Cat's sensitive backs

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Jason James - 11 Sep 2005 22:33 GMT

I've noticed with some cats, that they are sensitive on the back half of
their backs to patting or stroking. At first I thought this maybe a reflex
action to do with mating especially as I first noticed it in a female,..but
loe and behold out Tom also has this sensitivity.

If you lightly or firmly try to stroke or brush his back, he reflexly jerks
his head around and will give a "don't do that " light nip or swat with his
paw (non hurtful variety, claws retracted) if you persist. ??!!

Jason

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Me Myself and I - 11 Sep 2005 22:44 GMT

> If you lightly or firmly try to stroke or brush his back, he reflexly
> jerks
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Jason

Thats if its got claws ;-)

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Jason James - 11 Sep 2005 23:42 GMT

> > If you lightly or firmly try to stroke or brush his back, he reflexly
> > jerks
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> >
> Thats if its got claws ;-)

Yes, that horrible practice is one of the enigmas of human behaviour. It's
in the same class as race-horse owners who say they love their horse, then
let a jockey flog it to win a race. They say the amount of distress horses
exhibit back in the stalls after a long race particularly, where they have
had to gallop flat-out for up to 2 miles in some instances, is substantial.

Jason

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majcm - 12 Sep 2005 04:03 GMT

Yes, I have had four that have done that. Have you had them checked? Two of
mine it was just "touchiness" but one had renal failure and was sore in that
area (fatal disease, but with good home & vet care can live a long time.Muff
had diagosis of 4months - she lived 4 more years feeling GOOD, just the last
weeks saw no more could be done & helped her over.Crying as I write this &
this been since Feb. 1, 2004. The hold on to your heart forever:-

THEN Domino my oldest soon came down with the back touchy thing, he had
diabetes. You can learn to give the insulin shots and change their food and
he lived 9 more months happily.

Could be other things, including a simple fall you didn't witness. That
happened last week to our "kitten" of a year old. Went to vet and he said
cat had had a fall and had a soft tissue injury, whcih is why his back was
touchy. Gave him some pills & he fine. Hope this helps not to worry till you
get him to vet. AND....two others we have right now don't like the back rump
rub and it's just their personality. (Two Do love it) That's why we love
cats, each one is different, right!

Hope this helps! If they don't act like it actually hurts, it's just a
touchy cat!!

> I've noticed with some cats, that they are sensitive on the back half of
> their backs to patting or stroking. At first I thought this maybe a reflex
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Jason

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Me Myself and I - 12 Sep 2005 09:24 GMT

> Yes, I have had four that have done that. Have you had them checked? Two
> of
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> weeks saw no more could be done & helped her over.Crying as I write this &
> this been since Feb. 1, 2004. The hold on to your heart forever:-

I was looking at kitten wars web site last night, saw a cat that reminded me
of mine that passed away August 9th and was in tears. Sounds bad but I didnt
even get as upset at my uncles funeral. Hopefully it gets easier with time.
Glad I took lots of pictures. I have new kittens now but would still trade
them in a heartbeat for my old cat back.

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Me Myself and I - 12 Sep 2005 09:26 GMT

ps. My cat had/and my kittens have all their claws etc as nature intended

:-)

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Jason James - 12 Sep 2005 18:09 GMT

> Yes, I have had four that have done that. Have you had them checked? Two of
> mine it was just "touchiness" but one had renal failure and was sore in that
> area (fatal disease, but with good home & vet care can live a long time.Muff
> had diagosis of 4months - she lived 4 more years feeling GOOD, just the last
> weeks saw no more could be done & helped her over.Crying as I write this &
> this been since Feb. 1, 2004. The hold on to your heart forever:-

> THEN Domino my oldest soon came down with the back touchy thing, he had
> diabetes. You can learn to give the insulin shots and change their food and
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> rub and it's just their personality. (Two Do love it) That's why we love
> cats, each one is different, right!

It is very true. Our house cat does not exhibit this sensitivity.

> Hope this helps! If they don't act like it actually hurts, it's just a
> touchy cat!!

