Cat shaking, pooing lying down in front of me, and then fine again.

This may be your first evidence of a seizure or it could just be a bizarre episode with a difficult bowel movement.
The determining factor is when and if it occurs again. With seizures there is shaking of the body and usually urination or defecation. The main observation with a seizure is that they appear mentally disoriented.

For now I would observe. If the incidents start coming more frequently/often...you need to find a vet. If not, then write down what you saw and speak to your vet after the holidays.

Dr.Vamvakias

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Dr. D.A. Vamvakias
Veterinarian

I have seen people seizures before, even small ones (I am a PhD), and this had none of the subsequent disorientation following seizure, nor even during.

Also, a difficult bowl movement does not explain why his whole body was shaking just prior (not a visible shaking, but the kind you can feel only by putting your hand on the cat, as if from fear or cold ). Plus, the stool seemed to have SLIPPED out of him through the licking of the area (he was lying down when it happened). There was no blood or anything like that.

He is totally normal now.

I am still baffled....

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Well, to be honest, I got a reply that made more sense to me on another answers site, and accepted that one. Basically, it seems he was constipated. Follow up confirmed that. The answers here, although professional, focused on the seizure idea (although I mentioned he was 100% immediately after the incident, which would not occur if this were a seizure. He WOULD appear disoriented). Also, the explanation of a "bizzare" bowl movement was not really explaining much. It was NOT a "panniculus reflex". I read about it on google after that explanation was offerred, and it does not fit what I saw AT ALL. The other explanation I got, was that the shaking was out of frustration or unhappiness (over being constipated), and that's why it stopped immediately after. Also, they asked me if something changed in his diet recently. And the fact is, that the day before he found his way to a large chunk of cheese, which is probably at the root of the problem.

Anyhow, the answers here were professional, but they did not really answer my question, whereas the other explanation I got elsewhere seemed to be right on. I am wondering, should I still accept and pay even if the answer was not satisfactory? If that is the policy, I am happy to do so. Please inform me via email.

Thanks

No, you do not need to accept.
I am glad you got the response you needed. I did not feel constipation was being described since they tend to do their "efforts" in the box and not in the middle of the room. From your first description of shaking for 30 seconds and not actually posturing to defecate but laying there looking at his anus...I did not get the feeling of constipation.
Large intestinal discomfort possibly or even rectal discomfort...but oh well.

The panniculus action is a way to describe when people see the skin on the body vibrate or shake...which is commonly active if you watch a cat poop.

In any case, I am glad you got your answer, and I am sorry I didn't provide the response you needed.

Again, do not accept and have a great holiday.

Dr.Vamvakias

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Dr. D.A. Vamvakias
Veterinarian

Thanks you very much, I guess cats being cats, they don't always do things the way the book says they should, just to confuse us a little ;)

Wishing you a very happy new year,

Tal