Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome Makes Me Love My Cat Even More
The Vet’s prognosis was that Bijou had a mild condition. He recommended an affordable method of treatment — calming by catnip.
#72 Real Estate Man
Real Estate Man has been a cat owner and cat lover his whole life. He found a kindred spirit when he met the human called Judy who was living with her daughter in an apartment in Philadelphia. They also had 4 roommates — Ruby, Sasha, Lily Bird and Agnes all rescue cats. When Judy’s daughter and her cats accepted a job with ABC in New York, Judy move into Real Estate Man’s apartment on 20th.
Missing from Judy’s otherwise full life was feline companionship.
Real Estate Man’s story:
A month or 2 into her lease Judy and I went to the Morris Animal Shelter to possibly find and rescue love. And yes, the magic moment arrived at first sight between Judy and a 5 month old brown and white, male feline toddler. After plunking down the $5.00 adoption fee the three of us were headed back to her apartment.
The cat (Bijou), seemed to be thriving but — oddly. Cats tend to display strange behaviors but Bijou’s exploits were unique indeed— even for cats. A trip to the vet revealed that Bijou was suffering from feline hyperesthesia syndrome.
According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS) is:
“Brief bursts of odd behavior lasting perhaps only a minute or two at the most.” Disorderly conduct such as: “ Scratching, biting, or licking their back, flank area or tail. An observable rippling or rolling of the skin….. Alarming vocalization. Tail twitching. Dilated pupils. Frantically running around the house.”
I understand FHS comes with varying degrees of severity. However, it can almost always be controlled by medication. Some of the medication is quite costly.
The Vet’s prognosis was that Bijou had a mild condition. He recommended an affordable method of treatment — calming by catnip.
Bijou doesn’t seem to be any worse for wear in having this chronic condition. He appears to be a healthy, happy, handsome guy. He loves and is loved. What makes him fascinatingly unique: upon unannounced occasions, he frantically scratches and licks his flanks, ripples and rolls his furry skin, twitches his tail. His eyes become dilated to the point where they become almost all black. He surprises everyone by making frantic runs around the house and executes Superman leaps over chairs, tables and couches for no, humanly recognizable, reason. He then relaxes with his catnip much like the professional who’s put in a full day at work stretching out in his favorite chair watching the 6:00 news sipping a whiskey straight..
Anyone who meets Bijou including those who are close — friends and family, (especially the kids) are attracted to him; not in spite of his rare condition but largely because of it.
Bijou has been in Judy and my life for the better part of 6 years now. He’s ostensibly, healthier than any living thing I know — even with the FHS.
Of course, Bijou doesn’t know he has it — does he?