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Post by smilesbetter on Mar 26, 2014 8:54:13 GMT
Hello! My cat Carlotta has Feline Hyperesthesia, I've known this since just after I got her and she started feud playing the symptoms. @gillycat posted this video yesterday ( www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/my-cat-from-hell/videos/terrified-of-her-own-tail.htm ) and it is as though I was watching Carlotta, she has the exact same symptoms except when she attacks her tail she hasn't injured herself so far. Has anyone else ever had a cat with this or seen it? Would be interesting to hear of other people's experiences with this as I've never met anyone who has had a cat with it. Just so you're all aware of it, or if anyone wants info on it, here's what it's like for Carlotta: So it is worse in summer/hot weather and she usually gets a few "attacks" a day, whereas in winter it can be as little as once a week. They usually don't last very long, a few minutes at most. There's no obvious sign that it's about to happen so I've not got a video yet. Her back starts twitching and at first she usually freezes on the spot and then bolts off, often crashing into things but usually thankfully into certain spots if they are near. She then licks her back almost violently and attacks her tail, mostly with her mouth and not her feet. It's almost as though her tail is moving independently the way she acts. In summer the attacks last longer usually and sometimes I'll find her lying staring and growling at her back as it twitches before obsessively grooming. When I saw her doing this at first I thought she was injured, and if I touched her side she would yowl as though in extreme pain, but then once her back stopped twitching she was fine. The yowling thing has only happened a few times, and perhaps she has muscle pain from it, I don't know. There doesn't appear to be any triggers for an "attack", it seems to be totally random, sometimes she's asleep and it wakes her up, sometimes walking along casually and it starts, sometimes when she's eating, etc. I've never met a vet who has heard of it and online I've read that it is incurable as it's currently not known what the cause is but is thought to be linked to the brain and possibly a type of epilepsy. So since I've had Carlotta she has had no treatment, but although it seems to cause her distress during an "attack" she recovers quickly and is back to normal right after. Of course, I don't know what her personality would be like without this, maybe she'd be less grumpy. Her previous owners did not mention this to is, only that she has a very sensitive stomach (aka is sick constantly), I don't think the two are linked though. So, there you go, that's Feline Hyperesthesia from my experience, and thanks @gillycat for posting that link, I've never seen an example of another cat with it before. I'll have to find the full video and see how he helped the cat so I can see what can be done for Carlotta if anything. Sadly most cats I've heard of who have this spend their lives trying loads of medication which doesn't work and are eventually put down if the problem gets worse and they start self harming. I don't know if Carlotta will get worse or not and man I wish I knew if there were any triggers that I could get rid of so she has less "attacks". |
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Post by lotsofcats on Mar 26, 2014 9:53:41 GMT
That's strange because my cat Bramble seems to do this - I just thought that she was playing by herself (she is a loner). She will suddenly leap up and go round and round in a circle trying to get her tail and wash her lower back and she has a really mad look in her eyes when she does it. Like I said, I thought she was playing and I just say that Bramble is having one of her moments.
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Post by tonib on Mar 26, 2014 13:35:46 GMT
I've not met it before this week when I saw the video posted about a cat with it. I must see if I can see what the behaviourist did.
