Why does my cat twitch her back sometimes?

CATS TALK IN OTHER WAYS THEN US CORRECT?! YOU SHOULD AT LEAST KNOW THIS IF YOU HAVE A CAT. IF NOT DO SOME RESEARCH...... WOULD YOU JUST HAVE A BABY AND NOT KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT? PROBABLY NOT. WELL HERE ARE SOME FUN FACTS FOR YOU..... IF YOU DONT WANT TO LEARN AND READ IT ALL... THEY ARE NEVIOUS/ EXCITED/ READY TO ATTACK/ OR FEELING UNEASY, THE SAME AS A HUMAN PUFFS THEIR CHEST OR THROWS OUT THEIR ARMS WHEN THEY ARE THREATENED IN A FIGHT....

Even without making a sound, a cat can telegraph his/her emotional state in no uncertain terms. Your pet's entire body tells you how she's feeling and how you should respond. Here's how cats express some common emotions -- from head to tail. Read below to learn



Happy and Relaxed
•Ears: Pointing forward and slightly outward
•Eyes: Open or half closed (sleepy), with pupils normal size; showing contentment with long, slow blinks
•Tail: Curved down, then up at the tip


Excited or Intrigued
•Ears: Pricked straight up and pointing forward
•Eyes: Wide open and sparkling
•Tail: Standing straight up or raised slightly and curved( LIKE A QUESTION MARK) DUH


Anxious or Agitated
•Ears: Twitching
•Eyes: Wide open, with enlarged pupils
•Tail: Held low, possibly between hind legs, or with tip quivering

On the Offensive (Watch Out!)
•Ears: Held flat back against the head
•Eyes: Pupils fully dilated, making eyes look totally black
•Back: Arched, with fur bristling or quivering
•Tail: Swishing rhythmically from side to side, arched, or standing straight up with fur puffed out or bristling

Beautiful cat Since she doesn't seem to be in pain, you don't have to rush her to the vet, but next time you are there, tell the vet just incase it is something serious.

Originally Posted by My4LLMA

Beautiful cat

Since she doesn't seem to be in pain, you don't have to rush her to the vet, but next time you are there, tell the vet just incase it is something serious.

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This post is nearly 3 years old, this cat god spam bot brought it back to the top with that random post about behavior.

Originally Posted by kittymonsters

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.

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My 3 yr old male has had the rolling skin phenomenon forever. It occurs alongside hind legs twitching and tail thumping -- so it seems like an "I'm stressed out" tic.

Like all of you guys, I thought it was just him!

Every remark was sooo helpful, my Cybil (a Torti) does the rolling back/twitch especially when she is looking out the window at squirrels. I also think she gets twitch and "zippy" right before and after she poops! Please don't mark this as inappropriate!

My cat Does the Exact same thing to a tee!!

LOL... Your horse twitching comparison was great!  I have a horse so I know exactly what you are talking about.  Your cat is beautiful My cats will do this sometimes.  I have 4 cats.  It seems the females do it more that the 1 male cat.  I think it is a normal behavior but I'm going to read the thread just to make sure no one has seen an abnormality with this.  If it really concerns you; You might ask the vet about it on your next visit but I hate for you to waste money on an X-ray if you don't need to.

loveforcelebs said:

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

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Hi Love!!  Welcome to TCS I also think it's normal. 

i am a newbie cat owner, Gia is 9 months old.   everytime Gia does something new i google it because i've always been a dog owner and cats are very different, both very beautiful animals......anyway, Gia does the same twitching thing in the same area (the back just above her tail) and the strangest thing of all is that she looks like ur cat only has long hair. check out the mole like spot on the side of her nose, just like urs..... i've been told mine looks like she has norwegian forest cat in her, but i don't know....

Hello and welcome to Tcs. This is an old thread and I suggest you introduce yourslef on the New Cats on the Block forum, and post some pics of Gia there.

weeeeeird!!!! i know this post is old but i decided to see why my Tootie does that twitch thing with her back and there was a pic

of your girl who looks almost identical to my girl!!!my Toot has a heart on her head. i think it may be a calico thing. they're such trippy cats. i have two. my girl sadie is solid, not tabby like tootie. she also is so affectionate only in the bathroom! it's the only room she really shows you hardcore affection, rubbing, purring, jumping up to your hand to be rubbed. hope you baby is doing well!!

and a solid colored one, sadie.

hi! i think it's a calico thing!!! i have two. sadie and tootie and tootie is the back spasm cat! it's so odd.

Jimmy does that too. I thought it might be fleas, but he hardly ever goes outside. After reading the comments, it's safe to say he's pretty much normal.

When I 1st adopted my cat, he had several problems, and back twitching was one of them.  I talked to my cat's veterinarian, and he told me that it could very well be a seizure.  When cats twitch their back it is how they go into a seizure for a moment or longer.  A full blown cat seizure is scary because the cat doesn't really know what is going on or who anyone is.  Kind of like dimentia.  It then can go crazy and start attacking you.  So, does your cat act like it forgets how to do some things or forgets anything when it is experiencing twitches in its back because that could very well be a cat seizure.  Definitely check with your veterinarian and monitor it so you have stories to go tell the vet.  Your cat is really cute. 

