Feline Hyperesthesia: What Is It And Why Does It Happen?

As we had already said in a previous article, feline hyperesthesia is one of the most delicate diseases a cat can suffer from , not only because it is uncommon, but also because although there are treatments for this problem, none of them are effective enough. to eliminate completely.

In the following article we will deepen the theme a bit, also talking about the factors that cause it to appear.

What is feline hyperesthesia?

Also known as nervous cat syndrome, this is a rather atypical condition that some cats suffer from. They feel the horrible sensation that something or someone is behind them attacking them  or penetrating their skin, so the natural reaction is to excessively lick and bite hard.

In sick cats the skin on the back curls from shoulders to tail, in some it is easy to notice, while in others it is not, so you have to pay close attention to be able to discover the syndrome as soon as possible.

This disease affects cats of any breed and age. It is also characterized by being of short duration, because this sensation persists for a few minutes or even a few seconds. During this time, the cat will behave abnormally, lick and bite intensely, leading to severe injuries.

Causes

This is the most delicate and mysterious point when it comes to feline hyperesthesia. It may seem unlikely, but it  is  a disease that does not seem to have an apparent cause. This was a real headache not only for the owners of these animals, but also for the veterinarians.

However, some specialists have noted that this delicate syndrome could appear for some reasons, which while not proven, seem to shed some light on the problem. These are the main ones:

Stress

From what we know, one of the most popular theories regarding feline hyperesthesia is that some breeds may suffer from it as a consequence of a prolonged state of stress, which can occur for the following reasons:

• Inconsistent contact from the owner.
• Lack of space to live normally.

• Loud or strange noises.

In fact, it has been found that oriental cat breeds seem to suffer from this disease much more than others, if stress is considered as the main trigger.

Epilepsy

Other specialists who have studied the subject thoroughly have reported that seizures generated by epilepsy could be the real cause of this pathology.

They would be due to the fact that feline hyperesthesia could be associated with problems with the electrical activities of the brain, especially of the areas in charge of controlling predatory behavior, cleanliness and emotions.

What seems to support this theory the most is that it has been possible to determine that some cats affected by this syndrome generally suffer from seizures during or after an attack.

Skin problems

Another possible cause of this disease could be several skin problems,  probably generated by flea bites, if the cat is extremely allergic, as this can cause a very severe long-term itch, which would cause hyperesthesia.

This itching can also occur if the feline is suffering from a bacterial infection, abnormal hormonal fluctuations or a serious feeding problem, whereby the skin will become dry, causing him to scratch intensely.

As you may have realized, feline hyperesthesia is a disease that you must prevent by taking great care of your cat.