Is my cat's sudden aggression, mood swings, and tail flicking FHS?

Hello. You do describe the condition known as Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome. The fact that you describe her episodes as getting a bit worse does point to an escalating problem, but the prognosis for this condition is very variable. There are treatments, but we must first be very sure there are no underlying triggers such as a food or flea allergy. A hypoallergenic food trial along with diligent flea control is required, even if Daizy is strictly indoors. If the episodes are not too bad & are tolerable to you & Daizy, then I would not jump into seizure medications or anxiolytics/antidepressants that are sometimes needed for the more severely affected cats. There has been some response by cats when treated with supplements such as acetyl-L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10 riboflavin & Vit E. Your vet can help with these, but if you should try them, you need to supplement for at least a month to see if they are beneficial. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Maxwell! This sounds like it could be something called feline hyperesthesia syndrome. This problem is not well-understood, but is thought to be linked to abnormal pain perception and hypersensitivity in the lower back and tail area. Here is a link to an article on this syndrome with more information: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3000 I have also seen similar behavior in cats with a slipped or herniated disc in their back, or with certain types of skin conditions. Depending on the underlying problem, medication options that may be helpful include steroids such as prednisone, pain medication such a gabapentin, and/or anti-seizure medication such as phenobarbital in some cases. If the Prozac hasn't helped, I would recommend calling your veterinarian to see what he/she recommends as the next step for Maxwell, or seeking a second opinion from another local vet if you prefer.

I would recommend bringing Lily to a veterinarian. Lily can also have something like a bad tooth or an infection in her mouth. With her shaking her head it can also be an ear infection. With the symptoms you are describing they do not sound as severe as they typically would be with FOPS. Your veterinarian can evaluate her and see if they feel like there is something else wrong of the feline orofacial pain syndrome. Here is some information on FOPS if you would like to read more about it:https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/neurology/feline-orofacial-pain-syndrome-fops/ Thank you for using PetCoach.

Hello, if this is a picture of how your cat looks currently, then she needs to be seen by a veterinarian. I am concerned about the fact she is not spayed, has skin lesions, & seems to have developed a significant behavioral issue. My thoughts are the possibility of an ovarian cyst or tumor that is affecting her hormones. Routine blood work may or may not reveal anything ( which is good ). so I would really think about getting her spayed. You can try the calming products like Feliway, & oral products like Solliquin, & Anxitane, but it sounds like she may be going through some pretty significant hormonal upheavals. I hope you can have her seen soon. Take care.

It would be hard to say. If your vet can't find any health issues, I would see if there is another trigger - time of day, location, specific events that happen (are you putting down food first? Could there be a critter in the wall?) or if something new has happened (new person, new pet, etc). This may help you pinpoint a cause which you can then use to adjust behavior as needed.

Poor Frenchy! It certainly could be stress. If you haven't yet, I would try an anti-anxiety medicine like amitryptilline. If you can't give a pill, your vet can call the compounding pharmacy and see about getting it put into a gel that can be put on her ear tip. Cats that are mostly indoors easily get frustrated because that don't get to do the normal things outdoor cats get to do like hunting, etc. Also, if your vet hasn't tried a long acting steroid like depo-Medrol, I would talk to them about that. Steroids are great for allergies and cats usually tolerate it well as long as they are otherwise healthy. I hope this helps!

Hello Sudden behavior changes in cats can be due to changes in vision (cats can have issues with their retinas particularly), pain, neurological disease like seizures, tumors or infections, and other causes. A thorough exam of Schrodinger's eyes and all his systems could help locate the problem. I recommend having him evaluated by your veterinarian soon as some problems must be caught early for management to be successful.