My cat's face twitches and eyes blink often. Should I worry?

I am sorry to hear this! I know how worrisome it is to have vague signs with no other hints! If not done already, I would recommend having bloodwork and an x-ray done. Some things I would want to rule out- heart/lung disease, signs of infection, and parasites. If this all appears normal I would also consider a sedated exam to see if there are any abnormalities in his ears or mouth- like a polyp. If the behavior worsens and you do not find any answers on the other tests I would also consider advanced imaging like a CT. I hope it is nothing serious but it is good to know your options!

I'm glad your kitty's kidneys are normal at this time. Facial or head twitching can be due to electrolyte abnormalities, particularly if your kitty's potassium is low. This can occur with kidney dysfunction. I recommend repeating lab work to check electrolytes and kidney values as soon as possible. Particularly since your are seeing Shadow drink excess water and vomiting; both very common with kidney disease. Another cause of head twitching is seizure activity, specifically a focal seizure. I recommend making a recording of what you are seeing at home to show your regular veterinarian in case it doesn't happen all the time. If Shadow is experiencing focal seizures, there can be several causes ranging from organ or endocrine diseases to cancer in the brain or spinal cord. I recommend having Shadow seen by your regular veterinarian as soon as possible.

Lethargy is a very common sign of many illnesses, so it's hard to pin it down without seeing her in person. You did the right thing by taking her into the vet. She may be a bit painful, she could have injured herself, and is just resting. I'd keep an eye on her for now.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear that Clunker has been having seizures. It is important to see exactly what is going on, to determine that he is having a true seizure, as opposed to a collapse or localized tremors for a different reason. A video would be very helpful and I would be happy to provide a consultation. If this is a true seizure, they are usually the result of abnormal brain activity. This can be due to a large number of diseases including brain cancer, infection, or epilepsy (the cause of which is not currently known in cats). With brain cancer or epilepsy, blood work can be normal, however, x-rays or a CT scan would determine if there is something else causing the seizures. It may be helpful to know that seizures themselves are not thought to be painful, and it is normal for animals to urinate/defecate while they are having a seizure. This frequency of seizures is definitely confusing and distressful for Clunker, and a veterinarian can prescribe an anti-seizure medication to keep him comfortable. It is important to have Clunker evaluated by a vet to ensure that there is nothing else that can be causing collapse or tremors, such as a hormonal issue or viral infection, and to have him treated appropriately.

Hello. I am sorry that Shadow is having these episodes. It sounds a bit like hyperesthesia syndrome, a condition thought to have underlying compulsive behaviors, but can certainly be brought on by other factors such as allergies ( including fleas bites ), but environmental stress ( anything change at home ? ), myositis, seizures, spinal & neuropathic pain. In a 13 year old cat, I would be investigating pain as the cause of these episodes. Have Shadow evaluated by your veterinarian at your earliest convenience to see if this might be the underlying cause. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The symptoms do suggest short seizures or mini strokes. You should take Cheshire to your local vets for full clinical examination and a blood test to check his blood sugar level, red cell count, kidney and liver function. If the blood results come back normal and he keeps having the episodes, he may need further investigation, like MRI scan of the brain. Alternatively, your vet may recommend treatment with anti-epileptic medication asa trial.

He could have this behavior from an ear infection, head injury, low blood sugar or epilepsy. If Sherlock is back to normal then it was a seizure, if he's still having these problems and the blood work was normal I'm concerned about a serious neurological problem. I would take him back for a recheck if he's not much by tomorrow. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sherlock.