My cat won't let me touch her. Is feline hyperesthesia the reason?

Hyperesthesia is basically where the pet has short bouts of excessive itch, that causes them to become very sensitive to touch, sounds, and any interaction really. It causes the pet to act in an exaggerated way which can include biting, tail chasing, and errotic unexplained behavior. Here is more information on the condition in detail --->https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952886 Treatment for this involves prescription anti-itch (i.e. Gabapentin) and/or anxiety medication that your vet will have to fill. There aren't any over the counter options for cats that can treat this condition successfully currently. I hope that your pet Pistol gets this treated soon, if she does indeed have hyperesthesia. Best of luck and take care.

Hi there and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very rare that cats suffer from hyperesthesia (over sensitivity to touch to the point that bit cannot uncomfortable) but it is not unheard of. It is thought to be of a neurological origin-and can be very difficult to treat. Sometimes adding a medication called gabapentin has helped in such cases for my clients. I would talk to your veterinarian to see if they think Royal would be a good candidate or if it is strictly behavioral. If behavioral in origin-sometimes feliway diffusers are helpful in calming our feline companions as well. I hope this helps!

This patch could be related to fleas, allergy, infection, or something called hyperesthesia. If you are not using a quality flea preventative right now I'd definitely recommend starting. Revolution is a good flea preventative for cats. If possible you can try using a gentle shampoo like Douxo Calm to bathe the area and see if this helps. If you do not see any improvement it would be wise to have Bast examined by your veterinarian to ensure she does not need any oral medication like antibiotics. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and good luck!

The best way to know if there is a medical issue causing pain is to have Kit examined by the veterinarian. Sometimes back pain or fleas can make a cat reactive. Some cats also will exhibiting petting related aggression: https://www.petcoach.co/article/petting-related-aggression-in-cats/ I hope this provides some guidance. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor kitty! I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem - feline hyperesthesia can be a frustrating problem. I would not recommend trying to bandage his tail to his body, since there is a risk of cutting off circulation and causing severe damage if it's positioned awkwardly or wrapped too tight. I'm not sure what medications your kitty is currently on, but if he's still very uncomfortable and constantly biting his tail, I would recommend calling your vet on Monday morning to talk about what else can be done. Many cats with this disorder respond very well to some combination of prednisone, gabapentin, and/or phenobarbital, and may also do well with adjunct treatment options like laser therapy or acupuncture. In the meantime, I would go to the pet store and get a larger cone, so that he can't reach his tail and do further damage until you are able to get his medication adjusted to make him more comfortable.

Hello. You do describe the condition known as Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome. The fact that you describe her episodes as getting a bit worse does point to an escalating problem, but the prognosis for this condition is very variable. There are treatments, but we must first be very sure there are no underlying triggers such as a food or flea allergy. A hypoallergenic food trial along with diligent flea control is required, even if Daizy is strictly indoors. If the episodes are not too bad & are tolerable to you & Daizy, then I would not jump into seizure medications or anxiolytics/antidepressants that are sometimes needed for the more severely affected cats. There has been some response by cats when treated with supplements such as acetyl-L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10 riboflavin & Vit E. Your vet can help with these, but if you should try them, you need to supplement for at least a month to see if they are beneficial. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hyperesthesia is actually pretty uncommon in cats but can rarely occur. Based on what you are describing I would be concerned that your cat has allergies and/or fleas that are causing the excessive itch and discomfort. I think it is a great idea for you to take Deano to the vet to be checked out so he can get some relief. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.