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Post by smilesbetter on Mar 26, 2014 13:46:32 GMT
Maybe Bramble has it too then lotsofcatstonib yeah I'll look up the episode when I get home from German class and post a link on here. I think most of his show is on YouTube anyway  hope he is able to help the cat without medication said love to find a way of at least releasing Carlotta of it a bit. |
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Post by smilesbetter on Mar 26, 2014 21:36:10 GMT
www.movshare.net/video/b18a54e9594a1 this is the only place I could find the episode with the cat with Hyperesthesia... So it turns out I'm doing everything right! I watched this with my man today, and we realised that her symptoms reduced massively at the end of summer, which coincided with Mieze coming to stay with us. According to the show, keeping the sifferer active (And having a companion cat) can help prevent spikes in activity which seem to trigger "attacks". Well Mieze plays with Carlotta loads every day, so perhaps the drop in symptoms had nothing to do with the change in season and have actually been caused by her dramatic increase in regular activity since we got Mieze. Also Jackson Galaxy gets the owner to play different instruments to the cat to find what soothes it, and my man and I were delighted to see that it was the ukulele she liked! We are both major ukulele lovers and play constantly hahaha, so who knows, that could be having an effect! Anyway it sounds as though the cat in this programme, who had over 20 "attacks" a day is waaay worse than I've ever seen Carlotta, so I guess she has it mild. It would have been interesting to see her in her previous home, they never mentioned this to us but got rid of her under mysterious circumstances. Perhaps she was worse with them, she didn't have another cat then, and I genuinely think that since we got Mieze, Carlotta has gotten a lot happier and more chilled (Yet far more playful at the same time).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2014 19:02:24 GMT
It's wonderful that Carlotta (love that name!!!  ) is improving I'd never heard of it either until I saw the programme a few weeks ago. I've learnt SO much from this guy and Neil and I both love the programme and intend to catify the house and make loads of shelves and climbing frames for our girls in the coming months Neil has already made a ceiling-height scratching post with two shelves on it. He just needs to glue the cord carpet to the poles he's put up. I'll post pics once it's done |
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Post by smilesbetter on Mar 28, 2014 19:39:04 GMT
It's wonderful that Carlotta (love that name!!! ) is improving I'd never heard of it either until I saw the programme a few weeks ago. I've learnt SO much from this guy and Neil and I both love the programme and intend to catify the house and make loads of shelves and climbing frames for our girls in the coming months Neil has already made a ceiling-height scratching post with two shelves on it. He just needs to glue the cord carpet to the poles he's put up. I'll post pics once it's done Oooh that sounds great! We're also catifying, as although they have plenty easy to reach high places etc, they can't get fully around rooms without touching the floor haha! Once Rosa doesn't need her puppy pen at night we'll use the wood to make more cat walkways etc haha! The part we use as the gate will make a perfect above the TV shelf haha... We make cat scratchers out of the long boxes that Sheba tins (the hexagon ones) come in at the supermarket. The cats love them and there is usually loads of empty ones boxes lying around at the shop heehee  super easy to make cat furniture that can be used upright or on the floor, attached to things etc plus it's free AND recycling |
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Post by smilesbetter on May 11, 2014 22:25:19 GMT
Carlotta had a few "attacks" today for the first time in ages. She's been sleeping most of the day in her new favourite place, a high up cat basket carrier without the cage door, and her and Mieze haven't had their usual run-arounds today. I think that really shows that getting exercise is a big factor in reducing the severity of this illness. Shame I couldn't get a video of it happening to show others who might have never seen this before. Basically she bolted across the room, thankfully not crashing into something this time, and then started madly licking her back while it twitched very noticeably (don't know how to describe the action her back does, it's almost like a wave going up and down her back). Sometimes she yowls around the time it happens, I don't know if it's between attacks or if she does this prior to them and if it's linked. She sometimes wakes up in the bedroom alone and starts doing that yowling, and when I go through she's just sitting on the bed looking at me, so maybe she's just insane! She's had a few attacks tonight.
If I notice that she's been too lazy during the day again I'll make a point of getting her to exercise and hopefully that will help. I think it doesn't help that Rosa keeps getting in the way when the cats want to do their chasing game (Rosa keeps lying in a major cat race passageway and they aren't completely sure of her yet), hopefully she'll learn just to watch in wonder with me in future and let the cats get on with it, or they'll get used to her enough to use her as part of the raceway, as they do with me when I dare to be in bed during one of their sessions.
Anyway hope Carlotta is doing okay, I never know what other effects these attacks might have on her, I mean it must be really scary for her having her body reacting that way. Obviously when it first happens she appears to think something has unexpectedly touched her and bolts out the way, then she seems to understand that it's coming from her back, hence the licking. She tends to avoid any touch during and after these attacks too so we can't even go and reassure her.
She's now slinking around the flat as though she's checking on her territory and occasionally coming up to me and doing a very small (unusual for her!) miaow. It's hard to read her body language to try and see how she's feeling as she won't stand still, but the constant pacing is a sign of stress I guess. Poor kitty!