Hi

My cat twitches her back when she is around my g/f's dog, I think it may have to do with being nervous or anxious about something that she is unfamiliar with.  That is the only time she does the twitching. I think it is a normal reaction in cats and there is nothing to worry about.

Hi my cat Bella does that back twitching only when I pet her from neck to tail. I have wondered if I'm touching a sensitive spot or if its just a reaction to my petting. 

I just wanted to add that our five year old cat started twitching last year We have two other cats 2 and 4 who are perfectly healthy They have started. Twitching recently also. Vet says there're fine. Is it the environment? Because if you ask me it's something that is contagious and being spread in my house from one cat to another. Has anybody else have this problem where they also think it's something there picking up from each other . my cats runs around like an idiot only to stop and lick his back as it twitches like crazy. Doesn't happen all the time bit when it does it comes out of no where. It bothers me now that I have noticed lately that the other cats have started this strange behaviour also And I know it's not fleas either. I read one of the articles about vaccinations in my case that could be possible because if I think back it was soon after his needles last year this started. But as for the other two nothing till recently. And they all got there shots at the same time Please let me know if anyone has a similar case going on and if they have any info to help my cats. It doesn't seem to be painful. But I don't know...it seems more like a nusence then anything. But still something that really seems to be bother all my kitty's. Weird or what?

Please read my posts on Feline Hyperthesia Syndrome aka Rolling Skin Syndrome. My cat has had constant twitching since October 2013. I believe was it making our cats twitch, excessively groom (in order to stop the twitching I believe), self mutilate and run around as though they are possessed with their pupils dilated and eyes wide open is being infected with some type of chemical used around the home. I am certain this is what is what caused my cat’s condition. I was using cleaning products and had put new duvet cover on my bed without having washed it first (stupid me yes I know). My cat had been laying on the new bedding and she always rolls around on it when she’s sleeping and also grooms herself on the bed. The chemicals used to treat the bedding (it was deep purple in colour) most likely rubbed into her fur and she also while grooming herself ingested the chemicals. Not even 3 days after putting the duvet on my bed did I notice these symptoms appear out of the blue. Also, think about all the other chemicals in a home such as dryer sheets or fabric softeners that can be toxic to an animal. I also noticed after doing a ton of research that there is Formaldehyde in so many things we use even in paper towel which is something my cat loved to play with and shred. Thing of all the things you use to clean your home even stuff like Frebreaze or other sprays. Also, what about new toys that contain fabric or new carpets and furniture – these have chemicals used on them to treat them. Your animals sit and lay on these items. If they are outdoor animals, think about chemicals used to treat lawns. Also antifreeze is also extremely toxic to animals and they apparently like the taste of it. So when you start thinking about all the things used in and outside your home that may contain harsh chemicals (even sprays to eliminate odours in your home) and how often they are used, you can start to imagine how this may impact an animal. Cigarette smoke is another culprit. Just do some research and you will not believe how many things can trigger something in an animal. And once they get this condition they have it for life from what I’ve read.

ROLLING SKIN, HYPERESTHESIA, AND DEMODICOSIS CONNECTION

This is Pig:

BEFORE he developed chronic scratching:


This is Pig:

WHILE he was suffering from scratching, licking and biting:

It was necessary to keep him in an e-collar constantly, we went through so many we learned how to make our own!


This is Pig:

Now.  After we finally discovered the cause of his condition:


This poor little guy was in an e-collar for nearly FOUR YEARS!  Our lousy vet continually told us he had fleas and that's why he scratched.  When they couldn't find any actual fleas, they told us he had ear mites, and THAT'S why he scratched!  They decided to use Revolution on him, even though we told them he was extremely sensitive to any type of chemicals.  He was sick and vomited for 2 days, barely eating or drinking.

Fast forward to a few months ago.  An acquaintance of mine heard me talking about poor Pig, and said her cat had gone through the same thing until she switched vets, and he diagnosed demodicosis (which is Demodectic Mange in dogs).  I did a lot of researching, and sure enough, the symptoms matched Pig's behavior.  I decided to try the recommended treatment (sulpher dip) and Presto!  After only 2 treatments Pig stopped his CONSTANT scratching!  After I finished the entire prescribed treatment I was able to remove that cussed collar completely - for the first time in 4 years! 

I was ecstatic - and Pig hasn't stopped behaving like a kitten yet!  And he's 10 years old!

Vets don't diagnose demodicosis often in cats because they consider it to be rather uncommon.  But I have learned it's NOT uncommon.  Vets just don't look for it in cats.  Have your vet check for this condition!   It's caused by a tiny subcutaneous parasite which is visible only under a microscope.  All that's needed is a skin scraping.  And it could put an end to years of misery for your pet!

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.