Why Is My Cat Shaking?

Why is my cat suddenly shaking?

Why Is My Cat Shaking: Diagnosis and Treatment – The diagnosis for a cat who is shivering or shaking differs based on the physical exam and what diagnostic tests are warranted given the cat’s condition. A basic blood cell count, a biochemistry panel and a urine analysis are starting points for diagnosing a shivering cat and may identify clues.

The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that elevated calcium levels in the bloodstream can cause cats to shiver and can be linked to renal disease, adrenal gland disease, parathyroid disease, dietary causes or chewing on poisonous household plants. As you can imagine from this list, your vet will have to do unique tests to isolate the cause when it isn’t obvious.

Depending on the diagnosis, each will require unique treatment methods. Most causes of shaking and shivering in cats do not indicate a life-threatening problem, but it can be a signal that something is amiss. Although the prognoses of internal cat conditions may vary, fear/anxiety and mild pain are two of the most common causes for why a cat shakes, and they can usually resolve entirely when the fearful or painful event passes.

Should I be worried if my cat is shivering?

Reasons for Cat Shivering – Firstly, ensure that your cat hasn’t consumed any poison that may cause trembling, or take them to the vet immediately. Generally speaking, these are the reasons why your cat is shivering,

Hypoglycemia

If you haven’t fed your cat for a long period, the cat’s blood sugar will drop, which will lead to hypoglycemia. However, it can also occur even when they’re fed regularly. In this case, it’s often a sign that they have feline diabetes and should be treated by a veterinarian.

Hypothermia

The average body temperature of a cat ranges from 100.5 to 102.5, and healthy adult cats can maintain this temperature very well. However, kittens, primarily newborns, struggle to maintain their body temperatures. Also, if your cat has a health issue, you’re likely to see your cat shivering as they experience hypothermia.

Hyperthermia

Several serious issues can cause hyperthermia, such as poisoning, epilepsy, and uncontrolled fever. When the body temperature rises over 103.5, they’re said to have a fever. In some cases, an underlying infection or fever can cause a high fever. So you must take them to a veterinarian for treatment.

Chronic kidney disease

Your cat may have a chronic kidney disease that has led to the loss of some kidney function. When this happens over time, some waste products and protein start to build up inside the bloodstream, and this can lead to general malaise, loss of appetite, and if left untreated, will result in kidney failure. When your cat’s kidney fails, they’re going to experience seizures and tremors.

Shock

Shock in cats is a serious issue. However, most times, it doesn’t come on its own. It’s primarily secondary to an initial accident, illness, or result from trauma. So if you see your cat shivering, with cold limbs, pale gums, and a very fast heart rate, be sure to visit your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Pain

A tumor, injury, and other forms of internal illnesses can lead to cats shivering and cause them to tremble. Taking them to a vet will help determine that there’s no underlying issue causing the cat to tremble,

Toxicity

Cats are curious animals, and sometimes they encounter toxic chemicals, plants, and other poisonous substances out of curiosity. If you see your cat shivering and possibly vomiting, and you suspect that they’ve ingested something, you should visit your veterinarian immediately.

Psychological issues

It is also possible that your cat is experiencing some phobia or a social issue with another of your pets. Stress and anxiety are also going to cause your cat to shiver.

Is it normal for cats to shake a little?

Cats can shake for so many reasons, and while some reasons are perfectly healthy, i.e. while dreaming in their sleep, others can be quite serious and require vet attention, such as a neurological disorder. Since the range of causes can be so wide it’s important to pay attention to your cat’s overall health.

How do you calm a shaking cat?

If they shake due to stress, keeping them in an environment they are comfortable with that doesn’t experience changes is a great way to keep them calm and relaxed. If your cat has issues regulating their blood sugar, you will want to make sure they are able to eat meals on a regular basis.

How do you calm a shaking cat down?

What Can I Do for a Shivering Cat? – Depending on the cause of your cat’s shivering, there are a few ways you can help out before bringing your pet to the veterinarian. Sometimes the solution can be as simple as wrapping your cat up in a warm blanket, and other times you need to give your cat a little bit of sugar.

