My cat's lower back seems to hurt

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Kristy - 09 Jul 2006 15:36 GMT

My 7 year old cat has suddenly started flinching (jerking her body and
meowing with attempts to bite my hand) everytime I pet her back, especially
when I get to the middle of her back and all the way towards her tail. She
appears fine, good appetite, playful, happy, etc. but all of a sudden she
can't stand to have anyone touch her back. Has anyone else experienced this
with their cat? I don't feel any lumps or bumps or see any type of injury
that would be causing her discomfort. Other than her irritation with me
touching her back, she's fine. Thank you for any input you can give me.

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MaryL - 09 Jul 2006 17:25 GMT

> My 7 year old cat has suddenly started flinching (jerking her body and
> meowing with attempts to bite my hand) everytime I pet her back,
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> that would be causing her discomfort. Other than her irritation with me
> touching her back, she's fine. Thank you for any input you can give me.

This is the type of problem that calls for a visit to the vet ASAP. I know
this answer is so obvious that many people get tired of it, and you were
hoping to get some help from the newsgroup -- but it is simply impossible to
diagnose something like that from a distance (even if we had medical
training, which most of us don't), and you could risk long-term damage if
you delay.

MaryL

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Beth - 09 Jul 2006 19:41 GMT

>> My 7 year old cat has suddenly started flinching (jerking her body and
>> meowing with attempts to bite my hand) everytime I pet her back,
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> MaryL

I agree. It could be something internal. I'm not a vet or anything, but
perhaps there's something wrong with her that you just can't see. My vet
doesn't charge for visits like that unless there is something wrong that
needs to be treated. When I took my cat in for little black bumps on her
chin, he didn't charge me and even gave me a few free cleansing pads to
help clear up the "acne."

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MaryL - 09 Jul 2006 20:12 GMT

>>> My 7 year old cat has suddenly started flinching (jerking her body and
>>> meowing with attempts to bite my hand) everytime I pet her back,
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>>chin, he didn't charge me and even gave me a few free cleansing pads to
>>help clear up the "acne."

Hi Beth,

I am now piggybacking on this thread, but I noticed your reference to chin
acne. What type of bowls do you use for your cats? There have been
numerous reports of cats developing chin acne when plastic bowls are used.
Ceramic or stainless steel bowls (cleaned frequently) are recommended.

MaryL

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Beth - 09 Jul 2006 20:28 GMT

>>>> My 7 year old cat has suddenly started flinching (jerking her body and
>>>> meowing with attempts to bite my hand) everytime I pet her back,
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
>
> MaryL

The acne problem was about a year ago. At the time she did have plastic
bowls, but after finding out that she had the chin acne my vet told me that
the plastic holds bacteria and was probably the cause. So, I surrendered a
porcelain bowl from an old set of dishes and she now uses that.
Incidentally, she wasn't drinking a lot of water and I got her a bubbling
fountain/reservoir and she now drinks probably more than enough water.
That has a plastic bowl, but I run it through the dishwasher once a week
and she has no signs of the acne. She's had that for about 6 months now.
My guess is that since the opening for the water is much larger than a
regular bowl, her chin doesn't ever touch the plastic so it's not causing
her any issues. But if anyone's cat isn't drinking enough water, I'd
recommend a bubbling fountain! Mine LOVES it! She even sleeps by it
sometimes:)

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Kristy - 09 Jul 2006 23:15 GMT

Thanks for the advice. I will do that. I was hoping someone else had this
problem with their cat too so I can at least have an idea as to what is going
on with her. I did read something on the internet that suggested she might
have something called Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome in which there is very
little they can do for the animal should she be diagnosed with this. I'm
hoping she doesn't have this...it's kind of weird but my cat won't react this
way (twitching, meowing or biting) if she is either eating or engrossed in
something that has her full attention. I really don't know what to make of
this. Thanks again for writing.

>> My 7 year old cat has suddenly started flinching (jerking her body and
>> meowing with attempts to bite my hand) everytime I pet her back,
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
>MaryL

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Alex - 09 Jul 2006 23:20 GMT

I am not sure whether you checked Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome threads in
the archive. If not then you may want to take a look at the following pages:

http://www.catkb.com/Uwe/Misc/SR.aspx?p=Feline+Hyperesthesia+Syndrome

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Kristy - 10 Jul 2006 13:09 GMT

Yes, I did check out this link on the internet before I saw this website and
started writing in to ask for advise. I was thinking this is what my cat
might have but I wanted some feedback from others before I take her to the
vet just to see if anyone else had this problem with their cat and it turned
out to be something else. As I said, other than her "funny" behavior when
petted in this area, she's perfectly fine so I'm hoping it's nothing serious.
Thank you for writing me.

>I am not sure whether you checked Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome threads in
>the archive. If not then you may want to take a look at the following pages:
>
>http://www.catkb.com/Uwe/Misc/SR.aspx?p=Feline+Hyperesthesia+Syndrome

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MaryL - 10 Jul 2006 01:08 GMT

> Thanks for the advice. I will do that. I was hoping someone else had
> this
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> of
> this. Thanks again for writing.

This is one of those situations where you need a medical evaluation even if
it does sound "similar" to some of us. Years ago, I had a cat that suddenly
lost the use of his back legs. This was after acute UTI. In that case, the
vet said the paralysis was caused by kidney failure, and it would be
temporary *if* we were able to handle the underlying problem. He recovered
and lived for almost 20 years, but it required quick treatment.

Good luck. I hope you will have equally good results.

MaryL

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Kristy - 10 Jul 2006 13:06 GMT

Thanks so much for your advise...I will take her to the vet this week.

>> Thanks for the advice. I will do that. I was hoping someone else had
>> this
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
>MaryL

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Matthew - 09 Jul 2006 19:51 GMT

How are you petting her it could be a nerve thing where you reach a
certain point with certain pressure it cause a itch sort to say My
phantom has a nerve tick if I get near his tail he snaps

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Kristy - 10 Jul 2006 13:04 GMT

That's what I was thinking too. My cat has always hated anyone petting her
roughly on her back closest to her tail area but for some reason, nowadays
she's very sensitive in that area and acts differently now when she's touched
in that area.

>How are you petting her it could be a nerve thing where you reach a
>certain point with certain pressure it cause a itch sort to say My
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>> that would be causing her discomfort. Other than her irritation with me
>> touching her back, she's fine. Thank you for any input you can give me.

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Outsider - 10 Jul 2006 21:48 GMT

> That's what I was thinking too. My cat has always hated anyone
> petting her roughly on her back closest to her tail area but for some
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>>> with me touching her back, she's fine. Thank you for any input you
>>> can give me.

Please post an update when you find something out.

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