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I noticed this on my long hair Birman mix female (4 yrs old) several years ago, actually, but never gave it much thought until recently:

Her eyeballs pulsate back and forth, very rapidly, very slightly, almost as if they are vibrating. She has always seemed fine, balance fine, just as healthy as my other two cats, and is examined annually by the vet, who never said anything about it.

I have only recently noticed that with my other two cats, one (male Amer shorthair) does not have this condition and the other (female tabby) has it much more slightly, so I wonder if it's a relatively benign deviation from the norm, or if I should worry about it.

My cat veterinary book calls it nystagmus and says it is the sign of an inner ear disorder, but it's been this way probably since I got her 3 years ago and she quite healthy.

Nystagmus does sound like a relatively benign condition from what I have read, except that sometimes it can indicate a more serious problem like a brain tumor. Since your cat has had it for so long, it is unlikely that is the case. This syndrome seems to affect Siamese cats the most, so it is more than likely genetic.

Good luck!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Hi,

Although nystagmus can be a sign of inner ear problems, it is often seen in the Oriental breeds of cats, and for them it can be genetic in origin. I have a 13 year old siamese mix that has had this problem all her life. I would be most concerned about a cat suddenly having nystagmus, but it does sound like a chronic condition in your cat. I would mention it to your vet, however, the next time you take your kitty in for an exam. If you should notice this conditioning becoming worse it might be significant. In this case I would make an appointment immediately.

Regards,
AshleyElla