Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Long-term treatment results for cats with hyperesthesia syndrome
By Pauciulo, Claudia et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·Veterinary Neurology Center, Italy·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Long-Term Clinical Response to Medical Treatment, Behavioral Therapy, or Their Combination in Cats With Hyperesthesia Syndrome.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 28 cats with hyperesthesia syndrome (a condition causing excessive sensitivity and unusual behavior) were treated with different methods, including medication and behavioral therapy. Most cats, about 82%, went at least 9 months without any symptoms, and 93% showed no signs of the condition after a year. Cats treated with fluoxetine alone had the quickest recovery, taking about 8 days on average, while those receiving a combination of treatments took longer. Overall, the majority of the cats improved significantly, with very few experiencing relapses.
People also search for: cat hyperesthesia syndrome treatment · fluoxetine for cats · cat behavior therapy · why is my cat so sensitive · cat anxiety medication
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hyperesthesia syndrome (HS) is a common yet poorly understood condition in cats, with hypothesized neurological and behavioral causes and limited data on outcomes and treatment. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the clinical outcomes and the treatment response of 28 cats with HS, managed through various therapeutic strategies. ANIMALS: Clinical records of 28 cats with HS and minimum of 1-year follow-up were reviewed. METHODS: Retrospective, observational, descriptive study conducted on a case series of cats affected by HS. Sixteen cats (57%) received fluoxetine alone (Fluoxetine-only), seven (25%) were managed with behavioral modification and gabapentin or fluoxetine (Fluoxetine/Gabapentin + Behavior) and five (18%) were treated with behavioral modification alone (Behavior-only). RESULTS: An episode-free period (EFP) ≥ 9 months was observed in 23 (82%) cats. Fifteen cats (94%) in the Fluoxetine-only group experienced an EFP of ≥ 9 months. Moreover, they had a shorter time to recovery (median [IQR] = 8 [3.5-18] days) compared to the Fluoxetine/Gabapentin + Behavior and Behavior-only groups (median [IQR] = 100 [90-210] and 60 [30-90] days, respectively). At the 1-year follow-up, 26 (93%) cats no longer had HS clinical signs and 14 (50%) were still under pharmacotherapy. Relapses were reported only in one case (4%). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the cat's diagnosed with HS, and managed through various therapeutic strategies, experienced an EFP of more than 9 months and showed absence of clinical signs at 1 year follow-up.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40524652/