My cat is having...don't know how to describe it?

The closet I can come up with is that they're minor convulsions.  She kind of shakes violently for about a half second at a time, accompanied by a strange snorting/breathing issue.  Sometimes it is a toned down episode and may barely shake for a split second along with a very brief, single snort.  She can have this happen a few times in a few minutes, or can go many minutes in a row with none.  The only other thing she is doing along with this is shortly after does it, she may or may not lick her chops a little bit.

I haven't taken her to the vet in quite a while.  She is exhibiting no other out of the ordinary issues, as she seems to be eating and using the bathroom as she normally would.  She has not thrown up or anything.  She is about 8 years old; she is not medicated, I have not changed food or litter recently, etc.

It just started today.  I haven't seen a cat do this sort of thing before; she certainly has not.  Does anyone have any ideas what it might be or how urgent it is?

Please turn the volume up and you can hear the noise that is made.

Asap to the vet is the best advice here. Especielly as it started suddenly, today...   Do phone at the very least. Hurry!

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Good luck!

Licking the lips makes me think she is trying to hack something up. Could she have swallowed something she shouldn't have? If she did and it moves down her intestinal tract it make cause a major problem. If my cat were doing that and I thought there was a chance she had swallowed something I'd get her to the vet asap for an x-ray.

Thanks for the quick replies!  I did just take her to the vet; thankfully, it's only 1/2 mile from my house.  I found out she has a throat infection.  I have oral antibiotic drops to give her. If that doesn't resolve the episodes, bloodwork will need be done.  However, the doctor I saw said he thinks the throat infection is causing irritation.  She also had a little of a high fever. 
 

Did the vet do an x-ray? Or is it just the throat infection? Did the vet check her teeth?

No x-ray.  Did the initial checks and she was found to be in great shape, then he checked her temp and it was above normal, that's when he looked at her more depth, such as down her throat.  He showed me the swollen/reddish spots that indicated throat infection.  He did check the teeth, as well as eyes, ears, for lumps under the throat, rib cage, etc.

You may want to bring up nasopharyngeal polyps to your vet. These polyps can affect the ear canal, throat, and/or nasal cavity. The snorting gave it away for me. Here are a few links on the condition:

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pe...imal-health/nasopharyngeal-polyps-in-cats/309

http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/respiratory/c_ct_nasal_nasopharyngeal_polyps#.UUOCYzeyJIw

http://www.petplace.com/cats/nasopharyngeal-polyps-in-cats/page1.aspx

http://www.cat-world.com.au/nasal-a-nasopharyngeal-polyps-in-cats