Minion just went on a super freak out tear around the apartment. Licking herself all over, then running, panting, licking, running. I examined her to see if she had a wasp sting but couldn't see anything, and she didn't seem to be licking one spot more than another. And then she'd take off again. Her skin's rippling sometimes, so it seems clearly to be this: hyperesthesia. Poor peanut.
Thankfully I think I know the cause--several vet sites say it can be an allergic reaction to cheap food dyes. She's been on a high quality, high protein soft food since we got her as a kitten (with a bit of high quality tooth niblets); but we have a few cans of cheaper food that were bought at some point. So I decided to use up one of those cheap cans and they've been going through it since yesterday or so--it's big. I just fed them before this behavior started, so that's got to be it.
OUT with the cheap food. No more! I'll give it to my sister-in-law, cause her kitties don't have any allergies. But apparently our wee Minion is a bit of a delicate flower after all. Or else an athlete with a fine tuned machine that needs premium oil at all times. Sorry Min.
Hope this doesn't last too long and doesn't recur. And goes away. :-( I read of one woman, her cat's episodes lasted 4 hours. Better put a guardian angel on the case:
There, that's better.
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Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome or "rippling skin disorder" can't be tested for, but is a "recognized condition" though its cause is unknown. Here are the symptoms/signs:
- Behavioral and personality changes
- Biting
- Dilated pupils
- Excessive grooming (sometimes resulting in hair loss)
- Frantic licking/chewing
- Hissing
- Running
- Seizures
- Self-mutilation
- Skin ripples or "rolling skin"
- Tail chasing
- Tail swishing
- Vocalizations or hypervocalization
I "treated" Minion by returning her to her regular food. The follow-up post is here.
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