senses
Rippling or twitching skin along the back
A sudden ripple of the skin over the lower back — usually a passing skin twitch, occasionally a sign of irritation or over-sensitivity
You stroke near the base of the tail and the skin along the spine visibly ripples or shudders, sometimes followed by a quick turn, a lick at the flank, or a dash away.
The skin over a cat's back is loosely attached and richly supplied with a thin sheet of muscle, so a light touch or tickle can set off a brief, involuntary ripple — much like the way a horse twitches flies off its flank. In most cats this is a normal, harmless reflex, especially over the sensitive area just in front of the tail where many cats simply do not like being touched. It can also be triggered by an itch, a stray hair, or a moment of over-stimulation during petting. Occasionally, though, frequent or intense rippling that comes with frantic grooming, tail-chasing, dilated pupils, vocalising or sudden sprints can point to skin irritation from fleas, or to feline hyperesthesia syndrome, an over-sensitivity of the skin and nervous system.
🐾 Most common in
Cats of any breed; the more dramatic, episodic form is reported a little more often in Siamese and other Oriental breeds.