Do cats shiver when sick?

Shivering – Shivering is another possible sign of fever in cats. Cats generally do not shiver for many other reasons besides fever. If your cat is shivering, especially with any of the other symptoms on this list, there’s a good chance they have a fever.

Why is my cat shivering but warm?

Maybe She Is Cold – Of course, a shivering cat may be cold. If your cat was outside, especially if there was wet heavy snow or hard rain, she may be chilled. She could have hypothermia or a low body temperature. Normal body temperature for cats is 100.5 to 102.5 F.

The same effect can result after bathing your cat, but usually to a lesser degree. The first thing to do is dry your cat, using warm towels or a blow dryer on the low setting. Most cats will tolerate a blow dryer, but some will do everything they can to get away from it. Be careful with the heat. “High” is too strong for most cats.

Once the cat is dry, the shivering should stop. A high temperature or fever can cause shivering too. That seems to be contradictory, but if your cat’s inner body temperature is high, even a warm house can feel chilly. Any temperature reading much over 102.5 F indicates a fever.

How do cats act when they are sick?

What changes should I look for in the litterbox? – Both diarrhea and constipation are indicators of disease in cats. Diarrhea is usually easy to recognize in the litterbox, but constipation can be more problematic to notice. Small, hard, dry stools are never normal and are often an early indication of kidney disease.

• Increased amounts of urine in the box indicate an of inability to properly conserve water and may mean that your cat is developing kidney or liver problems, or diabetes mellitus.
• Decreased amounts of urine in the litterbox, especially if accompanied by a cat that spends more time going in and out of the box, or strains when in the box, indicates some sort of kidney or bladder problem.

Cats with a urinary tract problem often lick excessively at their genitals. If you notice that your cat does not seem to be producing as much urine as usual, or the clumps of urine are small, you should seek immediate veterinary attention. Lack of urination is a life-threatening emergency.

Why is my cat vibrating but not purring?

Fear or anxiety : Cats may also shiver or vibrate when they’re feeling fearful or anxious. This could be in response to a loud noise, a new person or pet in the house, or a scary experience they had.

Can cats get shaking syndrome?

Wobbly Cat Syndrome: An Interesting But Harmless Condition March 24, 2022 While most cats are nimble and graceful, some are born with a rare condition commonly known as “Wobbly Cat Syndrome” that affects their ability to balance. But despite a lack of coordination, these cats can live full and happy lives like any others., a clinical associate professor in neurology at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, goes into detail on this condition, technically called cerebellar hypoplasia, and how owners can make life easier for affected cats.

1. Cerebellar hypoplasia is a condition in which the cerebellum, the part of the brain that is responsible for coordination and balance, does not develop properly,” Mankin said.
2. It results in cats that have exaggerated movements of their legs and head, as those movements are normally controlled by the cerebellum.” The main clinical sign of this condition is ataxia, or a lack of coordination.

This is usually seen as wobbling when standing or walking, as well as jerking movements of the head while eating or drinking. This condition is not contagious and does not develop over time; if a cat has cerebellar hypoplasia, it will be present from birth.

• The most common cause is an in-utero infection with the feline panleukopenia virus,” Mankin said.
• The virus attacks the developing cerebellum, resulting in a cerebellum that is not able to form properly.” If a cat without cerebellar hypoplasia suddenly becomes wobbly or shows a lack of balance, or if a cat with the condition has symptoms that become worse than usual, it should be examined by a veterinarian, as there is most likely another factor causing the issue.

While this condition has no treatment or cure, it usually does not cause cats any serious or harmful effects. “These cats can live long and healthy lives; they just look a bit funny when they walk around,” Mankin said. “As they grow older, they may learn to compensate for their cerebellar dysfunction and although their clinical signs will not go away, they may improve greatly.” Despite some small changes in their environment, cats with cerebellar hypoplasia typically do not need any medication or extra care.

