cat head twitching and sneezing

You explained it to a t. I know this post is a decade old now, but did you ever find out what it was? Her professional interests include infectious diseases, community cats, and whole health of animals in shelter environments, including medical protocols and stress reduction. If your cat is shaking their head and sneezing repeatedly, it could mean they have a respiratory infection. Started sneezing a few days ago and now this morning she has a twitch in her head. Follow your veterinarian's instructions and complete the treatment exactly as prescribed. Great Pet Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, Scratching of the ear when rubbed, or vocalizing as if in pain, Congenital conditions (born with a slightly different brain structure), Hydrocephalus (fluid buildup occurs in the center of the cerebrum, causing the brain to bulge, affecting the cerebellum and cerebrum), Trauma (any accident that affects the head). Badges are specifically optimized with Twitch in mind. Other symptoms include redness and swelling, eye discharge, as well as sneezing and nasal discharge. Kittens are especially prone to respiratory diseases because of their underdeveloped immune systems. Ear mites are a common infestation in cats that will also show up as red, irritated ears with lots of dark debris. Was your cat okay in the end? Julia Wilson is the founder of Cat-World, and has researched and written over 1,000 articles about cats. The most common causes are underlying cerebellar or neuromuscular diseases. 3 days ago my cat started sneezing. Treatment will depend on the severity of signs and is aimed at controlling seizures and tremors and supportive care. A cat that is suffering from diabetes will need to follow a specialized diet and treatment to manage its condition, so it is very important that you take your cat to the vet. Infection (as listed above) or your cats immune system can cause this inflammation. Your treatment plan may include: The purpose of treatment is to make changes that help reduce the number of episodes. Another telltale sign of neuropathy is walking on her hocks or ankles. She only does it once in awhile but, it's probably a everyday occuranceShe is 17 now and going thru CRF. Featured Image: fotovictoria, Shutterstock. She has a husband, two kids, a three-legged dog and two silly old cats at home. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It may also need surgery to treat the disease. Our content and products are for informational purposes only. If the cat has lost consciousness, check the animal's breathing. Internal injuries can cause subtle, chronic symptoms until they heal. If your cat is persistently shaking their head, holding their head at a tilt, or scratching at their ears a lot, this is a sign that there's something bothering them. If it occurs while your cat is falling asleep, monitor your cat closely for an increase in how often it occurs or if it becomes more dramatic. JavaScript is disabled. Ear infections in cats should be addressed so they do not get worse or become a more serious health issue. There are a few common causes of sneezing in cats, including nasal cavity tumors, viral infections, allergens, ear disorders, and foreign bodies in the cat's nose.. You may notice your pet sneezing or shaking her head, usually a sign of some type of nasal irritation. Infection, swelling, or parasitic infestation of the ear canal can be extremely uncomfortable and disconcerting for your pet. Chronic kidney disease is a gradual loss of kidney function over months or years which causes a build-up of toxins in the blood. Cats bob their heads for a variety of reasonswhile it may be normal in sleepy cats, most of the time it is caused by something else. In some cases, the vet may take a swab from the mouth, throat, eyes, or nose and send it to a lab to confirm an infection. For more advice from our Veterinary co-author, including how to give your vet additional medical information about your cat to help them make a diagnosis, read on! It is a common disease in middle-aged to senior cats. These include: Cat head bobbing is often accompanied by other symptoms as well. Cats may sneeze, have noisy breathing, a snotty nasal discharge that can be bloody, and have nasal swelling. Frantic biting of their feet, flanks, tail, and tail base. Infections can be caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses, or fungi. While it has been associated with skin conditions, pain disorders, neurological problems, and psychological disorders, the underlying reason is largely unknown. Mort has these weird spasms that make her head twitch. She has done this since she was a kitten. If your cat is sneezing, it may be difficult to pinpoint the cause. Involuntary muscle movements in cats are classified accordingly to their causes. A cat licks his lips and twitches because Xerostomia is a condition in which a cat