Why does my cat's back twitch? Is it fleas, soreness, or worms?

Hello, and thank you for your question. I would make sure to fully rule out fleas by giving her a preventative flea treatment such as Advantage, even if no fleas are visible to the naked eye. I would also make sure that a skin scraping test and cytology have been done to fully rule out infection. If these causes are ruled out, then it may be related to hyperesthesia ("twitchy cat syndrome"). You can speak to your vet about a trial of pain medication that targets the nervous system. You could also try a feline pheromone spray called Feliway, which can help reduce her stress and anxiety related to the behaviour. I hope this helps, and that Mae is feeling better soon!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Sometimes during the deep phase of sleep, animals can twitch or have muscle twitching. This is completely normal. I would recommend bringing in a fecal sample in to the veterinarian so that the most appropriate deworming medication can be prescribed. If the leg shaking worsens, I would consult with the veterinarian for more information. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I wouldn't worry overly about the twitching when they are asleep as many animals make active movements when dreaming. Your cat is likely simply twitching its skin because it is excited. As long as it is healthy and not showing discomfort when toileting I wouldn't worry about it. If it is really concerning you I would go to the vet for peace of mind.

Excessive grooming of the rear may indicate fleas or worms. The area she's paying attention to is classic for flea allergy. The most common worms are tapeworms, which your pet gets by grooming and ingesting a flea carrying the tapeworm eggs. A broad spectrum dewormer can be gotten from your vet as well as a topical or oral flea control such as Cheristin or Comfortis. You might also consider asking your vet for a dose of Capstar. It helps get the problem under control by killing the fleas on the cat starting in five minutes but only lasts for 24 hours. You also need to treat your home environment. If you use a pest control service, tell them you are having a flea problem and they can adjust their treatment. Use a premise spray that also contains an IGR, insect growth regulator. This will keep eggs and larvae from maturing into adults and helps break the life cycle. Also, vacuum EVERY DAY, throwing out the bag or emptying the canister every time into an outside receptacle and spraying the contents with insecticide to kill the fleas you’ve vacuumed up. Treat your yard as well, since fleas are opportunistic and will hop a ride into your home on your pant leg without you knowing it. Concentrate on areas under bushes, in the shade. Fleas are less likely to be located in open sunny areas where it gets hot. You might want to consider boarding your cat for the day at your vet, to give you the opportunity to flea bomb your house without having to worry about your cat. They can bathe your cat and give a dose of Capstar while you take care of the problem at home. Be patient, you may have to repeat these steps multiple times 10-14 days apart to help break the flea life cycle.

There could be something else causing this weird reaction besides fleas. I would try a different flea preventative like advantage or comfortis (oral) to see if this makes a difference (if you have this in your area). You could also try benadryl (diphenhydramine) twice a day or just an hour before she goes outside to see if this helps. See link below. You could also look up hyperesthesia. Granted these cats tend to always have the weird twitching of their fur and weird behaviors, but it is something to look into. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/cat/benadryl/#

Twitching in older cats can be due to a number of reasons including aging-related muscle atrophy, arthritis, nerve issues, injury, underlying illness, etc. If the twitch is increasing in severity, or is affecting Princess' ability to get around, having it evaluated by your vet or another local vet is a good idea. If they suspect something such as a neurologic or muscular issue, they may also refer you to a specialist for more testing. In the mean time, keeping Princess comfortable and going about her normal activities as best as possible may help, however if she appears in pain or discomfort, seeking care is best.

Yes I would be concerned, as this can be a sign of flea treatment toxicity. I would put her into a bath immediately, and gently wash the treatment off with water water and Dawn dish soap. Continue to monitor her for signs of toxicity, including vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, hyper salivation, and depression. If you see any of those signs, take her into your vet immediately. I would make sure that the flea treatment you put on Annie was for cats and not for dogs, as it's very important to have a cat dose for cats because they are so sensitive to the flea medication. I would wait a few days before reapplying a flea treatment, and I would use a different brand than what you just used. I recommend using Advantage or Revolution.