Tips for managing mild cat hyperesthesia without medication?

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.

Calming supplements containing typtophan and b vitamins such as kalm aid can be very helpful in such cases, as can acupuncture although in many cases we do not know the exact cause, any relief of symptoms is positive

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.

If your cat has been diagnosed with feline hyperesthesia syndrome, that could definitely be factoring into her resistance to having you pet her. I recommend scheduling a vet consult to have her examined - many hyperesthesia cats will improve on medication. I would start there, before concluding that her scratching/biting is purely behavioral. However, if you don't notice any change in her behavior with hyperesthesia treatment, then it's worth considering behavior interventions and stress management. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/hyperesthesia-syndrome Hope this helps!

Hi there and thanks for posting on Boop by Petco! If your veterinarian has diagnosed Toby with this condition, it can be treated with anti-anxiety/depressant medications and certain supplements such as L-theanine. It may take several weeks to see results of the medications but can be very beneficial for cases such as Toby's. Sometimes patients are kept on the medications for a year or more and then slowly weaned off. Amputation is generally not recommended unless there is a medical issue directly with the tail. Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome is usually closely related to anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder and may manifest in other ways (such as excessive licking or grooming behaviors) even if the tail was removed. I hope this helps and I wish you and Toby the best!

There are a lot of toys that cats love that you can make at home: some cats will chase a crumpled ball of paper or a pom pom, you can tie a few feathers to a stick with some string, or you can put some crinkly plastic in something like a sock. Be sure that the toys are for supervised play only. Here is a link to some ideas: https://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/clearing-the-air/2014/03/the-10-best-homemade-cat-toys/

What you are describing sounds very much like feline hyperesthesia syndrome. Unfortunately, there is no definitive test for this condition - the diagnosis is made on the basis of history and clinical signs, as well as testing to rule out other possible causes for pain or neurologic problems that could be causing her symptoms. If Trufa does have hyperesthesia syndrome, she may respond well to a steroid like prednisolone, medication for nerve pain such as gabapentin, and/or anti-seizure medication such as phenobarbital. Acupuncture and laser therapy have also been shown to be helpful in some cases. I would recommend discussing this with your veterinarian - if he/she agrees that this could be the problem, they can prescribe an appropriate medication (or combination of medications) to try and decrease the frequency and severity of these episodes.

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 Boop by Petco.

Hello, and thank you for using Boop by Petco. I can understand why this syndrome may be confusing - as it's still a fairly poorly understood disorder. Hyperesthesia simply means "abnormally sensitive", but in cats it usually refers to sensitivity of the skin along their back. These cats often exhibit a strange twitching of the skin, and may suddenly take off running as if frightened or painful. There isn't a test for this condition, so your vet will develop a suspicion based on observations during an exam, your description of whats happening at home, and often taking a video of an episode can be very helpful. The cause is not completely well understood, but there is some belief that these could be related to focal seizure activity, due to the fact that many cats will respond well to seizure medication. If Mars does have hyperesthesia syndrome, it is possible that wearing a jumper could make it worse. I recommend having Mars examined by your vet to determine if it's worth doing