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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat being weird

26 replies

whethergirl · 04/05/2014 09:46

My 10 month old cat is acting stranger than usual this morning. He keeps twitching his back, licking himself really urgently and darting off like a maniac. Almost as if he got something on his coat that he can't lick off but I can't think what. Any ideas???

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 04/05/2014 10:06

Ticks? Fleas? Bite wound?

Run your fingers up his body at the roots of his fur, that's how I find fluffy cats wounds.

Original poster
whethergirl · 04/05/2014 10:23

He hasn't been outside yet so don't think it can be any of the above?

OP posts:
Original poster
whethergirl · 04/05/2014 10:26

I've looked him over and can't see anything.

OP posts:
Original poster
whethergirl · 04/05/2014 10:32

Atm he is sat looking out of the window, quite relaxed then all of a sudden his back will twitch quite intensely and he'll give himself a few speedy licks, in random places. I don't like seeing him agitated especially as he has a high grade heart murmur.

OP posts:
SecretNutellaFix · 04/05/2014 10:35

Run a flea comb over him, just in case.

PeriPathetic · 04/05/2014 11:01

Feline hyperesthesia?

Original poster
whethergirl · 04/05/2014 11:07

Oh dear, the symptoms do match :(

OP posts:
crazynanna · 04/05/2014 11:24

My cat has this. I was advised to have her checked for neuro problems/thyroid etc and all was clear. Vet said either a previous emotional trauma which is not possible as I have had her since 7 weeks and she lives the life of Reilly as an indoor cat. So he summonsed she is just a stressy cat who is a bit nervous. Sometimes he said it could be a sign of boredom/cabin fever type thing. I now just see it as her personality

Original poster
whethergirl · 04/05/2014 12:04

Do you think she is happy though crazy? And do you think it's because she needs to be outside? Having lost 2 cats in a row to road accidents I decided to try and keep this one in as long as possible. So far he seems fine anf luckily not that interested in going out. When the door has been open, he has approached very carefully and then an outside noise will make him retreat.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 04/05/2014 12:07

It does maybe sound like FHS. What breed is he whethergirl?

crazynanna · 04/05/2014 12:11

Yes I think she is happy but with cats you never know. She is on her own for a fair bit of the day, but she gets loads if play when I and DD are home as although she is 2 she is still playful and kittenish she has a 60 feet garden but never ventures as she hates other felines but she seems happy and contented and is lavished with attention which is why I just see this thing as being just 'her'
To put your mind at rest have a word with your vet my girl is a bit nervy she was scratching her ears like crazy once and had little baldy patches and after a com

crazynanna · 04/05/2014 12:12

Complete check costing £76 for cream I was told her ears are beautifully healthy and she is doing but out of habit

Original poster
whethergirl · 04/05/2014 12:22

Just a quick reply to say thanks as ds is after my phone. cozie he is a mixed moggie. I did have a siamese as a young girl and she was very neurotic, practcally bald from all the over grooming. Will go to the vets on monday. crazy my cat has the same sort of life style as yours, certainly could be worse!

OP posts:
crazynanna · 04/05/2014 12:23

Yes could be worse we are definitely the second class humans here

cozietoesie · 04/05/2014 12:27

By the way - has he actually had a parasite treatment yet ? Even inside cats can catch them.

Original poster
whethergirl · 04/05/2014 22:26

I've never heard of a parasite treatment...he is up to date with all his jabs and worming. I don't think it's anything like that though because after a long sleep this afternoon, he has stopped having his twitchy fits. I reckon it's the FH. He has always had a bit of a twitchy back although nothing to this extent. I think it's just nervous energy that gets the better of him sometimes.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 04/05/2014 23:02

I just meant has he been covered on all bases - for the full range of parasites eg worms, ticks and fleas. He's going to need flea treatments anyway, for example, so you might as well get that done.

What has he got in the way of toys (including foraging toys if he eats dry food?) He could probably do with something to work off the surplus energy if he doesn't go out. Smile

Glad his twitches have stopped though.

crazynanna · 04/05/2014 23:03

The first thing my vet said when I took my girl about this is fleas. He checked, but I said she was completely an indoor 1 cat girl, and sure enough, she was flea free. Still, worth checking.

Get a flea comb
Comb through the side of kitty.
Get a white piece of paper
Wipe the comb on the paper

You are looking for fleas pooh as opposed to fleas. Apparently, you will see it as browny flecks on the paper.

My vet taught me how to do it

angryangryyoungwoman · 04/05/2014 23:06

Mine has done this all his life, doesn't seem to bother him, he is treated for fleas, worms, ticks etc regularly and by the vet once a year. He's 15 and I think in some cats it may just be a tic, as some humans also have.

cozietoesie · 04/05/2014 23:10

They're the devil to see at the early stages, crazy, even on a pale cat. Seniorboy is a pretty pale Siamese so they can be spotted on him because we live in close proximity - but I suspect that someone else might not notice them.

He's had one definite case and one probable in the time I've had him even though he's indoor. I'd always err on the side of caution and use preventative meds for them. If she's already got a dodgy skin, she doesn't need flea irritation on top of that.

crazynanna · 04/05/2014 23:22

Very true, Cozie. Which is why I insisted on flea treatment even though vet said not necessary, as I have a tendency to rescue stray beautiful boys called Stanley, and I may bring a stray little critter on my clothes/shoes

cozietoesie · 04/05/2014 23:29

I'm always amazed that the vet's practice itself isn't riddled even though mine has lino floors and staff always seem to be mopping or something. You'd think that some little critters would drop off and roll into places.

Stanley? Always?

crazynanna · 04/05/2014 23:41

Stanley? Always?

Given half a chance Wink
Always on the look out

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/05/2014 23:52

Can't see poppy being keen on that, fluffy cat was apoplectic earlier when he saw us fussing next doors adorable tortie.

crazynanna · 04/05/2014 23:55
Grin

You're right, fluffy.

She gets arsey when I look at CatShaming
Sits in the far corner with a scowly lip

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