My 5-week-old kitten shakes when eating and twitches in sleep. Why?

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, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Hmmmm, I’d really have to see Lumi to determine if this is problematic. When I hear about a kitten with odd shaking concerns, I do think about a neurological disorder such as cerebellar hypoplasia....and symptoms can become more obvious when the cat is focusing on a task (“intention tremors”)..... but it’s usually pretty apparent and I think I’d be hearing more concern from you. If Lumi is completely normal in every other way, and this is just a little “shiver” sort of shake, then it’s likely normal. Sometimes they’ll shiver/tremble when they’re very excited, or nervous, both of which could come into play when eating. So, no concrete answer but I suspect this is normal. However, if it looks concerning to you (and certainly if you feel anything else about Lumi’s movements look odd) then it’s worth having your vet take a look at her to be safe. Hope this helps!

I wouldn't describe baby kittens as twitching. They may be a little jerky as they are learning to walk or practicing other fine motor skills. Maybe try reposting with what exact behavior you are seeing. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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!

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 would not be concerned about her twitching a little when you touch her back. Sometimes when cats get happy and excited they seem like they are shaking their back/lower body but it is just the stance that they are in. Without seeing what she is doing it is hard to say if it is something to be concerned about. A lot of times your veterinarian will be willing to look at the video to see if it is something to be seen or not. I would call and see if they will be willing to look at a video on their email (if they have one). Otherwise if she is acting completely normal otherwise I wouldn't worry at this time. If things change or the shaking gets worse then I would recommend evaluation with a veterinarian. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I would recommend to take Pepper to the emergency veterinarian ASAP! I would be worried that he may have gotten into something or that he is having a problem with low blood sugar. Any neurological signs are serious. If you catch low blood sugar early, it will be easier to treat. Low blood sugar can be fatal if it goes on too long. The doctor is going to need to do bloodwork and may recommend further diagnostics based on physical exam findings and bloodwork. I hope Pepper bounces back quickly. Please post again if you have any further questions.