DEAR DR. FOX: My wife and I are exhausting every single resource, looking for information about feline hyperesthesia. We knew nothing of this condition until a few days ago, and now we feel it's turning our world upside down. We've read a couple of your articles about the matter, and hope you'd consider looking at our case.

Louie is our 2 1/2-year-old cat, whom we adopted at 6 weeks old. He had been extremely social and loving his whole life, but the last three months have been very different. We're worried he has feline hyperesthesia.

In the past few months he's become extremely jumpy and skittish. He'll be sleeping and then wake up to immediately and intensely groom his back and tail. His back has been twitching, and we've noticed that his skin ripples during these outbursts. The worst parts have been his aggressive attacks -- three total, two in the last month.

All symptoms have been heightened in the evening. We have not introduced any new smells into the house that we can think of.

We're getting desperate for help, as we can barely live our lives. Louie has us scared to even be at the house, as his outbreaks are incredibly aggressive and frightening. At this point we're desperate for help. -- B.T., Prairie Village, Kansas

DEAR B.T.: Who has diagnosed your cat with hyperesthesia? It is a symptom, not a medical condition, with several possible causes, and it can present with or without aggression and excessive grooming and fur-pulling.

B.T. REPLIES: No one has diagnosed Louie with feline hyperesthesia yet. We came up with that possibility after doing a lot of research ourselves. It's the first thing we've come across where he's displayed nearly every single symptom. We are still trying to get in contact with someone who can help us.

DEAR B.T.: Discuss your cat's diet with your veterinarian and also look into medication such as gabapentin.

B.T. REPLIES: Louie has been on a consistent diet of Now Fresh cat food for the majority of his life. We now understand this has a very high fat percentage, so our vet prescribed him Hill's Science Diet w/d, which we have slowly started incorporating over the past couple days. We've also been incorporating Welactin (an omega-3 supplement) to his diet, about 100 mg with his morning breakfast.

We now have him on 100 mg of gabapentin in the mornings and another 100 mg in the early evenings. It's been a great stabilizer, but we're looking to switch to amitriptyline as a more permanent solution to the problem. Thanks to your good advice, our cat is quickly improving!

DEAR READERS: See below for more information about feline hyperesthesia.

SYNOPSIS OF MAJOR CAUSES OF FELINE HYPERESTHESIA

Feline hyperesthesia, also known as "twitch-skin syndrome" and "psychomotor epilepsy," is a symptom, not a single disease, of feline discomfort. It is often accompanied by other behaviors such as touch aversion and sometimes aggression or excessive self-grooming. A full veterinary checkup is warranted if these symptoms and behaviors are present.

There are several potential contributing factors, notably: food allergy/intolerance or nutritional deficiency; inflammatory bowel disease; hyperthyroidism; chronic pancreatitis; brain tumor, inflammation or infection, as with toxoplasmosis; painful ears or anal glands; dental problems; fleas and other parasites; neurotoxic anti-flea/tick insecticides, which could also cause mini-seizures; fear or anxiety, whether genetic in nature or due to lack of socialization or PTSD, which can also lead to paw- and tail-sucking.

I have had several cases where cats have developed trichotillomania (fur-pulling) when one family member died or moved out of the home. Other environmental factors include: disturbance by cats outside; sounds from electronic devices; volatile chemicals from room fresheners, floor-cleaners and new carpets; dust and dust mites; volatile fragrances and cedar oil in various cat litters; contact with wool blankets, which can also lead to obsessive chewing and ingestion; and perfumes and scented lotions, notably any containing civet cat musk.

Signs to watch for in your cat: periodic irritability in spayed cats, who may have remnant and active ovarian tissue and therefore come into heat; un-neutered male cats, who may also spray-mark in the home and are frustrated, wanting to get out; boredom and frustration. The latter calls for interactive play, especially in the evening. Ideally, every cat would have a compatible companion cat to interact with, along with scratching posts and window seats -- and best of all, an environmentally stimulating outdoor enclosure or "catio."

Feline veterinary specialist Fern B. Slack, DVM, states, "Diet is always my first question for cats with any symptoms that might be pruritic (itch-related) in nature. After five years of having my patients on evolutionarily appropriate diets, I have been astounded at how much dermatitis and pruritus goes away. This makes sense to me: Bad diet leads to dysbiosis, which leads to IBD, which leads to leaky gut syndrome, which leads to systemic inflammation, which leads to dermatological manifestations."

In other words, many health issues in cats are more than skin-deep. They are like the canaries in the coal mine, alerting us to conditions in our shared environments that can also impact our own health -- an aspect of One Health now being more widely recognized.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: Pet Poison Helpline, an independent, trusted source for pet toxicology advice, has developed an interactive online tool designed to help pet lovers and veterinary professionals research dangerous and potentially poisonous plants in their local area. I am including more information on Toxin Trends, which analyzes data from the company's exclusive database of emergency calls. -- C.F., Bloomington, Minnesota

DEAR C.F.: I have long been aware of your group's good work, and hope you continue the excellent veterinary services that have certainly helped save many animals' lives.

Readers, see below for a press release from the helpline.

