yo so Duke is 3 and black and super energetic usually but last night he was just twitching all over while he slept. like his whole body was jolting. i thought he was having a seizure or something. is this normal or do i need to rush him to the vet? he seems fine now but i am worried.
Hi Dave, it is understandable to be worried when you see your cat twitching. For my senior cats, Cleo and Mimi, twitching during sleep is quite common and usually indicates active dreaming. Since Duke is only 3, he is likely in the REM sleep phase where muscles relax but small movements occur. If the twitching is sporadic and he returns to normal sleep or wakefulness without distress, it is likely benign. However, if the twitching is rhythmic, lasts a long time, or he seems confused afterwards, it is best to consult your vet.
I agree with kathy_simmons. My Whiskers is 8 and has CKD stage 1, so we watch him closely. I have seen senior cat twitching in sunbeams where the cat twitches in the afternoon. For a younger cat like Duke, I would look at signs of active dreaming to see if it matches. Usually, you will see the whiskers moving or the eyes fluttering under the lids. If it looks more like a full-body convulsion, check out twitching vs seizure signs for what to look for. But for a 3-year-old, it is probably just a dream.
As a nurse, I always advise documenting these events. If it happens again, try to film it. I have a thread about caught my cat twitching on video where people share clips to help each other identify the type of movement. It is hard to describe these things in words. Also, make sure Duke is not on any new medications that could cause this. I have seen twitching after starting new med where the side effects mimic neurological issues. If it is not medication related, it is likely just sleep behavior.
my luna does this too sometimes. she is a siamese mix so very vocal but also twitchy in her sleep. i dont worry unless she wakes up and acts weird. if she is just twitching and sleeping its fine. dont overthink it. but if it gets worse call your vet.
thanks everyone. i think i will try to film it next time like tina said. he was acting totally normal this morning so i am feeling better. just wanted to make sure it wasnt something bad. i will check out that video thread later.
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