My cat flails legs in sleep. Is it a nightmare or a seizure?

If you can wake her up and the shaking stops it is not a seizure and is more likely movement associated with REM sleep. If you try to wake her up but she continues to have muscle tremors it could be a seizure or neurologic disorder and you should see your veterinarian. If you do decide to see your veterinarian a video can help them determine what might be going on.

If Willow twitches only when she sleeps, she is having a lot of wild dreams. Thiis is nothing to worry about. It is also a sign that she is feeling very safe, so she can sleep very deep. She is likely having great adventures in her sleep, catching mice and playing. No worries!

You really need to get a video of him doing the behavior and then take it to your vet's office and show them. After they see it they can give you more of an idea of what may be going on. It could be dreaming but it is better to be safe than sorry.

From the description you gave it seems she was just having ''a nightmare'' and nothing else. If the signs do not repeat again (especially when she is awake) there is nothing to be worried about. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

Poor Angel! This sounds like a neurologic event/possible seizure and Angel should be seen by a vet ASAP. Keep track of these episodes, write down length, what they look like and record a video if possible. If an episode lasts more than 5 minutes take Angel to the emergency hospital right away. Keep her from hitting anything during an episode and keep away from her mouth in case she accidentally bites down.

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.

This may be a seizure. Make sure he is in a safe place where he can't hurt himself, away from furniture or anything that can fall on him. If he seems to be recovering, call your veterinarian and let them know what happened. Keep a close eye on him, if he has another seizure on the heels of this one, then he needs to be seen by your vet right away. Sustained or repeated seizures can cause the body temperature to rise to dangerous levels and increases the risk of brain damage.