Yeah,..they all have their little personalities and traits, which they train
us to recognise and pay attention to :-)

Jason

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majcm - 13 Sep 2005 08:13 GMT

Yes, I have had four that have done that. Have you had them checked? Two
of

> mine it was just "touchiness" but one had renal failure and was sore in

that

> area (fatal disease, but with good home & vet care can live a long

time.Muff

> had diagosis of 4months - she lived 4 more years feeling GOOD, just the

last

> weeks saw no more could be done & helped her over.Crying as I write this &
> this been since Feb. 1, 2004. The hold on to your heart forever:-

Majcm,..psychologists say when we recall an event, we actually re-experience
the event. We mayhave grown to handle the event a little better, but the
pain is still there. The whole thing is so sad and all I can do is
sympathise with you, you are not alone.

Out Tom, exhibits this head-jerking reflex and closes his eyes as if there
is a pleasurable component in it, but he still complains with the little paw
swots,..so we dont touch that part of his back which is approximately 3"
past his shoulder-blades on. I dont think it is a disease, as the touch only
has to be slight.

Thanks so much for the comforting words, Jason! Time does take the "rawness"
of the pain away, but if you let them into your mind too much, it's
waterworks time. May we be thankful we have had pets we have loved that much
in our life, and for our pets who got to experience such love from us. So
many don't get that. Take care!!!

> > Yes, I have had four that have done that. Have you had them checked? Two
> of
[quoted text clipped - 57 lines]
> > >
> > > Jason

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Walt - 12 Sep 2005 09:37 GMT

>I've noticed with some cats, that they are sensitive on the back half of
>their backs to patting or stroking. At first I thought this maybe a reflex
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
>Jason

One of my cats has a strange reaction when rubbing her back. She'll
start licking anything that's nearby - carpet, wood etc.

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Netmask - 12 Sep 2005 10:46 GMT

My Burmese (10 year old) does the same - loves having his lower back rubbed
or scratched and licks the air and purrs like Pavarotti as you do it.
Fortunately down here you go to jail if you remove claws.

>>I've noticed with some cats, that they are sensitive on the back half of
>>their backs to patting or stroking. At first I thought this maybe a reflex
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> One of my cats has a strange reaction when rubbing her back. She'll
> start licking anything that's nearby - carpet, wood etc.

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Jason James - 12 Sep 2005 19:56 GMT

> My Burmese (10 year old) does the same - loves having his lower back rubbed
> or scratched and licks the air and purrs like Pavarotti as you do it.

Yet another variation on the response!

> Fortunately down here you go to jail if you remove claws.

Cats need their claws (something that has been mentioned repeatedly I'd bet
in this group), They need something to to scratch (when they arch their back
and scratch and pull at whatever they use) to keep their claws in good
condition. This ritual clawing removes old growth from their claws, keeping
them sharp. They use their claws for many reasons, not the least of which,
to scratch them selves, when the need arises. Removing them is a form of
torture, They can't climb, steady themselves or have the comfort in the
knowledge they can protect themselves if the need arises. They even use them
to pick-up small soft objects such as insects, food or cat-toys.

Jason

> >>I've noticed with some cats, that they are sensitive on the back half of
> >>their backs to patting or stroking. At first I thought this maybe a reflex
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> > One of my cats has a strange reaction when rubbing her back. She'll
> > start licking anything that's nearby - carpet, wood etc.

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Jason James - 12 Sep 2005 19:45 GMT

> >I've noticed with some cats, that they are sensitive on the back half of
> >their backs to patting or stroking. At first I thought this maybe a reflex
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> One of my cats has a strange reaction when rubbing her back. She'll
> start licking anything that's nearby - carpet, wood etc.

Yes, it maybe a complex neurological response. Of the 3 cats we have had
over the last12 yrs ( 2 were strays, a Tom and a female who appeared to be
barren [non-fertile] and one a spayed male kitten) all raise their tails
when stroked on the back, but only the kitten did not have the head-jerking
response. The tail-raising reminds me of a mating response,..but why do
males do it?

Our house cat is a little neurotic. He does not eat a lot. When he gets out,
he will lick the cement foot-path around the house. He has a balanced diet,
so salt, you would think, is not the reason as in your fella's case.

Then again, when you step back and look at all their responses and rituals,
the fact we don't understand them all, makes them all the more interesting I
guess.

Jason

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Denise Clere - 12 Sep 2005 13:25 GMT

Maggie does that

> I've noticed with some cats, that they are sensitive on the back half of
> their backs to patting or stroking. At first I thought this maybe a reflex
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Jason

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