Keeping My New Pets Healthy

Siamese cats have a reputation for being talkative and cranky, some more so than others. For Siamese cat owners, their love for their feline friend overcomes the crazy, erratic behavior their cats sometimes display. However, the reason many Siamese cats have bouts of deranged and strangely psychotic behavior is a neurological disease called feline hyperesthesia. Learn more about this rare feline condition and what you can do to help your cat.

Neurological Experts Are Not Sure About the Cause Of Feline Hyperesthesia

The causes of feline hyperesthesia are controversial, with many experts only agreeing it is an issue impacting brain activity and that it is prevalent in Asian breeds like the Siamese. Some veterinarians believe it is a disorder related to seizures while others feel it is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, the proven cause is still not known. Researchers are making progress learning more this condition, but until they pinpoint an exact cause, veterinarians are providing long-term treatment.

Symptoms That Make You Think Your Cat Is Crazy

Your Siamese cat may have acted fine as a kitten, but when he or she matured into an adult, the symptoms of feline hyperesthesia began to occur. If you have petted your cat along his or her back and the skin there began to ripple, you are seeing a symptom of feline hyperesthesia. Your cat may start excessively biting and licking at his or her back or flanks, then take off in a running fit. Some cats sit and stare into space without moving a muscle and then begin running as though something is chasing them. Your cat may stalk an invisible prey. If your cat has acted aggressively for no reason, you might also be witnessing a symptom of this rare neurological disorder. Some cats also have seizures with this condition.

Looking At the Available Treatment Options

Because of how cats with feline hyperesthesia present high-level symptoms of extreme anxiety, your vet may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs for him or her. You might also be instructed to maintain a calm environment around your cat. Some vets have prescribed anti-psychotic and anti-seizure drugs that have been helpful in controlling the symptoms of feline hyperesthesia. If your Siamese cat is diagnosed with feline hyperesthesia, your vet will go over a treatment plan with you that may include therapeutic activities. Your cat's vet might also ask that you keep your cat on a schedule for feeding times to help maintain low anxiety levels.

Siamese cats are beautiful, elegant creatures and have captured the hearts of many cat lovers around the world. If your Siamese cat is acting in an unusual, neurotic manner, a vet visit to a place like Center-Sinai Animal Hospital to check for neurological problems like feline hyperesthesia is a good idea.