licks his lips. During an attack, your cat will behave as if he is reacting to hallucinatory stimuli. In mild cases, the vet may suggest taking steps to simply help your cat be more comfortable -- like using a humidifier. We took her to a new vet who said it was probably fleas. Ear mites are one of the more common causes of ear infections in cats. The cat may not be eating due a general feeling of being unwell or due to a more specific medical issue. Vets may make a tentative diagnosis using signs alone but a biopsy is ideal. Finding the irritant is a long process that requires restriction of your cat's movement and diet as determined by your veterinarian. Felines exposed to allergens can also develop severe gastrointestinal distress, including vomiting and diarrhea. Your veterinarian can determine if it is an infection, e.g. If frequency increases or it becomes more dramatic, a call to your veterinarian is recommended. If sneezing is related to allergies, sometimes itchy skin is also present. A cat that is shaking or tilting its head could have a number of possible health issues, such as an infection, a nutritional deficiency, a neurologic disease, or a metabolic disease. If your veterinarian suspects a foreign body, like a blade of grass, they may perform rhinoscopy to look inside your cat's nasal cavity. There is no cure for chronic kidney disease; the goal is to slow down the progression of the disease and manage symptoms. However, inflammation in this area of the brain can affect a variety of neurons, or electrical connections, that affect your cats behavior and reactions. You may be concerned when you start to notice that a cat is shaking or tilting its head. The rest of the brain, called the cerebrum, doesnt control movements quite the same way as the cerebellum. Cats have many strange behaviors, like the peculiar chattering sound they make when they see a bird or a laser pen. However, if you happen to be at the vet already, it can help get an early diagnosis and some advice to help combat it in the future. Was your cat recently anesthetized at another clinic? Rarely, certain cells in a cats brain will prematurely degenerate (breakdown) and stop functioning. A nervous system disorder like epilepsy is a common cause of involuntary muscle movement in cats. Dietary insufficiency will resolve within weeks once your cats thiamine has been supplemented and his diet has been improved. However, if your cats sneezing wont go away, or if other symptoms have cropped up along with sneezing, you may need to check with your veterinarian to see if treatment is needed. Hyperesthesia is a condition that causes the cats backside to become extremely sensitive. In both localized and generalized trembling the movement may be persistent or episodic. Your cat's mouth is likely mostly closed, multiple sneezes happen rapidly without pausing, with the lips pulled back as your cat draws air inward (instead of out like coughing). Fatigue. Feed a nutritionally balanced diet and avoid diets containing large quantities of fish. Inhaled irritants or allergens are other common causes of sneezing in cats. Liver disease may require supportive care and supplements or possibly surgery if a shunt is present, and the condition is lifelong. Head bobbing can be very subtle or very obvious. Some non-medical causes for shaking or shivering in cats include fear, stress, and dreaming. Head shaking by itself, or along with scratching at its ears, is a common sign of an ear problem. Bleeding from the ears. Lasts for a split second and her head twitches to the left 2. Pollen allergies are much less common in cats than in people, but are not unheard of either. Our cats will twitch their paws and eyes while sleeping, often accompanied by chatting noises. Dust and dirt. The. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. Full author bio. Excessive twitching, almost as though they're having a seizure. The animals will try hard to remove these ear mites from the ear canal, resulting in excessive scratching and ear infections. Keep your cat indoors and watch for changes. No one is sure what causes epilepsy in cats, but many believe it to be genetic. Dr. Emily Swiniarski is Medical Director of Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago, Illinois. Your cat may act strange and seek attention or hide before an episode, and it can take your cat up to 24 hours to recover. They may be purring, which cats do not only when they're happy, but also when they're sick or in pain. Medication trials may be part of the workup process. If you suspect your cat may have an ear infection that is causing it to shake or tilt its head, bring it to the vet right away for treatment. This is a normal way of exploring new things. The vet thought that she had head trama. Stay up to date with pet-related recalls and alerts so you can help keep your dog or cat safe. "Cats tend to just sneeze and sneeze and sneeze sometimes." In fact, if your cat is shaking its head and sneezing, allergies could be to blame. Here are four reasons why your cat keeps sneezing, and what you can do to help. How does a cat get a calicivirus infection? 