Release from Pet Poison Helpline, dated Sept. 14:

"PET TOXICOLOGY EXPERTS RELEASE REGIONAL POISONOUS PLANT MAP

"The toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline analyzed five years (2017-2022) of proprietary call data and have developed Toxin Trends, a new online tool designed to help consumers and veterinary professionals research dangerous and potentially poisonous plants in their local area. For example, Toxin Trends visually illustrates that Arizona pets may be more at risk for oleander poisoning, while pets in Florida and other parts of the southeastern United States are more likely to be exposed to sago palms. Calls regarding daffodil exposures are clustered in the northeast U.S. and Canada.

"The tool confirms that Peruvian lily exposures were overwhelmingly cats (96.1%), while exposures to lantana were predominantly dogs (96.1%). Meanwhile, calla lily exposures were split between cats (51.6%) and dogs (47.3%).

"Pet Poison Helpline plans to release future iterations of the Toxin Trends dashboard that will highlight additional insights gleaned from the company's database of emergency calls. The goal of sharing this exclusive data is to save pets' lives and make the world safer for animals.

"Pet Poison Helpline ... is available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. We are an independent, nationally recognized animal poison control center triple licensed by the Boards of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy ... Our veterinarians and board-certified toxicologists provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. ... Pet Poison Helpline's fee of $75 per incident includes follow-up consultations for the duration of the case. Based in Minneapolis, Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found at petpoisonhelpline.com."

DEAR DR. FOX: Greetings from Tabby's Place! We are hoping you will share our story. Tabby's Place is a cage-free, no-kill sanctuary for cats from hopeless situations, and we've rescued nearly 4,000 extraordinary kitties over the past 19 years. Our heart and soul are our special needs cats, such as those living with diabetes, paraplegia, behavioral issues, blindness and cancer.

Tabby's Place welcomes dozens of desperate cats every month, caring for them via our "Linda Fund." Named for an injured kitten saved in 2009, the Linda Fund provides world-class medical care for sick and injured cats. Cat lovers are encouraged to visit tabbysplace.org to make a lifesaving, tax-deductible gift. Donations of any amount will be matched by benefactors, going twice as far for cats in crisis. Donations may also be mailed to the sanctuary at 1100 U.S. Highway 202, Ringoes, NJ 08551.

For additional information, please contact Tabby's Place Development Director Angela Hartley at ah@tabbysplace.org. -- A.H., Ringoes, New Jersey

DEAR A.H.: Good to hear about your sanctuary. I wish there were more facilities like it, and I hope this will secure some donations and adoptions.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: Reporter Greg Stanley's article in the Sept. 11 Star Tribune, "Majority of deer exposed to toxin," cites some of the continuing research by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the University of Minnesota on the topic of neonicotinoid contamination in deer and in the environment, including lakes, primarily from treated seeds.

This is all very well, but is more research really needed? A complete national ban should be applied to the use of this class of insecticides on commodity crops such as wheat, corn, soy and cotton, along with all ornamental plants, lawn and turf treatments and pet flea-and-tick collars.

The Environmental Protection Agency released final biological evaluations on June 21, confirming that three widely used neonicotinoid insecticides -- imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin -- likely harm roughly three-fourths of all endangered plants and animals, including all species of amphibians protected under the Endangered Species Act. Species found to be harmed by all three of the neonicotinoids include northern long-eared bats, rusty patched bumblebees, chinook salmon, whooping cranes and orcas.

Imidacloprid is also one of the active ingredients in Seresto flea collars, which have been linked to the deaths of more than 2,500 family pets. A scathing report by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform's Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy chastises the EPA for ignoring evidence of the collar's harm and called on the agency to ban the collars.

According to one scientific review on the toxicity of neonicotinoids, "Available toxicological data from animal studies indicate possible genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, impaired immune function and reduced growth and reproductive success at low concentrations, while limited data from ecological or cross-sectional epidemiological studies have identified acute and chronic health effects ranging from acute respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological symptoms to oxidative genetic damage and birth defects. Due to the heavy use of neonicotinoids and potential for cumulative chronic exposure, these insecticides represent novel risks and necessitate further study to fully understood their risks to humans." (Full study: "A critical review on the potential impacts of neonicotinoid insecticide use: current knowledge of environmental fate, toxicity, and implications for human health" by Darrin A. Thompson et al, in Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts)

In 2013, the European Commission (the EU's executive branch) banned the use of these three neonicotinoids on flowering crops attractive to pollinators, as well as on cereal crops. In May 2018, it went further and banned all outdoor uses of the trio. And in February 2020, it decided not to renew the approval of a neonicotinoid called thiacloprid, resulting in its de facto ban.

Climate change and human encroachment are accelerating the loss of biodiversity, which should not be compounded by the use of neonicotinoids and other pesticides on crops raised primarily to feed livestock and poultry. As I emphasized in my 1986 book "Agricide," when commodity crop producers get on the pesticide treadmill, evermore toxic chemicals are called for as "weeds" and insect "pests" develop resistance.

Clearly, the powerful agribusiness industry, both abroad and in the U.S., is enabling the continued, widespread use of this class of harmful insecticides, which is now confirmed to play a major role in the demise of bees, other beneficial insects, and insectivores such as amphibians, reptiles, birds and bats. This needs to be confronted by our congressional representatives -- independent of their corporate sponsors.

All involved in public and environmental health, as well as food safety and security, should move to prohibit neonicotinoids without any exceptions. Their use amounts to ecocide: a crime against nature, just as genocide is a crime against humanity.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)