My cat has Feline Hyperesthesia. Will he need medication for life?

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.

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.

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.

Poor Chole! If she does have feline hyperesthesia syndrome, this condition can often be successfully treated with steroids such as prednisone, a pain medication called gabapentin, and sometimes even an anti-seizure medication called phenobarbital. It can take some trial and error to find the best medication (or combination of meds) to control symptoms in some cats, but these three drugs are often a good starting point. All of these are prescription medications, so I would recommend taking Chole to the vet for an exam to discuss this issue and get her started on appropriate treatment.

Regularly scheduled feeding times (feed her twice a day) and play periods, for example, may help keep an insecure cat relaxed and well exercised. And any type of physical activity that may irritate or overstimulate the cat—such as scratching its back—must certainly be avoided. Leave out a little catnip fo Luna, and change her toys regularly so she doesn't get bored with them. Put on music or a "cat video" when you have to be gone. Provide a perch for her so she can comfortably watch what’s going on outside as long as this isn’t a trigger for her. Provide scratching posts and structures to climb on. Finally, keep her schedule as regular as possible.

There is so much that we don’t know about feline hyperesthesia syndrome. Some feel it maybe a form a seizure disorder. Some feel it can be triggered by a virus. Gabapentin is a pain medication that can also be helpful with seizure disorders and it is commonly used in these cases. Some patients seem to resolve in time on their own and others seem to deal with it life long. Unfortunately we still have more questions then we do answers about this process in veterinary medicine. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

This is a very tough problem for you to have! I would have Toby seen by a vet, as there are prescription medications that can help a cat with anxiety. It sounds like you have tried all you can at home, and now it's time to look into using prescription drugs to see if that helps him. These medications could include prozac and zoloft. It would be up to your vet to determine if medication is appropriate for Toby, and what medication would be safest to use. I would make an appointment to have him seen on Monday. I hope this helps!