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Post by tonib on May 11, 2014 22:54:07 GMT
Oh poor Carlotta. At least its a while since the last attack but a shame she's had a few today. it'll be interesting to see if exercise is the answer. Hope she's recovering now.
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Post by smilesbetter on May 11, 2014 23:15:50 GMT
Oh poor Carlotta. At least its a while since the last attack but a shame she's had a few today. it'll be interesting to see if exercise is the answer. Hope she's recovering now. Thanks tonib ! She keeps trying to play with Mieze but unfortunately Rosa wants to join in (have started a new thread for that) which stops the cats immediately. Thankfully tonight my man is about to finish work (he's working in a local bar tonight) and can take Rosa for a walk to give the kitties time to exercise a bit. It really seems to be the only thing that helps Carlotta! |
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Post by ginny on Jul 6, 2014 21:31:43 GMT
My cat has this also. We tried everything before resorting to Clomicalm, which worked instantly and turned him back into a lovely cat again! We reduced it, eventually took him off it but after 3 weeks the symptoms returned. The vet told me to put him back on it daily for a week, then reduce quickly which I did, and got down to every 3 days but the last few days the growling and tail flapping has returned. I guess I will go back to alternate days and see what happens. This illness totally changes my cats personality, it was triggered by major stress.
I also put into place some large cat trees, and we have a play time at night before I go to bed. And we get cuddles daily so at least some stuff is nice for him. Does anyone know if hyperesthesia actually hurts? I worry about that. I also believe that the heat may make it worse, as I seem to remember this time last year was the start of when he was really bad.
I don't mind giving the clomicalm, but am reluctant to give him more than the minimum dose needed, as I was very against resorting to drugs initially.
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Post by smilesbetter on Jul 6, 2014 22:37:45 GMT
My cat has this also. We tried everything before resorting to Clomicalm, which worked instantly and turned him back into a lovely cat again! We reduced it, eventually took him off it but after 3 weeks the symptoms returned. The vet told me to put him back on it daily for a week, then reduce quickly which I did, and got down to every 3 days but the last few days the growling and tail flapping has returned. I guess I will go back to alternate days and see what happens. This illness totally changes my cats personality, it was triggered by major stress. I also put into place some large cat trees, and we have a play time at night before I go to bed. And we get cuddles daily so at least some stuff is nice for him. Does anyone know if hyperesthesia actually hurts? I worry about that. I also believe that the heat may make it worse, as I seem to remember this time last year was the start of when he was really bad. I don't mind giving the clomicalm, but am reluctant to give him more than the minimum dose needed, as I was very against resorting to drugs initially. Hey there! It's nice to hear from someone who has a cat with the same thing (although sad that your cat has it too!), I've never spoken to anyone else before who has a cat with it. Have you got another cat? I've found this has really helped Carlotta as they both now run around loads every morning and night, and the exercise really seems to make a difference. However it does seem to be returning now the weather is getting warmer after months of nothing, but it has been so far much less often now, so I do think the exercise helps. As for the paid thing, I'm not sure if it hurts or not. Carlotta hates having her back touched and when I stroke her back she will give me a soft warning bite. Now that could mean it hurts, but could also just be because they it is irritating for her to have her back touched, or that she is very wary of her back as a result of the illness. I don't think it hurts though, I think it more scares them. I imagine it is like when one of your muscles start twitching (if you've been lying on it funny for example), but much more extreme as it is the entire back moving. That would certainly freak me out! Glad you have found some relief for your cat although I am like you, I'd be very reluctant to use medication. Thankfully Carlotta seems to have improved loads since we got Mieze - last summer I was going mad with it and she really was a very different cat. She seems a lot happier when she doesn't have her "attacks" for a while. She has been miaowing and yowling a lot more recently as it has been coming back and hasn't really been her usual self. That's interesting that you also notice an increase when it's warmer. I will have to try and see if keeping her cooler will reduce the amount of "attacks" she has. I've been working on making the bedroom a "cool zone" for the pets so will have to keep a check and see if it makes an effect for her. |
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Post by ginny on Jul 7, 2014 13:30:32 GMT