1. This has been persistent for about 3 days. There may also be some bleeding inside the nasal passages, which reddens the nasal discharge. 2000-2023 TheCatSite.com. Cat is trying to initiate play when the other is using the litter box. An inner ear infection is one such cause. They may be signs of an illness or condition that needs veterinary care. Epilepsy, seizures of unknown origin that happen with some frequency, occurs in 1 in 3 cats diagnosed with seizuresand typically begins between the ages of 1 and 4 years old. For example, if your cat keeps sneezing but seems fine, is wheezing or coughing, or has started snoring more than usual, allergies are a likely cause. This occurs with any imbalance of electrolytes (key elements in the body like sodium or potassium), blood sugar, or insulin. If seizures are very frequent and uncontrolled, it can cause life threatening damage to the brain over time. For some cats, the episodes may come back after several months, while for others, the relief lasts much longer. FHS is also more common among younger cats. Self-mutilation. A brief bout of sneezing isn't anything to worry about, but if your cat keeps sneezing persistently or severely, seek veterinary care. Yes, though treatment is often necessary to ensure a good quality of life. A wide range of other infections may also lead to sneezing. . 1) Clean your house thoroughly to minimize airborne irritants like dust or perfumes. With over 10 years in veterinary medicine, she specializes in the concept of one health, which uses insights from veterinary medicine to help human medical research. Also, blind cats may have a subtle head bob as they explore new surroundingswhen their whiskers touch something, they may move their head back in an exaggerated way because they cannot see, and then immediately approach something again. Your cat relies on their ears to maintain balance and general awareness of the environment. Inflammation of nasal passages or sinuses. full body) illness that can lead to head bobbing in cats, whether it affects the brain directly or not. Nothing else seems wrong with her. Seek veterinary attention for a diagnosis and treatment. The inner inflammation affects a nerve that connects to the brainstem (central brain) and can result in head bobbing. Can you take a video of these spasms happening on your phone, and show them to the vet? Head bobbing can be classified as a focal seizure, but not always. If these spasms were not ongoing, I wouldn't worry, but with the frequency there is a concern. Seems spaced out or less aware of his surroundings. There are a few common causes of sneezing in cats, including nasal cavity tumors, viral infections, allergens, ear disorders, and foreign bodies in the cat's nose. Your cat may be fine if it's shaking or tilting its head, but you should take it to the vet if you're also seeing symptoms like irritation or redness in its ears, falling or rolling to one side, vomiting, and loss of appetite since this could mean that your cat has a medical condition that needs attention. Cats with neurological problems may be confused, have seizures or . Cats often hide when scratching or grooming themselves, so knowing your cat is itchy is challenging. Tail chasing. Even dirt can make a cat have itchy ears. Yes, while cats with epilepsy can live long and happy lives, early detection is critical to getting your cat the care it needs while you get the required training to know what to do when a seizure occurs. Fungal infections will be treated with anti-fungal medications, Anti-seizure medications such as phenobarbital or Valium, Supportive care such as fluid therapy and, For cats with cuterebra, administration of diphenhydramine an antihistamine to prevent an allergic reaction followed by. 1. % of people told us that this article helped them. The cat will continuously scratch, and it may use the muscles under its back to move the skin in a twitching motion in an effort to be more comfortable. Coughing, sneezing, head tilt, drooping eyelid, ear inflammation, or nasal discharge are all signs of an ear polyp, depending on where it is located. Congestion. The goal of treatment is to manage the underlying cause as well as treat hypomagnesemia with magnesium infusions or supplements. It is important to make sure this nutrient is present at an adequate level in your cats diet. Eye swelling. This article was co-authored by Lauren Baker, DVM, PhD. No discharge or loss of appetite. Look for patterns in your cats sneezing. 