why does my cat twitch in his sleep

Cats twitch in their sleep primarily because they are dreaming during the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep. During REM sleep, their brains are very active, which can cause involuntary muscle movements such as twitching of paws, whiskers, ears, legs, or tail. These twitches are normal and healthy, reflecting that your cat is experiencing deep, restful sleep. Other reasons for twitching include involuntary muscle spasms or reflexes as the brain transitions into sleep, similar to human hypnic jerks. For kittens, twitching is also part of their neurological development. Occasionally, twitches may be related to itching or mild muscle contractions, but normal sleep twitching shouldn’t be a cause for concern unless accompanied by severe symptoms like rigidity, excessive trembling, or distress. In summary, your cat twitching in their sleep is most likely due to normal dreaming and muscle reflexes inherent to their sleep cycle, showing they are having healthy sleep.