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Why is My Cat Shaking? 8 Causes That Can Be Behind It

“Why is my cat shaking?” Have you ever asked yourself this question? There is not just one answer to this, as the symptom can have various causes. Both harmless reasons and an illness are possible. Learn more about what can cause tremors in cats here.
Actually, cats are pretty laid-back animals. Nothing fazes her that easily. That’s why it’s all the more worrying when your cat suddenly starts shaking. In order to find out why she is doing this, you have to get a good grasp of the situation. Maybe it’s just nervousness. For the cause research, it is also relevant whether your furry friend has such attacks more often.

Cat is Shaking Because of Hypoglycemia

Just like humans, cats can have low blood sugar levels. The technical term for this is hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is caused by not having enough food and can result in tremors, among other things. In order for your cat to regain its strength, you should offer something to eat. If she refuses to eat and suffers from a loss of appetite, take her to the vet, because then another illness could be behind the symptoms.

Diarrhea,  constipation, or vomiting can also be responsible for low blood sugar levels. In this case, too, your cat should be provided with sufficient food and, above all, liquid. A visit to the veterinarian is also advisable here to rule out other diseases.

Fever is the Cause When the Cat is Shaking

Hyperthermia is the medical term for fever. Depending on the illness, your velvet paw’s body can heat up considerably and cause chills. Your cat will then tremble all over.

Do you have a thermometer? Take your cat’s temperature. If it is above 39.2 degrees, visit a vet immediately. An infectious disease may be responsible for the fever.

Hypothermia as the Reason Your Cat is Shaking

Not only an elevated temperature can make your cat shiver, but also hypothermia. The so-called hypothermia is more likely to be observed in younger and older cats, which are less able to regulate their internal temperature. With warm blankets or a heating pad in cold weather, you can remedy susceptible kitties.

Cat is Shaking From Stress

Sometimes cats respond to stressful situations by shaking. For us humans, however, the stress trigger is not always obvious. Your house cat can get nervous about a new piece of furniture, a noise on the street, or the new neighbor’s cat and tremble as a result. If it’s possible to fix the stress trigger, then do it. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always work. For example, you can hardly do anything against the neighbor’s cat or strange noises.

In such cases, it is important to create a calming atmosphere. Provide your four-legged friend with sufficient opportunities to retreat so that he feels safe and comfortable at home. Over time, he will feel reassured and less stressed.

To rule out serious illnesses such as epilepsy, you should still visit the veterinarian. Only he can ensure that your animal receives the best possible treatment for its problem.

Other Emotional Causes

Especially if your cat only trembles its tail, there are usually emotional reasons behind it. To a certain extent, the tail is the “emotional barometer” of your velvet paw, so that the reasons for its trembling can be varied. If your cat trembles when it purrs, it is probably just feeling particularly good. Stress, fear, and restlessness can be responsible for conspicuous behavior as well as irritability and anger. On the other hand, it can also happen that your cat trembles its tail with sheer joy. You should, therefore, observe very closely the circumstances surrounding the tremor.

Cat Trembles While Sleeping: Active Dreams as the Cause

If your cat trembles while sleeping, there are usually quite harmless reasons behind it: As with us humans, it can happen with cats that the brain has already switched to the sleep phase, but is still sending movement signals to the body. This can happen in the middle of a dream as well as just before falling asleep. A twitch or two is also not uncommon when your cat is sleeping.

Poisoning as a Cause: Immediately to the Vet!

If your cat trembles all over and twitches, possibly even vomit, this can be a sign of poisoning. Has your cat eaten anything unusual before? Does the kitty also seem shy or is her behavior unusual in some other way? Then you should not hesitate and take your velvet paw to the vet immediately!

Pain Causing Your Cats to Tremble

If a cat is in pain, this is also often expressed by trembling in the corresponding part of the body. For example, if your cat trembles with its hind legs, a muscle injury could be the cause, as could a pinched nerve or something similar. If your velvet paw also seems tense or nervous, you should have it examined by a vet as a precaution.

Mary Allen

Written by Mary Allen

Hello, I'm Mary! I've cared for many pet species including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, fish, and bearded dragons. I also have ten pets of my own currently. I've written many topics in this space including how-tos, informational articles, care guides, breed guides, and more.

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