• These cats should ideally be kept indoors and in a place where they are less likely to fall or injure themselves,” Mankin said.
• Overall, cerebellar hypoplasia is nothing to fear and can even be seen as an endearing trait of these uncoordinated kitties.
• As long as an owner is willing to keep an eye out for hazards and be patient with a cat that moves a little slower than most, “Wobbly Cat Syndrome” should have no negative impact on their bond with their feline friend.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at, Suggestions for future topics may be directed to, : Wobbly Cat Syndrome: An Interesting But Harmless Condition

How do you relax a stressed cat?

Think food puzzles to engage minds and bodies, vertical space for climbing and surveying their domain, scratching posts, safe outdoor access (like a catio), window perches and interactive play. ‘Play is an important part of relieving stress,’ Delgado says. ‘It helps cats release those feel-good hormones.’

Can cats have honey?

Why honey is not a healthy treat for cats – It’s not really advisable to give honey to your cat. Cats lack glucokinase in the liver which is a very important enzyme for controlling levels of carbohydrate sugars in the body. This matters, because carbohydrate has an effect on blood sugar levels.

Diabetes UK comment: “When a diabetic cat ingests glucose and can’t process it properly, it leads to the build up of sugars in the blood stream. Eventually, the blood sugar gets so high that sugar begins to be spilled in the cat’s urine”.

Basically, cats are true carnivores, and do not naturally have the physiology for eating human food products like honey, although it’s always tempting to want to share treats with them. In short, personally I would not give honey to my cat. In addition, like any treat, when too many calories are consumed, it can cause unhealthy weight gain.

If you are concerned about promoting pet health, there are of course plenty of other treats available that might be beneficial for your cat. With regard to wound care, I would advise taking your cat to the vet to have it checked. I did read a very distressing story about an attempt to treat what turned out to be a cat’s serious cancer wound with manuka honey,

This is one of the reasons why it is better to go to a vet, who can then identify any underlying problems, and treat the cat to help it feel more comfortable. If you wish to use honey to treat your cat’s wound, you can discuss how best to do this with your vet, and whether or not it’s appropriate, especially given the information above.

How can I tell if my cat has a cold?

Symptoms of Cat Colds – Cats with colds may have symptoms including coughing, sneezing, discharge from the eyes or nose, lethargy, and sometimes fever. For many cats, these symptoms are will go away on their own in about 7-10 days. However, some cats may experience complications, such as a secondary bacterial infection or pneumonia.

How do you know if your cat is dehydrated?

Hydration refers to the amount of water in the body, and maintaining normal hydration for our feline friends (and for ourselves!) is essential for a variety of vital bodily functions, including temperature regulation, maintenance of normal electrolyte concentrations, digestion of food, lubrication of joints, and delivery of oxygen and other nutrients to the organs of the body.

1. From a basic perspective, the amount of water in the body is a function of how much is taken in in and how much is excreted.
2. Water is taken into the body by drinking and via the water content in food and is lost in the form of urine, feces, bile, sweat, and humidity in exhaled breath.
3. Any condition in which water intake is decreased and/or water loss is increased (or some combination of these two) can predispose to dehydration, with which total body water is decreased.

Dehydration can cause a number of health problems, including decreased circulation leading to multi-organ dysfunction, an inability to control body temperature, cardiac arrhythmias, and neurologic dysfunction, to name a few. Clearly, helping cats avoid becoming dehydrated is a very important aspect of their health maintenance, and being aware of how we can do this is a vital component of our being good stewards of their well-being.

1. Cats need to consume about 4 ounces of water per five pounds of lean body weight per day, so the average 10-pound cat should drink about one cup of water per day.
2. It’s important to realize that cats that eat wet food, which can contain up to 80% water, may drink less, and cats that eat dry food usually take more of their daily water requirement in by drinking.

Signs of dehydration include lethargy, weakness, poor appetite, dry mucous membranes, and, in more severe cases, eyes that are sunken into their sockets. The most common causes of dehydration in cats are diseases that cause increased water loss. Chronic kidney disease, diabetes, vomiting, diarrhea, and hyperthyroidism all fall into this category.

