Answer Many cats will
have occasional small muscle twitches or tremors while they're sleeping.
It may be similar to REM sleep or dreaming in people, though no one
knows for sure.
There is a very small possibility that your cat is having small
seizures, but it's unlikely that these would only happen during sleep.
As long as the twitching is small and your cat's entire body doesn't
stiffen, and as long as she's not showing any signs of illness (such as
vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, or loss of appetite) when she's awake,
she's most likely just fine. If you have any concerns about seizures or
other health problems, your veterinarian can perform a thorough
examination of your cat to ensure that she's healthy.
Why does my cat sleep so much?
Answer Most likely because he's a perfectly normal cat. It's a natural
instinct for cats to sleep most of the time. It's an adaptation they
developed in order to survive in the wild. Wild cats are hunters and
predators. They are generally active only at times when there is food
available. For short periods during the day they will hunt; the rest of
the day, they conserve their energy by sleeping, eating, and just
resting.
This is why your cat seems to have only two settings: "high speed" and
"off." Lazing in the sun is just as much average kitty behavior as
racing around the house and attacking everything in sight. If you're
worried that your cat sleeps more than most cats, you can take him to
your veterinarian for a full exam.
My cat recently started sneezing a lot. What's going on? |
- Answer A lot of things could cause a
cat to start sneezing. Here are a few possibilities:
Dust, pollen, or other airborne particles: These can cause sinus
irritation in cats, just like they can in people. Sometimes we can
unintentionally put a lot of irritating particles in the air by doing
things like lighting a candle, turning on the heat or air conditioner
after not using it for a season, keeping windows open, dusting, or
lighting a fire in the fireplace.
- Allergies: Though allergies often cause skin problems in cats, they
can also cause a runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing. Your cat may be
allergic to something new in his diet, a new cleaning product, or
something as simple as pollen.
- Cigarette smoke: This is actually the most common cause of respiratory
problems in cats.
- Infection: Has your kitty been boarded or groomed or around new cats
lately? She may have picked up an upper respiratory viral or bacterial
infection from another cat. Respiratory infections can have effects much
like human colds and sinus infections.
- Dental problems: The sinuses are closely connected to the roots of the
teeth. If a tooth root is infected or inflamed, it can easily cause
drainage into the sinuses and lead to sneezing.
This is an incomplete list - there are other things that could be making
your cat sneeze as well. If he doesn't seem better in the next few days,
you can take him to your veterinarian for a thorough examination.
Is my kitten afraid of the litter box?
Question
My new kitten seems to be afraid of the litter box. He refuses to step
into it, and when I try to put him in it, he jumps right out. He has
been regularly going to the bathroom on my bed.
What should I do?
Answer
Try feeding your kitten close by the litter box to get him used to the
area where it is located. Closely supervise your kitten and direct him
to use the litter box when you observe him starting to sniff around. You
may also try switching the kind of litter to see if there is another
brand your kitty prefers.
When you cannot directly supervise your kitten, confine him to a
cat-proofed room with his litter box. If you cannot keep him out of your
bedroom, place newspaper or aluminum foil on your bed since cats tend to
not like walking on that type of surface. If you catch him going to the
bathroom on your bed, spray him right away with a water pistol to
dissuade this behavior.
It may take a couple of weeks to train your kitten to use his litter
box, so make sure to be patient.
Why does my cat urinate on the carpet instead of in the litter box? |