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Frequent muscle twitches?

post #1 of 5
8/17/11 at 9:11pm
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Has anyone had a cat that has/had frequent muscle twitches? Nora often has these spells where the muscles on her back twitch or spasm over and over. She doesn't understand what they are, so she freaks out and jumps around like someone is poking or pinching her, then she will take off across the house and run into our closet ("her" room). It happens at least a couple times a day, and she's been getting them for her whole life. Has anyone heard of such a thing before? Maybe she is just really sensitive to them, but they are normal? *shrug*
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post #2 of 5
8/17/11 at 10:07pm
Google "rolling skin disease". I suspect that my Koko has a mild form of this. We've not had to put her on any medication for it.

http://www.cathealth.com/hyperesthesia.htm
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post #3 of 5
8/17/11 at 11:03pm
I've been going through this with mt cat, Parker, for 2 years. For him, it started when he got fleas for the first time in his life. However, even long after the fleas were treated, the twitching/licking/running around didn't go away. It's almost like it completely traumatized him.

I did take him to the vet, who concluded he is a "compulsive groomer", not really understanding it is more than grooming. However, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and Parker was prescribed Buspirone for 12 weeks. While it did lower the number of episodes from 3 a day down to 1, it didn't totally eliminate it.

I haven't yet gone back to the vet, since his episodes are mild compared to some cats I've seen. That being said, I do suggest you take your cat in for a thorough examination to rule out any physical illnesses. I know Parker's symptoms appeared when he had fleas, so I am almost 100% certain its a psychological issue. If all illnesses are ruled out, chances are the vet will prescribe some medication for 2-3 months to see if the symptoms disappear, in which case you will ween your cat off the medication.

If the "episodes" are mild and your cat isn't mutilating herself or being aggressive, you may choose to forgo medication and simply deal with the symptoms, like I currently am.
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post #4 of 5
8/18/11 at 7:27am
I was going to ask if Nora might possibly have fleas, but then you said she has always done this. I will be googling the "rolling skin disease" that Amy suggests. I know how you feel though seeing your little furkid that way. Wilbur, my dog, has twitches and tremors that seem to startle him at times too. But it is in his legs, not on his back. Keep us posted on Nora and I hope she is alright
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post #5 of 5
8/18/11 at 8:23am
Amy already covered it - my first thought was hyperesthesia. Cats can have twitches, just like people do sometimes. Sheldon does. His whole face sometimes "blinks." But it doesn't bother him, just like when we have a twitch - it's just something that happens.

However - when it bothers the cat, and freaks them out, it's something more than just a "twitch."
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