Why does the cat twitch in a dream?

On average, cats sleep from 12 to 18 hours a day – a lot depends on individual characteristics. Observant owners may notice that the sleep of pets is not always the same. Sometimes cats sleep so soundly that it is not easy to wake them up, and sometimes, on the contrary, they doze lightly on their knees. At the same time, the pet often moves its whiskers, drives with its eyes, and sometimes the cat’s paws twitch in a dream. Why does this happen and when should you be concerned?

cat dream

You may be surprised, but scientists tend to believe that cats dream – just like people do! What’s more, just like us, cats have two phases of sleep: light sleep, otherwise known as REM sleep, and deep sleep. This was discovered not so long ago.

In 1965, French scientists set up an experiment: they removed the part of the cat’s brain that is responsible for the “paralysis” of the muscles during sleep. By the way, this same area also regulates a person’s sleep, so we don’t start running in reality if we dream of running.

So, after the removal of this part of the brain, it turned out that cats, instead of lying quietly and sleeping, began to wander in their sleep, show signs of aggression and even tried to hunt! As a result, scientists came to the conclusion that cats dream. With the development of technology, it became clear that animals experience various emotions in their sleep: fear, curiosity, panic, joy, irritation, and much more. Today, research in this area continues, because more and more questions arise: for example, how realistic do cats dream? Are they able to distinguish the real world from fantasy? So far, these questions remain unanswered.

But it is understandable why a cat’s paws twitch in a dream. It’s simple: most likely, the pet is dreaming.

Kittens and sleep

Interestingly, kittens twitch more often in a dream. The fact is that their nervous system is not yet formed to the end, and there are a lot of impressions and discoveries every day. Besides, any stressful situation or excitement can lead to disruption of the baby’s sleep. Worry not worth it – such mild twitches up to 1,5 years are considered normal.

What to look for

If the cat twitches weakly in a dream, there is no reason for concern. But, if you notice convulsions in your pet, you should contact your veterinarian. How do you know if a cat is having seizures? This is a paroxysmal muscle contraction, which is characterized by the following features:

• Convulsions, sharp twitching of the paws;
• Painful cries, crooked limbs;
• Dilated pupils, pressed mustaches;
• involuntary urination;
• Foam from the mouth.

The appearance of seizures may indicate the development of serious diseases, so this should not be ignored.

What to do if you notice a cat has seizures?

1. Provide security. It is necessary to remove all objects that can accidentally injure cat

2. Immediately after the attack, try to calm the pet with gentle words. At In this case, be careful with hugs – a frightened animal can behave quite aggressively;

3. Even if the attack was short and did not recur, it cannot be ignored. Necessarily You need to consult a veterinarian!

The most common cause of seizures is epilepsy. During such attacks, the cat may lose consciousness, roll its eyes.

In addition, a brain tumor, disorders in the functioning of the heart and lungs, intoxication of the body and a lack of vitamins can be the cause. Only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment after conducting the necessary tests.

Photo: Collection