Why does my cat twitch her back sometimes?

allmomskitties

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AllMomsKitties – Wow! I love hearing stories like this that have a happy ending. Great news that you found what out what was causing Pig’s condition. My case is different as my cat Binky is not scratching or biting, she is constantly twitching and licking excessively where her skin is twitching. I too thought it may be fleas and tried the flea remedy with no success. Funny, the vets don’t seem to know what exactly causes this type of condition but they say it’s a “behavioural or environmental” condition. Did Pig ever have any twitching or muscle spasms? I may bring this up to my vet when I talk to him next week and see if he’s heard of it. I may also get them to take a skin scrapping if I can get Binky to the vet. She does not like to be handled at all and they had to fully sedate her when they did a blood and urine test when she first developed these symptoms but there was no other tests performed. They did ask me questions about whether I had changed her food recently but that was about it. After seeing how aggressive she was when she first came in and after doing a physical on her and seeing nothing concerning in her blood work, they chalked it up to being a behavioural disorder and right away prescribed the Fluoxetine (Prozac). This was back in October 2013. I am going to do some more research on this Demodicosis. Binky goes out on the balcony all summer and even in the winter (she loves to play with the snow) and there are always lots of bugs on the balcony and ones that get into our apartment which she has eaten many times. Hmmm…I’m wondering now. Thank you so much for giving me another condition to research and ask the vet about. I was hesitating about whether to get allergy test done on her but I hear it’s a really big ordeal for a cat and very expensive. I’m so glad that people respond to these posts and give their story – it can literally save another pet owner so much grief and stress not to mention make their pets life so much better by sharing information.
It could still be demodicosis.  It has quite a few presentations.  Pig's sister is always scratching and licking and then running away like her rear is on fire.  So I decided what's the harm, I may as well try the lime-sulpher on her, too.  And amazingly, it worked!  Both are both pure white, and Sissy's fur was becoming stained from bloody skin where she licked and chewed non-stop, especially under her front legs.  She also has that classic "chin acne".  She never tore herself up as badly as Pig, but she was still obviously in distress.  We tried other remedies but nothing had ANY effect.  Until I tried the sulpher dip.  It doesn't work overnight.  It's a several week treatment.  But it was SO worth it!  My babies can finally relax - after so long!
 

allmomskitties

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AllMomsKitties – Wow! I love hearing stories like this that have a happy ending. Great news that you found what out what was causing Pig’s condition. My case is different as my cat Binky is not scratching or biting, she is constantly twitching and licking excessively where her skin is twitching. I too thought it may be fleas and tried the flea remedy with no success. Funny, the vets don’t seem to know what exactly causes this type of condition but they say it’s a “behavioural or environmental” condition. Did Pig ever have any twitching or muscle spasms? I may bring this up to my vet when I talk to him next week and see if he’s heard of it. I may also get them to take a skin scrapping if I can get Binky to the vet. She does not like to be handled at all and they had to fully sedate her when they did a blood and urine test when she first developed these symptoms but there was no other tests performed. They did ask me questions about whether I had changed her food recently but that was about it. After seeing how aggressive she was when she first came in and after doing a physical on her and seeing nothing concerning in her blood work, they chalked it up to being a behavioural disorder and right away prescribed the Fluoxetine (Prozac). This was back in October 2013. I am going to do some more research on this Demodicosis. Binky goes out on the balcony all summer and even in the winter (she loves to play with the snow) and there are always lots of bugs on the balcony and ones that get into our apartment which she has eaten many times. Hmmm…I’m wondering now. Thank you so much for giving me another condition to research and ask the vet about. I was hesitating about whether to get allergy test done on her but I hear it’s a really big ordeal for a cat and very expensive. I’m so glad that people respond to these posts and give their story – it can literally save another pet owner so much grief and stress not to mention make their pets life so much better by sharing information.
Oh yes, one other thing.  We have another cat named Hot Rod who DOES have the rolling, twitching skin.  I have tried the sulpher on him as well, and although he hasn't completely stopped his symptoms, they are greatly reduced.  He is 16 years old, and much of his behavior now might be just conditioned rsponse.  We don't know yet.  Does Binky react more strongly if you pet the areas where his skin is twitching?  Hot Rod used to go INSANE whenever we would touch him.  Not he still reacts but not nearly as badly. ....... Also, Sissy was very defensive toward the other cats, but now is much more relaxed when they come near her, and she will even sleep with them now! ........ Yes, the allergy testing is seldom conclusive, and can be a real strain on both your cat AND your bank account!
 

chrissy is46

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It's nothing to be alarmed about. It just a normal reaction, my cat does it from time to time. Especially, when she is sleeping. But I wouldn't worry about it.  
 

rachig95

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Peanut does the twitching thing, sometimes its after someone pets her, sometimes it just happens on its own. She does groom her back after though.
she's not calico, she is a brown tiger and ex feral. My boy cat has not had this issue. Peanuts mommy does this too, I think its mainly a female thing.
 

tortoiseshell53

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My 3 year old cat Ozzy always twitches his back when he is by the door or something like that and i asked my dad (who lived on a farm with 14 cats) and said when he does that he is gathering poop....... 

 
 

jamie cat

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The Best way to describe this is.... when you were a kid and you ere excited what did you tend to do to show your excitement?

did you clench your fists and shake them uncontrollably? 

Well thats all the cats are doing.

My cat Mia does it all the time, especially when she knows she will get a stroke or a scratch, or just when she wants to show affection.

Hope this helps

Jamie and Mia

 

louisebroitman

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This is idiosyncratic to ALL cats (lions, tigers, panthers, etc.) just like the twitching a horse does if a fly is on his back or leg...  but in cats, I think it's more related to a stretch than a reaction to anything touching her or him.  
 
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