Involuntary Muscle Contractions

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Misterbeesmom

Misterbeesmom

Member Since 2016
i had created a thread about facial twitching. New info has come to light, hence the new thread. I hope this isnt considered a duplicate post. I wouldve deleted prior post but i dont think i can.

He has been having facial tics, head twitches for a while now that only occur when he is relaxed. Tonight he was relaxing on my arm. I could feel the muscles of his shoulders tremble, contract and release. His paws would twitch as well as the usual face inolvement. So it isnt just his face as i previoulsy thought.

This reminds me of the involuntary muscle contractions experienced after an adrenaline rush. Anyone know what i mean? Its like your muscles are vibrating and then the contractions and releases happen pretty much out of your control. Thats how his shoulder muscles felt to me. Exact same sensation.

These things happen only when he is relaxed.

Does this sound like anything anyone has experienced? I've been to the neurologist already who found nothing.

I am wondering if its a weird unregulated diabetes thing (its been 6 months since dx and still not regulated)?

Adrenals?

Is this some sort of vitamin deficiency? Anyone here have magnesium or potassium deficiency? Then again, if it was a deficieny it would bother him all the time, not just while resting, right?

he seems otherwise content except it appears to be keeping him awake. This in itself concerns me. He also has had at least 3 different larger shock-type spasms that seem to be myoclonic jerks.

He does have B12 deficiency, which he is getting shots for and i am waiting for zobaline to arrive in mail. I dont think this is a b12 issue though from what i can see.

Please help!
 
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I have read up on this and if it is the same as Lily when she relaxes (twitching, almost like she is having a dream about catching a juicy mouse) and her head going too, then it is quite normal. I would t be able to comment unless seeing it for myself. I thought she was dead to begin with or having a seizure but after researching I found that when cats trust implicitly they go into a deep deep sleep and they can dream. Don't know if this applies to you but I remember being so worried about it!
 
Hi Jen,

Just had a bit of a light bulb moment; my mother had hyperthyroidism and before it was treated she used to shake bodily all day long. One time we were in church when she was standing with the back of her legs pressed against the heavy pew she actually made the whole pew shake. I'm not sure of the mechanics behind what caused the shakes. I guess it's possible that the overactive thyroid might be affecting adrenalin production.

Perhaps speak to your vet about whether the hyperthyroidism might be causing the movements you're worried about, Jen. The other thing to look at is whether there might be an issue with Mr Biddles' dopamine system; could any of the meds he's on cause side effects that affect the dopamine system? Or maybe a thyroid influence?

Just had a quick gander online. Have a dig around on this site:

Hyperthyroidism and Twitching - forum discussion



Mogs
.
 
My hyperthyroid kitty has these as well. I freaked out the first time I saw it, thought she was having a mini siezure. They don't seem to bother her, and there have been no ill effects. Thanks for the link Mogs, heading to read that now too :) Dee's face twitches, its like rapid blinking and her whiskers too.... but only when she is laying on me and just starts to really relax....
 
Sarah Smith said:
My hyperthyroid kitty has these as well. I freaked out the first time I saw it, thought she was having a mini siezure. They don't seem to bother her, and there have been no ill effects. Thanks for the link Mogs, heading to read that now too :) Dee's face twitches, its like rapid blinking and her whiskers too.... but only when she is laying on me and just starts to really relax....
Click to expand...

I cant tell you what a relief that someone else recognizes this. Are cooter's thyroid levels normal? I ask because I,m just trying to understand of this is something that happens because a med increase is needed. Mr b's thyroid bloodwork always comes back as perfect. It just seems like these little contractions shouldnt be happening if thyroid levels are good.
 
Critter Mom said:
Hi Jen,

Just had a bit of a light bulb moment; my mother had hyperthyroidism and before it was treated she used to shake bodily all day long. One time we were in church when she was standing with the back of her legs pressed against the heavy pew she actually made the whole pew shake. I'm not sure of the mechanics behind what caused the shakes. I guess it's possible that the overactive thyroid might be affecting adrenalin production.

Perhaps speak to your vet about whether the hyperthyroidism might be causing the movements you're worried about, Jen. The other thing to look at is whether there might be an issue with Mr Biddles' dopamine system; could any of the meds he's on cause side effects that affect the dopamine system? Or maybe a thyroid influence?

Just had a quick gander online. Have a dig around on this site:

Hyperthyroidism and Twitching - forum discussion



Mogs
.
Click to expand...


Thank you
 
Sarah Smith said:
My hyperthyroid kitty has these as well. I freaked out the first time I saw it, thought she was having a mini siezure. They don't seem to bother her, and there have been no ill effects. Thanks for the link Mogs, heading to read that now too :) Dee's face twitches, its like rapid blinking and her whiskers too.... but only when she is laying on me and just starts to really relax....
Click to expand...
Oh, also, mr b has been treated for hyperthyroidism since 2013 but these weird muscle issues have only been around for a short while. The facial twitching started sooner. Weird!
 