Increased water loss can also be caused by some medications, including diuretics that are commonly used to treat heart disease, Cats can experience decreased water intake due to weakness/lethargy, decreased appetite, hesitation to drink as a result of dental problems, and lack of access to water bowls due to either owner failure to provide water (or outdoor lifestyle with no access to water) or territorial conflicts among cats in a household.

Physical indicators of dehydration include dry/tacky mucous membranes (usually checked in the gums) and decreased skin turgor (elasticity). Skin turgor can be tested by gently lifting the skin over the shoulders and determining how long it takes to “snap back” to its original position.

• In normally hydrated cats, this should occur almost immediately, while in dehydrated cats, this may take much longer, and in some cases the skin may remain “tented”.
• It is important to note that geriatric cats may show decreased skin turgor even when they are normally hydrated.
• Cats can be prompted to increase their water intake by always having fresh water available in places that they can easily access and by assuring that there are no conflicts among cats and/or other pets that may result in a particular cat being “banned” from the water bowl by other four-legged friends in the house.

Some cats increase their intake of water when provided with water fountains, but individual preferences among cats for these varies. Feeding wet food and/or adding water to food is another good way to increase water intake; and, in some cases, flavoring the water with a small amount of either water from a can of tuna or low sodium chicken broth can prompt a cat to drink more.

1. If you are concerned that your cat is dehydrated, you should contact a veterinarian promptly.
2. Dehydration can be addressed in the veterinary clinical setting by either intravenous or subcutaneous fluid therapy, and restoring normal hydration is often a major treatment goal in cats that are diagnosed with a variety of diseases.

Of course, determining why a cat is dehydrated is another very important aspect of providing optimal veterinary care. last updated 2021

Why does my kitten keep shaking?

The essentials –

Cats may tremble in fear or when they’re dreaming — These shakes are innocent enough. However, be mindful of other tell-tale signs of serious illness to distinguish a medical emergency from harmless behavior. It’s possible to prevent or at least determine the cause of a cat’s shaking — Note how frequently your cat shakes and any other adverse health symptoms to help your vet diagnose the root cause. Shaking may be a result of low blood sugar, kidney disease, poisoning, or shock — If you believe one of these is causing your cat to shake or seize, call your vet at once.

Can stress cause a cat to shake?

Anxiety is the anticipation of a danger or threat. So even though your cat is not actually in danger, they are anticipating it. Cat anxiety can cause bodily reactions and changes in your cat’s behavior. An anxious cat may have physical reactions such as increased heart and respiratory rates, panting, trembling, and salivation.

1. The most obvious behavior changes are increased movement, hiding, destruction, and excessive vocalization.
2. Many fears, phobias, and anxieties develop as a result of experiences in the first year of a cat’s life.
3. Pet parents often first notice signs of cat anxiety between 5 months and 1 year of age.
4. These anxieties usually get worse, or new concerns may develop when your cat is between 1 and 3 years old.

That’s why it’s important to take steps to treat your cat’s anxiety as soon as possible. This guide will explain common cat anxiety symptoms, what might be causing the anxiety, and treatment options you can try.

What does a cat seizure look like?

Cat seizures manifest as unusual behaviours such as collapse, twitching, gnashing of the teeth and tremors. During a seizure, there are sudden, abnormal electrical impulses that disrupt the normal processes in the brain.

How do cats act when they are sick?

What changes should I look for in the litterbox? – Both diarrhea and constipation are indicators of disease in cats. Diarrhea is usually easy to recognize in the litterbox, but constipation can be more problematic to notice. Small, hard, dry stools are never normal and are often an early indication of kidney disease.

1. Increased amounts of urine in the box indicate an of inability to properly conserve water and may mean that your cat is developing kidney or liver problems, or diabetes mellitus.
2. Decreased amounts of urine in the litterbox, especially if accompanied by a cat that spends more time going in and out of the box, or strains when in the box, indicates some sort of kidney or bladder problem.

Cats with a urinary tract problem often lick excessively at their genitals. If you notice that your cat does not seem to be producing as much urine as usual, or the clumps of urine are small, you should seek immediate veterinary attention. Lack of urination is a life-threatening emergency.