Kitty Night Terrors?

My wife recently brought home a new kitten that she found beside the highway. He has adjusted to our home and other cats wonderfully.

The strange thing is that sometimes, not all the time, when he sleeps he will awaken as if startled or if he is dreaming he is falling. He will hiss and screach and look around kinda lost. Also prior to consciousness he sometimes will wet his bedding and have excessive drool. Most of the time I can just reach over and pet him and tell him gently everything is ok and he will quickly recover. But last night was his worst episode. He really let out a screach and jumped up and bolted blindly out of the room. He hit some furniture, but was ok. I thought this would be it but then it happened again a few hours later. He just jerks awake, wets the bed, and bolts in whatever direction he happens to be facing.

Has anyone experienced anything like this. Our vet says that he might be dealing with some pretty heavy issues. Any ideas as to the cause or treatment would be appreciated.

Thanks-
Ed

dont have any advice other than get him checked for possible bladder problems.

my kitten has nightmares too and growls and mews in her sleep. she also gets a bit disorientated when she wakes up.

maybe just time and patience will help? it sonds like yo've only had him a little while, it'll take him a while to adjust and feel safe.

good luck!

I agree with maverick kitten, get him checked by the vet to rule out the possibility of a medical problem.

This poor little baby - it really does sound like he's having nightmares and they are so realistic it literally scares the p out of him. I've never heard of a kitten wetting his bed after a bad dream, but who knows what the little guy experienced before your wife (bless her) rescued him? For many cats who have been traumatized, the memories persist and it takes lots of patience and love, something you certainly have, to help them through it.

If a physical problem is ruled out for causing the bed-wetting (check for neurological as well as bladder problems), you might want to seek the help of an animal behaviorist. I've seen members post that suggestion before - ask your vet if he/she can recommend one.

Your kitten is very, very fortunate to be with such a loving, compassionate family. Best of luck!

Poor kitty.
Luna will wake out of a deep sleep and cry and it makes my heart tear in two. But it is more of a nervous, where is everyone? cry. She came from the streets and was a feral cat, so I'm not sure what she went through.
I feel so sorry for your little kitty. I have night terrors from time to time. I know that they are truely terrifying. I hope everything turns out for the best with him and that whatever is scaring the heck out of him will dimish over time.

L.S. has bad dreams, and Mer has night terrors. Mer will actually move around in his sleep and growl very loudly, and it takes forever to wake him up, but he's never drooled or wet the bed.

I couldn't help but think that maybe the kitten is suffering from seizures. The symptoms sound about right. It could also be neurological damage from a previous disease or injury. And it could very well be nightmares of whatever horror he may have been through. It's hard when adopting or rescuing a cat whose background is unknown. Some questions can never be answered.

You and your wife are wonderful people for rescuing this kitten, giving him a loving home, and caring enough about him to take him to a vet. The world needs more people like you!

So sorry to hear about that poor baby. I agree w/ everyone about taking the sweetie to the vet to rule out anything other than just night scares or bad memories. My Conner had a really bad dream last night. He was laying under the covers, as is his habit, pressed close against my chest and tummy. I was half awake and heard him crying in his sleep and he started shaking his head violently and dug his claws deep in my chest. I lifted the covers to see a cat so startled his eyes were completely dilated and wide and his ears perked and stiff (still w/ claws in flesh,BTW) I started to comfort and hold him and he got cosy again and calmed down, though it worried me cuz its never happened before....SO just be very loving and patient w/ your kitkat, as I am sure you already are~!!!!Good Luck!!

Sorry, this happened to you so long ago. I'm wondering if it got resolved? My own Nora is having the exact same symptoms, minus the peeing: yowling, hissing, drooling, terror, shaking, scared by noises after waking, sometimes she even falls off of window sills or the couch and wakes up with no clue where she is, or what happened. Its scary looking, just wondering if this ever got resolved and if you have any advice.

Hello, there are many reasons your poor kitty could be crying at nig's cat's problem is to be ht. I just wanted to let you know what happened with my mom's cat today. She was 14 and was diagnosed with hyper thyroid, and would have had to be put on Prozac, so the vet recommended that she be euthanized, unfortunately. Her qualiy of life would have been considerately diminished, and she was suffering. I am not saying this is anything that your kitten could have, apparently it is a problem generally associated with older cats. You might want to get your kitty tested for it if you can afford it. Do your research online first to see what the problem could be. I googled 'cat with night screaming' and found a fair bit if info. 

Cataline said:

Hello, there are many reasons your poor kitty could be crying at nig's cat's problem is to be ht. I just wanted to let you know what happened with my mom's cat today. She was 14 and was diagnosed with hyper thyroid, and would have had to be put on Prozac, so the vet recommended that she be euthanized, unfortunately. Her qualiy of life would have been considerately diminished, and she was suffering. I am not saying this is anything that your kitten could have, apparently it is a problem generally associated with older cats. You might want to get your kitty tested for it if you can afford it. Do your research online first to see what the problem could be. I googled 'cat with night screaming' and found a fair bit if info. 

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I would think for a younger cat Prozac and thyroid medication would be an option. Was this not the case for your mom's cat?