Misterbeesmom said:
I cant tell you what a relief that someone else recognizes this. Are cooter's thyroid levels normal? I ask because I,m just trying to understand of this is something that happens because a med increase is needed. Mr b's thyroid bloodwork always comes back as perfect. It just seems like these little contractions shouldnt be happening if thyroid levels are good.
Click to expand...

Cooter is diabetic only Jen, I have never seen these issues with him. Dee is my Hyper-T girl, She is now 15 and has also been being treated for a few years (2012). I have only seen these twitches for about the last 6 months, when they did start her methimazole dose had to be adjusted, her numbers were high again. She is on a good dose and has been for a little over 4 months, but the twitching continues. Some days I see it quite a bit, others I see it once or twice. It is always right when she starts to really relax and almost doze off. She also has slight hypertension (goes hand in hand with hyperthyroid in some kitties) and is being medicated daily for it.
 
Just brainstorming here, but I wonder if cats experience twitches or starts as they're just falling asleep, like humans do? The term for it is hypnic jerk or hypnagogic jerk. I did a very quick Google, but didn't see anything that popped out for cats.

No experience with vitamin deficiencies here, but I see on PetMD that magnesium deficiency can cause muscle trembling and overactive reflexes, though I don't think that exactly describes what you're seeing: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/endocrine/c_ct_hypomagnesemia

Potassium deficiency lists muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass (among other things) as opposed to twitching: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/endocrine/c_ct_low_potassium

From what's been said about hyperthyroidism, that might be a good lead. Hopefully you can get to the bottom of it!
 
Sarah Smith said:
Cooter is diabetic only Jen, I have never seen these issues with him. Dee is my Hyper-T girl, She is now 15 and has also been being treated for a few years (2012). I have only seen these twitches for about the last 6 months, when they did start her methimazole dose had to be adjusted, her numbers were high again. She is on a good dose and has been for a little over 4 months, but the twitching continues. Some days I see it quite a bit, others I see it once or twice. It is always right when she starts to really relax and almost doze off. She also has slight hypertension (goes hand in hand with hyperthyroid in some kitties) and is being medicated daily for it.
Click to expand...
Ah sorry i saw cooper's name and assumed. Maybe we need a bump in mr b's meds. I'll discuss with my vet today. Thanks so much for your response!
 
Misterbeesmom said:
Ah sorry i saw cooper's name and assumed. Maybe we need a bump in mr b's meds. I'll discuss with my vet today. Thanks so much for your response!
Click to expand...
Sorry for the confusion on the kitties :) My vet didnt have a clue when I tried to describe what Dee was doing, I finally brought a video in, because she always falls asleep on the arm of my chair when I sit in it. We ran blood and the only thing off was her thyroid, she does still do it even with good numbers now though, so who knows if thats what was causing it? I do think the link Mogs had, with hyper-t people having twitches is onto something. It is just very wierd that it took so long for Mr. B and Dee to start it, or were they doing it and we didnt notice I wonder..... I will try to get a clip of her this evening doing it, see if its the same thing Mr. B is having.
 
Elle & Squeak said:
Just brainstorming here, but I wonder if cats experience twitches or starts as they're just falling asleep, like humans do? The term for it is hypnic jerk or hypnagogic jerk. I did a very quick Google, but didn't see anything that popped out for cats.

No experience with vitamin deficiencies here, but I see on PetMD that magnesium deficiency can cause muscle trembling and overactive reflexes, though I don't think that exactly describes what you're seeing: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/endocrine/c_ct_hypomagnesemia

Potassium deficiency lists muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass (among other things) as opposed to twitching: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/endocrine/c_ct_low_potassium

From what's been said about hyperthyroidism, that might be a good lead. Hopefully you can get to the bottom of it!
Click to expand...

I didn't realize it but last months BW showed potassium and calcium levels, which were good. I don't know about magnesium. i'll put that on my list of questions for the vet. thanks!
 
She's my "old lady" turned 15 in February. Wouldnt know it to look at her, most days she acts like a kitten, she has quiet days too though, today is one, hence she looks like the old lady in the video lol... this is on her last trip to the vet 6 weeks ago. Would love to see what Mr B is doing, maybe we can come up with an idea about to run past the vets?
 

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Sarah Smith said:
She's my "old lady" turned 15 in February. Wouldnt know it to look at her, most days she acts like a kitten, she has quiet days too though, today is one, hence she looks like the old lady in the video lol... this is on her last trip to the vet 6 weeks ago. Would love to see what Mr B is doing, maybe we can come up with an idea about to run past the vets?
Click to expand...
awww what a pretty girl.
i'm out of ideas, seriously. was up in the middle of the night googling every-stinking-thing I could think of.
 
I was watching video on youtube of this and lot of people comment that they have (mostly old) kitties with that "issue". Some have explanation for this, but most of them havent. I think that this is nothnig to worry about. Tačka is doing that for really long time now and i think it doesent bother her.
 
ok here's the scoop from my vet
I explained the whole episode from last night.
she is not concerned. her older cat does the same thing. off and on, comes and goes. she thinks it is either just the affects of age and/or possibly as a result of the issues he's got right now. being unregulated for months certainly isn't helping him.

so I feel better. thought i'd pass it on.
 
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