Why is my kitten shaking?
A kitten shaking is often nothing serious — being cold, overexcited or startled can all cause a brief shiver or tremor in a young cat. It is worth taking more seriously when the shaking is repeated, lasts more than a few minutes, or comes with other signs such as not eating, weakness or collapse, all of which are reasons to get your kitten seen by a vet.
Usually not urgent
This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.
The everyday explanations
Kittens are small and lose heat quickly, so a genuinely cold kitten will often shiver in exactly the way a cold person does, and it usually stops as soon as they warm up in a snug bed or against a littermate. Fear and excitement can also cause a brief shake or tremble — a car journey, a vet visit, or an overly enthusiastic play session are common triggers.
Sleep twitching is another normal one: kittens, like adult cats, often twitch their paws, whiskers or whole body while dreaming, and this is not the same thing as shaking while awake and alert.
It can help to think about what happened just before the shaking started — a loud noise, a car journey, an unfamiliar visitor, or simply waking from a deep sleep can all explain a brief shiver in an otherwise healthy, settled kitten.
Low blood sugar in very young kittens
Young kittens, especially those recently weaned or still very small, have limited energy reserves and can develop low blood sugar if they miss a feed or become unwell for another reason. This can show up as weakness, wobbliness or shaking, and it needs prompt attention rather than waiting to see if it passes on its own.
If a young kitten seems weak, floppy or is shaking alongside not wanting to eat, treat that as urgent and contact your vet straight away rather than trying to manage it at home.
This is more of a concern in kittens under around eight to twelve weeks old, in very small or underweight kittens, or in one that has been unwell or off its food for any reason, since these are the kittens with the least reserve to draw on if a feed is missed.
When shaking needs a vet
Shaking that keeps happening, that lasts more than a couple of minutes, or that comes with vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, not eating or any sign of pain is worth a same-day call to your vet. A kitten's small size means it can go downhill faster than an adult cat, so it is always better to check something out than to wait and see with a very young animal.
Shaking combined with collapse, stiffening, jerking movements or loss of consciousness could be a seizure, which is always an emergency — ring your vet or the nearest emergency vet service straight away rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Helping a shivering kitten in the meantime
If your kitten seems to be shivering from cold rather than showing any of the more concerning signs, a warm, draught-free spot, a snug blanket, and being close to a littermate or a warm hand can help them settle within a short while. A kitten that warms up and stops shaking quickly, and is otherwise bright, alert and eating normally, is much less of a worry than one that stays unsettled or seems weak.
Keep a close eye on feeding in a very young kitten in particular, since low blood sugar can develop quickly in a small kitten that has missed a feed, become chilled, or is fighting off an infection. A kitten that will not settle, seems weak, or is reluctant to feed needs prompt attention rather than a wait-and-see approach at home.
What can help
Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.
Raised Pet Sofa Bed with Wooden Legs
A raised pet sofa on wooden legs with a plush, waterproof cover, keeping cats and smaller dogs off cold hard floors and making an accident a wipe rather than a wash.
From£64.99
Johnson's Calm Eze Tabs
36 herbal tablets to help calm and soothe nervous or hyperactive dogs and cats
£6.05
Pet Remedy Diffuser
A plug-in diffuser blending valerian, vetiver, basil and sage for stressful moments
£24.00
Wooden Cat House Scratcher with Feeder & Water Set
A two-in-one wooden cat house and scratcher lounger with a detachable top, paired with a gravity feeder (approx 1600ml) and water dispenser (approx 800ml). Gives cats a spot to rest, scratch and play alongside automatic food and water.
From£89.99
Common questions
- Is it normal for a kitten to shiver when sleeping?
- Yes, twitching paws, whiskers or a light tremor during sleep is normal and is generally just a kitten dreaming, in the same way a dog's paws twitch during sleep. It is different from shaking while fully awake and alert, which is worth watching more closely.
- Why does my kitten shake after a vet visit or car journey?
- Stress and adrenaline from an unfamiliar or frightening experience can cause a temporary shake or tremble in a kitten, much like it can in a nervous adult cat. This usually settles within a short while once the kitten is back somewhere calm and familiar.
- Can teething cause a kitten to shake?
- Teething is not a common cause of shaking on its own, and a kitten that is shaking rather than just showing mild chewing behaviour or drooling is more likely to be reacting to something else. It is worth mentioning to your vet if the shaking continues.
- When should I take my kitten to the vet for shaking?
- See a vet the same day if the shaking is repeated, lasts more than a couple of minutes, or comes with weakness, not eating, vomiting or diarrhoea. Treat shaking alongside collapse, stiffening or jerking movements as an emergency and seek help immediately.
- Can a kitten shake from being scared?
- Yes, fear and a sudden adrenaline response can cause a short-lived shake or tremble in a kitten, much as it can in an adult cat or in a person. This usually settles once the kitten feels safe again in a familiar, calm environment.
- Should I take my kitten's temperature if it's shaking?
- Only if your vet has specifically asked you to and shown you how, since doing this incorrectly can cause stress or injury to a small kitten. It is generally more useful to describe what you are seeing to your vet over the phone and let them advise on next steps.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.