Scully has a twitch/spasm in one paw

[Koteburo]

I really hesitated about starting this thread because I though I was crazy and paranoid (and maybe I am) but now I'm almost sure that ever since last night (I noticed almost 24 hours ago) I noticed something on Scully, some sort of involuntary movement in her right paw, she moves all the arm from the shoulder actually. It's very fast, it doesn't happen very often, not easy to catch that's why I thought I was imagining things and just now I went to pet her and "talk" to her and there it was! A quick spasm kind of thing in the paw and it's just once it doesn't seem to be a repeating spasm, once per time only. It can happen when she's asleep or awake.
Other than that she seems awake, affectionate, she has her appetite she played today but I'm really puzzled and uneasy about that twitch thing.
Has anyone heard, experienced or known of anything like this?
She's programed for a visit to the vet in 1 month (since before I noticed the paw thing) but who knows now I'm thinking maybe I should re-schedule earlier. The problem is when I go there the paw won't twitch and I'll look crazy
No but seriously, any clues?
She's spayed of course and 4 years old.

Update: The spasm actually goes all the way down to her hind leg but not always, sometimes all the way down, sometimes only from the shoulder to the paw and sometimes happens more often than others. I just saw it like 5 times in a row with a space of about 20 seconds in between and sometimes it takes way longer.
There is no doubt now. I'm worried.
Could it be a sing of something toxic she ingested? Low potassium? Or what could it be...

[Winston]

koteburo is she decalwed by any chance? my 2 used to shake their paw occasionally like that and I thought it was from being declawed. Did you check to see if she has a bite or anything? maybe its a reaction from that?

unless it starts to happen all the time I wouldnt worry too much.

[Koteburo]

No, she's not declawed however I have yet to check if there's any wound hidden in the fur.
I'm going to keep an eye on her, to see if she keeps getting the spasm that sometimes goes all the way down to her right thigh as a wave spasm. Tonight she slept peacefully it seems.
Hopefully she'll remain stable and playful and just keep an eye on her and see how this goes.
Thank you Winston ♥

[Barkingdog]

Originally Posted by Koteburo

I really hesitated about starting this thread because I though I was crazy and paranoid (and maybe I am) but now I'm almost sure that ever since last night (I noticed almost 24 hours ago) I noticed something on Scully, some sort of involuntary movement in her right paw, she moves all the arm from the shoulder actually. It's very fast, it doesn't happen very often, not easy to catch that's why I thought I was imagining things and just now I went to pet her and "talk" to her and there it was! A quick spasm kind of thing in the paw and it's just once it doesn't seem to be a repeating spasm, once per time only. It can happen when she's asleep or awake.
Other than that she seems awake, affectionate, she has her appetite she played today but I'm really puzzled and uneasy about that twitch thing.
Has anyone heard, experienced or known of anything like this?
She's programed for a visit to the vet in 1 month (since before I noticed the paw thing) but who knows now I'm thinking maybe I should re-schedule earlier. The problem is when I go there the paw won't twitch and I'll look crazy
No but seriously, any clues?
She's spayed of course and 4 years old.

Update: The spasm actually goes all the way down to her hind leg but not always, sometimes all the way down, sometimes only from the shoulder to the paw and sometimes happens more often than others. I just saw it like 5 times in a row with a space of about 20 seconds in between and sometimes it takes way longer.
There is no doubt now. I'm worried.
Could it be a sing of something toxic she ingested? Low potassium? Or what could it be...

I found this web site from a DR. Zoe , he giving medical advice to person that has a cat with the same problem as your cat. Maybe it will help ?
http://www.justanswer.com/cat-health...eg-spasms.html

[hazelrunpack]

This may be totally off the wall, but hubby has a condition that is similar-sounding. He has a recurring tick that causes him to tense and roll his left arm now and then and flex his thumb and finger on that hand. Occasionally, he'll have a spate of tickiness that is enough to irritate the tendons in that arm and cause some soreness, but otherwise its a benign condition. I can't remember what it's called...

[Reg]

Hi Koteburo:

Your problem with Scully sounds a wee bit familiar. I have a four-year-old male cat named Yogi, who is suffering from something very similar. It started a couple years ago, when I thought he was chasing a flea around his hindquarters but after doing this thorough search I found no fleas, and none of the other cats were suffering from fleas either. This would happen periodically, usually every couple months or so I would notice it. I mentioned to the vet at the time and she thought it was dust mites, and knowing the age of the building that we were living in at the time it sounded quite feasible. It wasn't till early this spring, that I realized that things had progressed a little bit more with Yogi. He was having these spasms a little more often maybe once a week, and when one of these spasms took effect he would become very agitated with himself and start to dart around the house. This would only last maybe five or 10 minutes at the outside, but sometimes he would take his frustration out on one of the other cats, nothing serious.

A couple months or so back I ran into a post, where somebody was having trouble with the cat that was self mutilating. Some of the symptoms got my interest and I started doing a bit of research into it. I found that involuntary movement was one sign, and a twitching movement of the hide that would give you the impression of having fleas was another - body jerks, excessive grooming, doesn't want to be touched, and the list goes on - but all symptoms don't show in Yogi. His symptoms aren't that prevalent and could be missed by someone who was not paying attention to their cat, and just think that cat was going through a silly fit. Some of the names they have tagged to it is feline hyperesthesia syndrome, rolling skin syndrome, twitchy cat disease, just to name a few.

If this is what Scully has it would be very minor I would think, but it's not to say that it wouldn't get worse over time. I would be talking to your vet the next time you're in to see them and get their opinion. In the meantime, I'll give you a website and you can have a look at it and see if any of the information fits the problem.

With Yogi I have started using some homeopathic to relieve the stress problem and it seems to be working quite well. I find it extremely hard to tell whether he is stressed or not, cats hide stress well making it hard to diagnose and solve problems.

Have a look at this website, it might give you some ideas. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1998

I would be interested in hearing what you find out about Scully.

[Koteburo]

I really appreciate your concern and the time each one of you took to reply with thoughtful answers.
@Barkingdog The link was very helpful. Actually last night I was talking to my sister who is a doctor (a doctor for humans though) I mean just to vent it out for some relief and she suggested some of the things Dr. Zoe says how she approaches that kind of issue. She kind of told me what to expect from the vet and that it probably will be tests. IF it's a neurological issue she walked me through a home made exam just for the time being while I take her to the vet. Since the neuro physical exams are similar to humans. Things such as check pupils response, have her follow my finger (or a toy) with her eyes and head, things of that sort.

@hazelrunpack Actually that's not so far off since cat's neurological system is very complex and similar to human beings. That's why sadly cats are used for awful tests and experiments for neurological related drugs, treatments and disorders. (and that breaks my heart big time)

@Reg Your suggestion it's indeed a possibility I've contemplated.. Because she doesn't seem to be in any pain (THANKS God) However I have noticed, particularly yesterday, more licking around the affected paw and side where she has the spasm. Yogi's symptoms do sound a lot like Scully's so far and for sure I'll keep this post updated and see how this progress. It'll help others that encounter similar issues as well.

As I type this post Scully is playing with Mulder, she seems happy and awake and pain free or at least quite as normal as usual. She ate all her meals, drank water and she just went pee like 20 mins ago or less.
The plan: I'm taking her to the vet this week, on Friday the 7th in the morning. I'm taking Bobandy for his routine check after being neutered so I'll do a 2 for 1 trip. I'm hoping she continues to do well in spite of the spasm from now to Friday.

I'll keep you informed

[hazelrunpack]

If you have a camera with video capability and you can catch her in the act, that might be useful to the vet, as well. Hope you get some answers!