Twitching Cat

by MEdwards
(Ontario)

Over the past year my cat has starting twitching wildly when you scratch his back near the base of his tail. He throws his head all around and licks the air. He also cries and shakes his tail, but never bites. We are not sure if he loves it or hates it. The thing is that now he is starting to do these things as though someone is touching this area even if they are not. It is getting worse (even if your hand is just near this area). What could this be? Here is some information that may help you with your answer.

Derek is:

3 years old
Male
Normal Weight
Fixed, With shots and Worm medicine
has regular washroom habbits
Very friendly


Answer from Kate
Hi
well it is difficult to say really as this reaction to scratching the back near the tail is a common occurrence for some cats but it is not usually so pronounced and would not happen when not being touched at all.

i am wondering if he has a skin issue perhaps an allergy. My old female cat developed an allergy which would see her back ripple all the time and she would frantically run around trying to get away.

https://www.our-happy-cat.com/cat-allergy.html

The other possibility is some sort of parasite issue as this area is a common place for them to gather.

As with any strange or unusual behavior I always recommend that a trip to the vets is in order. Often the only way we can tell when something is wrong with our cats is a change in behavior in slightly. So if you feel that it is pronounced enough to warrant a trip now to the vets then this would be your best course of action.

Best wishes Kate

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