TL;DR: Trembling in cats is a high-priority symptom typically caused by pain, fever, or toxins and requires immediate veterinary attention. Capturing a video of the behavior is essential for helping your vet reach a fast and accurate diagnosis.
What does it mean if my cat is trembling or shivering?
Trembling or shivering in cats refers to involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions. While humans might shiver when they are cold, cats often exhibit this behavior as a response to significant internal distress. When a cat trembles while lying down, it is typically not a sign of contentment; rather, it is their body reacting to pain, high fever, metabolic imbalances, or neurological issues.
How urgent is it if my cat is trembling while at rest?
- Trembling while at rest is a high-priority symptom because cats naturally mask illness until it becomes difficult to manage.
- This behavior may indicate life-threatening issues such as toxin ingestion (like lilies or essential oils), severe pain, or a high fever.
- Seek emergency veterinary care immediately if your cat is also lethargic, hiding, or refusing food.
How does taking a video or photo of the trembling help the veterinarian?
- A short video captures intermittent tremors that may stop by the time you arrive at the clinic due to adrenaline.
- Visual evidence allows the vet to see the exact nature and frequency of the movement.
- Observing whether the trembling is localized or generalized helps the medical team reach a diagnosis much faster.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Mild hypothermia can be a sequela of severe cardiovascular disease and a prognostic marker in cats with limb thromboembolism. In cases of arterial thromboembolism, clinical signs include pain and paresis or lower motor neuron paralysis of the hindlimbs, reduced or absent arterial pulse in the affected limbs, which are cooler than normal, and firm, swollen gastrocnemius muscle bellies. Owners should be instructed to watch for chest excursions and to touch the cornea or eyelids to elicit a corneal or palpebral reflex in an unconscious pet, with absence of one or both indicative of cardiopulmonary arrest.
Chapter: Cardiology, Emergency, Neurology, General Principles
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1689)