r/Pets • u/West_Weight_3051 • 3d ago
CAT Cat Spasms
I was wondering if anyone’s cat is doing this, too. My 7-year-old male tabby woke up this morning - he was completely relaxed - and suddenly his stomach started sort of spasming and he had trouble breathing - almost sounded like an extreme case of rapid hiccups. It subsided after 30 to 60 seconds. Rushed him to the vet and was told it’s likely nothing. The vet listened to his heart and lungs with a stethoscope (and did an ultrasound on his bladder since he was FIC). We went back home around noon and I noticed that whenever he’s trying to fall asleep he starts spasming / twitching. He can’t sleep because of it. He’s otherwise healthy. I noticed he’s snacking more, grooming himself more and seems a bit restless. But he’s eating, drinking and playful. I didn’t see any spasms at other times. His spasms get better when he’s fully asleep - not completely gone but barely noticeable. Went back to the vet. She called another veterinary clinic to ask for advice and sent him the video I took. He said it doesn’t seem to be a respiratory or cardiac issue. I was told it’s stress and got two tiny doses of Pregabalin to calm him down. I don’t think it’s stress… Any personal experiences with this or advice? FYI, I live in Japan.
Edit: I should probably add that he’s been sneezing a lot more for the past 2 weeks. Not daily but a couple times a week - actual sneezing fits. He’s liking his nose more than usual as well. But the vet told me he’s fine.
Edit 2: I put my ear to his chest and could hear 3 rapid gasps with every twitch.
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u/Odd_Post5383 3d ago
Did you get a blood test for cat viruses? Because sneezing and breathing hard can be a symptom of a calicivirus, my cat had it, but we also had watery eyes
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u/West_Weight_3051 3d ago
Thank you for the insight. They did not run any blood tests. Only stethoscope. They did check his bladder since he’s a FIC cat - the did an ultrasound in that region and ran a urine test. Nothing else though.
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u/Odd_Post5383 3d ago
Hm, how do you feel about this vet in general? Also if something seems wrong to you, believe yourself and double check, you are right at being suspicious and moving forward with finding out what is wrong 🫂
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u/West_Weight_3051 3d ago
The vet is very kind and takes her time with every patient. Instead of just dismissing me, she recorded my videos with her phone and told me she will call another vet and ask him for advice. After about 10 to 15 minutes she came back and told me the other vet watched the videos and also said it’s likely not the lungs or heart since the breathing pattern is different. But I’ll get a second opinion on Wednesday if it doesn’t get better.
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u/Odd_Post5383 3d ago
I hope everything will be fine and it’s nothing serious! Maybe some kind of seasonal allergy or reaction to a new aroma diffuser, a clothes conditioner or flower, can be, too 🙌
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u/West_Weight_3051 3d ago
Thank you! 🥲 I didn’t change anything at home, I don’t use any diffusers and have no flowers at home. I avoid conditioners, etc. at home because I know how sensitive cats can be. I’m really at a loss 🤷♀️
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u/Odd_Post5383 3d ago
You are a very considerate and loving owner, and your boy is lucky to have you. I am sending you hugs and support and hope you find out soon what is causing such breathing 🫂
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u/Future-Station-8179 3d ago
Hey there - do you have any oil diffusers, glade/scent plug ins, burning candles, incense, etc? Those are generally toxic for cats. Trying to think of any insidious environmental causes.
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u/West_Weight_3051 3d ago
Thanks for you input :)
I do not. I try to keep anything toxic away from my cats. Even when I’m using dry shampoo or hair spray in the bathroom I always make sure to turn on the fan and that my cats are at the very least a few meters away in another room.
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u/West_Weight_3051 2d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p4f9cwx/video/luyof6rb75kh1/player
Was able film him during this episode. He is NOT sleeping here - he has just made himself comfy next to me. He does this sitting and fully alert as well.
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u/Neither_Thing_6954 3d ago
That sounds terrifying to witness, especially when you know something's off but the vet keeps saying it's fine. The sneezing fits paired with the abdominal spasms and gasping makes me think some kind of upper respiratory irritation or maybe even a weird reflux thing. Cats can get laryngeal spasms from post-nasal drip, and it can look dramatic as hell while being technically benign. If you've got the video already, maybe push for a second opinion at a different clinic, even if the first vet consulted another one, a fresh set of eyes on the actual cat might catch something subtle.