describes him perfectly. He will start twitching then try to groom, then freak out and go running through the house like something is biting him on the butt. he has never done the self mutilation thing though.

It has worried me, glad to know that others have cats that do this.

ladysoul1710tig · Feb 21, 2008

Carmello does the back thing too! He never acts as if anything is wrong so I never thought so much of it. How ever we do believe that he has dry skin. When we brush him small flakes fall as if he has dandruff. We do boil water on the stove from time to time, but I do that for me.

hammyandwaf · Feb 23, 2008

squishy has done it since we got her. i have seen many cats do it.

faganfamily1 · Feb 26, 2008

Otis does it when he dosnt want to be touched, or he's bothered by something. Sometimes I see him groom after, but not all of the time.

loveforcelebs · Feb 28, 2008

It's normal for cats. My cats do it too.
I'm new here. Hello cat lovers.

lunabee · Apr 16, 2010

It's so frustrating to see them like that. With my cat, she had no problem, she was a happy healthy cat.
Then when I went to the vet to get her regular vaccines, which I found odd when they injected her with two files into one syringe into her leg. When I got home with her, she ran all over the house several hours straight, pausing occasionally to to scratch and i noticed her back twitching. She didn't want anyone touching her, and she would hide. She almost acted as if she has rabies. Her back is not the only thing that twitches its also her ears and she shakes her head.
Its been over a year since her vaccination. As the months go by there's been less twitching. but there are some days that she twitches alot. The doctor checked for earmites, but didn't find any.

In my opinion, It might be related to the vaccination. I tried everything, like changing her food, thinking it might be allergies, but nothing has worked so far.
I'm trying to find out information to know whats wrong with her and how we can help her.

otto · Apr 16, 2010

Originally Posted by Lunabee

It's so frustrating to see them like that. With my cat, she had no problem, she was a happy healthy cat.
Then when I went to the vet to get her regular vaccines, which I found odd when they injected her with two files into one syringe into her leg. When I got home with her, she ran all over the house several hours straight, pausing occasionally to to scratch and i noticed her back twitching. She didn't want anyone touching her, and she would hide. She almost acted as if she has rabies. Her back is not the only thing that twitches its also her ears and she shakes her head.
Its been over a year since her vaccination. As the months go by there's been less twitching. but there are some days that she twitches alot. The doctor checked for earmites, but didn't find any.

In my opinion, It might be related to the vaccination. I tried everything, like changing her food, thinking it might be allergies, but nothing has worked so far.
I'm trying to find out information to know whats wrong with her and how we can help her.

Hello and welcome to TCS! Your cat may have FHS. (feline hyperesthesia syndrome)

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1998

PS..the best thing to do is to video tape some episodes. If your vet won't or can't help, I recommend you find another vet.

smokepeachangel · Apr 21, 2010

my girl Smokey does it to I just figured it was something they do but my boy Peaches doesn't do it as long as its not something harmful or serious I just let it be and laugh it off

Why does my cat twitch her back sometimes?

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