Base of cat tail quiver meaning skin#
Base of cat tail quiver meaning free#

The cat should not have seizures, self-mutilate, become incontinent, or act aggressively during an episode.

Base of cat tail quiver meaning free#

The goal of treatment is ultimately to provide the cat with good life quality, free from discomfort. The usual patient is relatively young, one to two years old, and most commonly an Oriental breed such as a Burmese, Siamese, Abyssinian, or Persian, though any breed of cat can be involved. Inappropriate twitching, scratching, biting and even screaming result. The original wound or event is long healed but the sensitized nerves continue to transmit pain in response to contact that should not be painful. According to this theory, the cat at one time experienced an acutely painful situation which sensitized nerves to create a chronic pain situation. After a while, this second behavior, frequently grooming or biting behavior, is performed compulsively and is brought on by relatively minor stimulation.Īnother prominent theory is that hyperesthesia results from inappropriate pain perception (called 'maladaptive pain'). The cat wants to perform one behavior but it is prevented from doing so and ultimately performs another behavior in frustration. Some cats actually go into seizures when touched in a certain way.Īccording to one theory, hyperesthesia syndrome is a type of compulsive disorder, usually initiated when the cat is in conflict.

Base of cat tail quiver meaning skin#

Often, itchy skin conditions, such as flea bite allergy, make the syndrome more prominent. Cats with milder disease may simply lick or bite their paws in response to petting. Some cats will attack their tails or even go running through the house screaming. Their skin seems to twitch as if they are irritated just by the air currents passing over them. These cats act as though they have pain from simply being petted, especially along their lower back. If you have a cat with this syndrome, you will probably be well aware of what is meant by this. She is a graduate of the MFA Writing Program at California College of the Arts.The word hyperesthesia basically means an increase in sensitivity. Drop us a line today!Ĭandace Elise Hoes is a pet sitter and blogger at Katie’s Kitty. Whether your cat “laughs” along with you with a fluffy, quivering tail or surprises you with a big poofy warning, be sure to discuss it with your pet sitter! Our sitters are always mindful of your cat’s emotional state. You may also notice a ridge of fur standing up like a razor along the spine.

Likewise, a cat who is severely agitated will often give a warning by making him or herself seem larger. Coupled with an ear splitting screech, this display can startle an intruder long enough for kitty to make a quick escape. Just as a bear rears up on its hind legs to make itself seem larger, cats puff out their tails and arch their backs when they’re frightened in an effort to make themselves seem bigger than they are. A very giddy cat may even shake his or her tail like a rattle, which is a lot like giggling.

Have you ever been so excited that you’ve gotten goosebumps? The same can happen in felines at play, causing them to get puffy tails that curl like question marks. Just like in humans, this reaction is involuntary and can be brought on for many reasons, both physical and psychological. When it happens in humans, we refer to it as getting goosebumps. Tiny muscles in the skin at the base of hair follicles contract and make the hair appear to be standing on end. When your cat’s tail fluffs up and doubles its size, it’s experiencing a phenomenon known as piloerection. If your home has a happy kitty, you may not have seen your feline friend bare his or her fangs so fiercely, but you’ve likely seen your kitty make a puffed tail pose for other reasons. Fall is here and the stores are brimming with spooky masks, witches on brooms, and silhouettes of black cats perched on fences with arched backs against an orange sky.