My cat's head bobs and body trembles while sleeping. Should I worry?

It can be very hard to find the cause for intermittent tremors, so while it's appropriate to have him checked out, your vet may not be able to find anything. I would recommend a general exam, a neurologic exam, and a general bloodwork panel including urinalysis and thyroid levels to make sure everything looks normal. If all that is normal, and a veterinary neurologist isn't available where you are, your kitty can either just be monitored to make sure it's not getting worse, or you could try an anti-seizure or anti-tremor medication. Those medications definitely can have side effects, so you probably only want to go that route if the episodes seem to be causing lasting harm. I hope that helps a bit. Good luck!

It's quite hard to appreciate exactly what you mean without seeing these tremors. However, it is very promising that he was otherwise well during the day. It may simply be movement of the muscles during sleep which often happens. Alternatively he may have strained a muscle and it could be in spasm. If the issue persists I would certainly go to your vet and have him examined. I don't think it sounds like anything too serious, but I understand that you are worried and a trip to the vets msy help alleviate this.

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.

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.

Hi there, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. These tremors could be a simple thing such as mild irritation to the skin in that area, or something much more concerning such as petit seizures or a symptom of a toxicity. An exam with a vet would really be necessary to determine what's causing Udel's tremors. It's definitely a good sign that she's still active, and if she's acting pretty normal and eating well then you can likely monitor her for a day or two - but if this continues then I recommend scheduling an exam with your vet. If you can, I recommend trying to capture a little video of the tremors, just in case she doesn't do them at the vet's office, so they can see what you're noticing at home. If your vet is providing curbside care, you could e-mail the video for them to see. In the meantime, if Udel starts acting sick, lethargic, unsteady on her feet, or shows any other concerning signs of progressing symptoms, then an ER visit may be necessary today as I'd be worried about a possible toxicity. Hope that helps!

It is very difficult to say without seeing what she is doing myself. I suggest you video her doing the behavior and then show your vet at her next exam. If she seems normal in every other way I'm not sure I'd be too worried about it especially if it is only when she stretches.

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.