Anyone Have Cats That Shake Their Paws?

[basilleaves]

...or should I be concerned?

Anya (9, F) oçcasionally shakes her front right paw. It's a split-second twitch, as though she's just stepped in something gross. It usually happens before she drinks water (resulting in a metallic ping sound) but lately she's been doing it away from the water bowl. She IS unwell at the moment, but this habit's been going on for at least three years. She has always shown symptoms of hyperesthesia (rippling back, biting when she's done being pet, etc).

Anyone else have cats that do this?

 

[IndyJones]

Hector used to do the pawsy shake too before drinking. I think it's just a cute little thing that some cats do. Sometimes Indy does it but usually it's just random with her.

 

[susanm9006]

I would most certainly discuss it with your vet as there can be things wrong with a paw and the cat shakes it from pain.

 

[juju521]

I was alarmed at this too when my cat did it, so I sent a video to my vet.
She basically shrugged it off and said it's normal cat behavior given that there weren't any other issues. I would check with your vet just to make sure.

 

[MissClouseau]

https://www.quora.com/Why-do-cats-s...their-front-paws-for-no-reason-that-I-can-see The top answer there is great and my experience with Hima as well. She shakes her paw also when she doesn’t like the taste of a food, or if she’s done eating, before or after drinking water and some other occasions. Also if there is a flea on the paw.

 

[basilleaves]

https://www.quora.com/Why-do-cats-s...their-front-paws-for-no-reason-that-I-can-see The top answer there is great and my experience with Hima as well. She shakes her paw also when she doesn’t like the taste of a food

Ha! I just noticed that Anya only does it when she's had enough of food, my other cat, and me. Thank you for the link!

I do intend to bring it up to the vet when she calls with the blood results. Fingers crossed.

 

[tabbytom]

My boy shakes his paw after eating and sometimes there's a piece of meat on his paw or maybe sometimes he gets the gravy onto his paw and when he's done eating, he'll shake his paw and cover the dish.