Can Cats Get Charlie Horses?

Cats are quite fragile. Even a little irresponsibility can lead to severe health problems, including internal bleeding. Therefore, when it comes to your little feline friend’s health, you should be careful and ask different questions. 

If you are terrified and wondering, can cats get “Charlie Horses”? Then sadly, the answer is YES. Any animal that has muscles can suffer from Charlie horses. Keep on reading to learn all about Charlie Horses and how to treat this disorder in cats.

What is Charlie Horses?

Let’s start with the basic question, what is actually Charlie Horses?

Charlie horses, also known as muscle spasm or cramp, is a neurological disorder of the muscles that causes rhythmic or repetitive muscular contractions. This disease is certainly not that rare in humans. At least once in our life, we all have encountered muscle spasms. 

Here’s what you need to know about Charlie Horses:

Can Cats Get Muscle Cramps?

Yes, any animal that has muscles can suffer from Charlie Horses. In the veterinarian world, muscle contraction is known as Myoclonus. There are several causes that can lead to Myoclonus in cats, and it has dozens of symptoms as well. 

Here are some of the most common types of Myoclonus in cats and their causes:

• Stimulus-Sensitive Myoclonus – Caused due to touch, noise or light
• Active Myoclonus – Triggered by cat’s movement
• Congenital Myoclonus – Involuntary muscle spasms caused by unknown reasons
• Nocturnal Myoclonus – Sleep induced muscle contraction

Causes

There’s no one cause of Charlie Horses, rather plenty of conditions believed to cause this problem. Some of the most common causes of muscle spasms in cats include:

• Nervous System Disease
• Inflammation
• Toxicity
• Weakness
• Trauma
• Genetic
• Idiopathic Or Unknown

Symptom

The clinical signs of Charlie Horses in cats are pretty clear, such as: 

• Vocalizations and pain
• Repetitive scratching and pawing
• Sensitivity to touch
• Uncontrolled twitching or trembling

Treatment of Charlie Horses

As various reasons can cause this disorder, there is no general treatment for muscle spasms. The treatment of Charlie Horses varies from cat to cat. Most veterinarians recommend antibiotics if the spasms are caused by bacterial infection. On the other hand, if your feline friend is suffering from a viral infection, he or she will require fluid therapy, medication and supportive care.

Your veterinarian can also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications if you are observing any swelling on the spinal cord or brain. When it comes to your cat’s health, it is always recommended to contact your veterinarian before selecting medication!

Final Thought

Can cats get Charlie Horses? Charlie Horses or muscle cramps are quite common in cats. Your cat can get this disease genetically, or it could be a symptom of other diseases. Fortunately, there are proven treatments for this disorder. So, all you have to do is contact your veterinarian and follow his/her instructions.

Keep in mind that you should never offer your feline a medication without the consent of a licensed veterinarian. Otherwise, the treatment can do more harm than good!