My 14-year-old girl has been having head tremors for about two or three years now, and it's becoming more and more frequent.
She turns her head to the right side of her body and lowers it to shoulder level, and then her head shakes with short, rapid tremors.
If anyone could tell me what might be causing this, I'd really appreciate it.
I've posted a video below; you can see the head shaking at the 15-second mark.
[youtube=https://youtu.be/em0Ed_iCb1Y]
Translated from French
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Hi there, for the past few days I've noticed my cat's skin vibrating between his shoulder blades, almost like he's having spasms, and I'm really starting to worry. If anyone knows what this could be, I’d love some advice. Thanks!
For anyone who might find this helpful. After showing the vet a video of my girl (who's nearly 13 now) with those head tremors and eye blinking, she told me they are actually micro-seizures. She said that since it doesn't happen very often, I don't need to worry. But if it becomes more frequent, lasts longer, or affects other areas, we might then have to consider further tests. No other recommendations. So, now I’m spending all my time keeping an eye on her whenever I’m at home, just to check it’s not happening more often than I realise or lasting any longer...
Hi everyone, I know this thread is a few years old now, but I haven't found many detailed answers and I’d like to know the latest from anyone who has noticed these intermittent tremors in their cat. I first noticed it with my Luna a few months ago in the vet's waiting room. I thought it was down to the sedative I'd given her beforehand, so I didn't mention it to the vet at the time as we were there for something quite serious... Over the last few months, I've noticed the shivering again, and it seems to be happening more often. I’d put it down to the stress and lack of sleep lately, but now I’m starting to get worried. She’s had urinary and bowel issues for the last 3 or 4 years, and she’s naturally quite an anxious/nervous soul, but she still sticks to her little routine.
She’s only 12, so she's still quite young compared to other cats where people have noticed this "issue". I’d really like to know how and how quickly this is likely to progress.
We had a very tough 2023, with very frequent vet appointments (I had four senior cats). I’m hesitant about putting her through more tests so soon. If I do go ahead, would you recommend going straight to a specialist at a referral hospital, even if it means a 2-hour car journey, rather than taking her to my local vet who might need to see her several times? Thanks in advance for your help.
I’d say not really, a cat can still find their way around without good eyesight; smell and hearing make up for it easily. My oldest cat became senile as he got older, and it happened gradually over several years (disorientation with distressed meowing in the last year, gradual loss of vision, accidents outside the litter tray, arthritis...). In the end, we had him put to sleep because he was hardly eating, losing a lot of weight, had terrible teeth (kidney failure), and was in a lot of pain from the arthritis. Basically, he was suffering a lot; he was 19, so we decided to help him on his way.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, it’s put my mind at rest a little. I think mine is losing her hearing a bit too, but that said, she’s still got a healthy appetite and is drinking normally.
The vet told me she was doing very well considering a few minor health issues (other than her tremors, which they think are neurological). She doesn’t shake all the time (well, it’s mainly her head that shakes), but it’s becoming more and more frequent. I naively thought it was just like old grannies who get shaky heads when they get older, and since my cat is 14, she’s quite the "old lady" herself.
Regarding the litter tray, she does sometimes have accidents outside of it, but it’s not all the time.
I’ll try and call the vet again on Monday to see if there's anything to worry about. I’ve filmed her (the cat, not the vet! 😁) so the vet can get a better idea of these symptoms.