My cat has this also. We tried everything before resorting to Clomicalm, which worked instantly and turned him back into a lovely cat again! We reduced it, eventually took him off it but after 3 weeks the symptoms returned. The vet told me to put him back on it daily for a week, then reduce quickly which I did, and got down to every 3 days but the last few days the growling and tail flapping has returned. I guess I will go back to alternate days and see what happens. This illness totally changes my cats personality, it was triggered by major stress. I also put into place some large cat trees, and we have a play time at night before I go to bed. And we get cuddles daily so at least some stuff is nice for him. Does anyone know if hyperesthesia actually hurts? I worry about that. I also believe that the heat may make it worse, as I seem to remember this time last year was the start of when he was really bad. I don't mind giving the clomicalm, but am reluctant to give him more than the minimum dose needed, as I was very against resorting to drugs initially. Hey there! It's nice to hear from someone who has a cat with the same thing (although sad that your cat has it too!), I've never spoken to anyone else before who has a cat with it. Have you got another cat? I've found this has really helped Carlotta as they both now run around loads every morning and night, and the exercise really seems to make a difference. However it does seem to be returning now the weather is getting warmer after months of nothing, but it has been so far much less often now, so I do think the exercise helps. As for the paid thing, I'm not sure if it hurts or not. Carlotta hates having her back touched and when I stroke her back she will give me a soft warning bite. Now that could mean it hurts, but could also just be because they it is irritating for her to have her back touched, or that she is very wary of her back as a result of the illness. I don't think it hurts though, I think it more scares them. I imagine it is like when one of your muscles start twitching (if you've been lying on it funny for example), but much more extreme as it is the entire back moving. That would certainly freak me out! Glad you have found some relief for your cat although I am like you, I'd be very reluctant to use medication. Thankfully Carlotta seems to have improved loads since we got Mieze - last summer I was going mad with it and she really was a very different cat. She seems a lot happier when she doesn't have her "attacks" for a while. She has been miaowing and yowling a lot more recently as it has been coming back and hasn't really been her usual self. That's interesting that you also notice an increase when it's warmer. I will have to try and see if keeping her cooler will reduce the amount of "attacks" she has. I've been working on making the bedroom a "cool zone" for the pets so will have to keep a check and see if it makes an effect for her. I do have another cat, but they don't really get on, they never have. My boy with hyperesthesia was hand reared from 6 days old, he thinks I'm his Mum but he's always been really stressy. Then, his territory was taken over by 4 cats one side, and a huge dog the other and the stress tipped him over the edge, causing the hyperesthesia. Before we knew what it was everyone was baffled and assumed it was behavioural, so we did Feliways, rearranged litter trays etc but he was constantly being picked on by this awful bully cat next door. It's still an issue but not as bad because I have spent a year chasing it out of my garden. My cat Horatio started pacing at night, or laying on the floor growling with his tail bashing down on the carpet constantly. He wasn't affectionate towards me much anymore, and he spent all night EVERY night jumping on and off my bed growling. I was so exhausted, and after months of trying various things (zylkene was one thing that helped very slightly) I had no choice but to go for the Clomicalm. It's not ideal, but I cannot sit back and do nothing when he gets that bad. There were times when I touched his tail, he would growl at me and nip but he's not aggressive normally. He's usually over the top with his cuddles! I know since it's warmer his symptoms are returning, so I will increase to alternate days and see how he goes. The vet told me to adjust it as I need to, so fingers crossed in the cooler weather I can ease right off. We were not getting any sleep this time last year, and I can't function with no sleep! When he is suffering more with it, he is a bit 'off' with me, not all of the time but he's not his usual self. It's like he just wants to be left alone and usually he wants to be right in my face! Does your cat stare at walls too? Horatio does, he'll just suddenly stare ... at nothing for ages. I've learnt not to stress too much now, unlike last year before I knew what it was. At one point the vet said it could be dementia, that scared me as I thought there was nothing I could do if it was that. I know drugs aren't ideal, but at least I can help the poor little chap. Nice to compare notes though eh? |
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hope he is able to help the cat without medication said love to find a way of at least releasing Carlotta of it a bit. 
) is improving 
super easy to make cat furniture that can be used upright or on the floor, attached to things etc 
