Feline hyperesthesia syndrome is a poorly understood condition causing apparent skin hypersensitivity, self-directed aggression, and episodes of frantic behaviour.
Feline hyperesthesia syndrome is a welfare-significant condition because episodes cause obvious distress — affected cats appear to be experiencing pain or unpleasant sensory experiences during attacks, sometimes mutilating their own skin. The uncertain aetiology makes management challenging: without knowing whether the primary mechanism is dermatological, neuropathic, seizure-like, or compulsive-behavioural, treatment must often be empirical. The welfare cost is real regardless of mechanism — the cat is experiencing repeated distressing episodes that they cannot control or escape. Comprehensive diagnostic evaluation including neurological and dermatological assessment, filmed episode documentation shared with the vet, and systematic medication trials are the current best approach. Environmental stress reduction is appropriate regardless of primary mechanism, as stress appears to trigger episodes in most cases.