2016: 30(4):1438-1439. Ear mites and infections require routine administration of medicine at home. Kidney failure causes electrolyte imbalances and can make your cats muscles contract uncontrollably. Feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS) has also been called rolling skin syndrome and twitchy cat disease, which should give you an idea of what signs to look out for in your cat. However, the information found on Excited Cats should not be viewed as veterinary advice. But when we see their muscles begin to twitch involuntarily, its natural to be concerned and to look forthe underlying reasons for this phenomenon. Cats fed mostly on a raw fish diet need additional supplementation of B1 as the fish contains an enzyme called thiaminase that can break down the B1. You might see your cat limping or dragging a limb, especially in the hindquarters, or she might falter and lose her balance frequently. Your cat may even begin to scratch or lick the area intensely, resulting in hair loss. Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination of your cat and obtain a medical history. 8 Reasons for This Behavior. Low-grade fever. Feeding a good quality diet with adequate levels of calcium and a good multi-vitamin with minerals can help reduce any chances of nutritional deficiencies. It would help if you also kept a supply of activated charcoal on hand and a feeding syringe because you may need it at times like this. Inflammatory or degenerative disease may be treated with medications that decrease the overactive immune system and are lifelong. You must log in or register to reply here. Feline Herpes: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment, Diminished sense of smell, leading to weight loss and loss of appetite, Thick nasal discharge that may be a yellow, green, or reddish color, Uncharacteristic aggressive or antisocial behavior. My feral cat is sneezing a lot and has mucus coming from. A variety of other conditions that can look very similar must be ruled out before feline hyperesthesia syndrome is diagnosed. Parasites can also make a cat scratch its ears. About Privacy policy Disclaimer My cat is doing the exact same thing. Treatment: Typically, your vet will treat the underlying infection that's causing the eye discomfort. Twitching occurs during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is perfectly normal. 2. Additional tests may be required depending on your veterinarians index of suspicion which may include diagnostic imaging such as ultrasound, X-ray, MRI or CT scans. A break in one of those can lead to a bloody nose. The ears often become red and inflamed and may develop an offensive odor. Evaluating their response to a medication targeting pain or itchiness, for example, can provide valuable information. Dental disease can cause sneezing particularly involving root infections. For example, its common for cats to experience sneezing within four to seven days of receiving an intranasal vaccine. This time, however, her actions included hiding from us, excessive cleaning, sneezing and ear twitching. Damage to the sensitive lining inside the nasal passages can lead to discharge, sneezing, and general discomfort. I took her to the vet and the vet thought that whom ever owned her as a tiny kitty was abusive. Occasional head shaking is perfectly normal but if your cat suddenly starts shaking their head a lot more than usual it's likely to indicate a problem such as: Ear infection Aural haematoma Ear mites Something stuck inside the ear (foreign body) Ear injury Allergic or inflammatory skin disease A lump (growth) in the ear Loss of Appetite, Nausea and Vomiting. See your vet for a thorough workup of potential causes. Does it occur after youve lit the candles at the dinner table? Some conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, and hypertension are treated with specific lifelong medications. My cat is sneezing, and head shaking. Christian is the Editor-in-Chief of Excited Cats and one of its original and primary contributors. Is it a well-balanced diet sold at pet stores, or do you make your, Bloodwork including complete blood count (CBC), chemistry and thyroid levels, Urine testing, i.e. Any change in your kittys behavior can be alarming, and you will want to know: when should I be concerned, and when should I reach out to my veterinarian? According to Holmboe, the most common allergens include: Dust Mold Cigarette smoke The occasional sneeze isn't a big deal, but repetitive sneezing and shaking of the head indicate an ongoing health issue that requires immediate attention. Your vet may consult with a veterinary behaviorist to create the best plan for your cat. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Help-a-Cat-Shaking-or-Tilting-Its-Head-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Help-a-Cat-Shaking-or-Tilting-Its-Head-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Help-a-Cat-Shaking-or-Tilting-Its-Head-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid8750367-v4-728px-Help-a-Cat-Shaking-or-Tilting-Its-Head-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"