Diagnosis Day

Wednesday, November 17, 2004



The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Koret School of Veterinary Medicine


Summary of disease and
treatment instructions for the owner
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Summary of Disease:
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Nekko arrived at the hospital after referral
from her veterinarian,
following complaints of being overly aggressive
and personal attacks targeting the tail and hind.
Physical inspection of the tail area - no pathological findings.
In an X-Ray of the dorsal, waist and tail spine -
no significant findings.
According to the history and the signs it seems to be
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome.
A syndrome documented in cats without any clear cause,
and without any known treatment possible.
The disease is described in the literature as aggression
of the cat towards the area of the tail, much vocal activity,
and sudden episodes.
Nekko is released to the owners.

Introduction

Nekko suffers from a relatively rare
hereditary environment provoked
mental disease called
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome,
Sometimes also called Rolling Skin Syndrome
The most important and potentially fatal symptom is
self mutilation.
This happens while in
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome anger episodes.

During these episodes, Nekko is self attacking,

I and others are also attacked,
but not at all in the same manner:
Others are only attacked as if from over-paranoid self defense,
only when she fears an approach.
I - am attacked in the same manner - but only if
I deliberatly try to approach her,
trying to prevent her from attacking herself while
she is this agitated.

Self attacking occurs in sporadic sudden jumps at the tail
and hind legs during an episode, without any known
advance warning, except for the overall judgment
of the episode severity, affecting frequency and likelihood.

Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome
episodes and self-attacks are very vocal and loud,
expressing what seems to be excruciating internal
pain of an unexplained source, seemingly at the tail.

Attacks are strongest at the peak of the
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome episode.
are concentrated solely at the tail and hind legs.