Cat Woke Up Super Itchy

My cat Oliver was fine all day, I have been transitioning him from Royal canin Urinary So to Blue sensitive stomach since he had 2 episodes of throwing up..Started him on the food 4 days ago

He woke up around 5pm and was super itchy, compulsively scratching, shaking his head, winking his eyes, grooming...

He is indoor only with his sister, I have not flea them with advantage multi since October 2017...

I gave him the advantage multi this morning..

Is this likely a flea issue?

He totally freaked me out and I had a huuge anxiety attack...horrible

Hi. If you can use a flea comb on him I would do so, just to see if you can find any. If you don't find any, you might want to re-consider the food change...as I am sure you are already aware...

You might as well check his sister for fleas while you are at it...

Let us know if you find any fleas.

Hes been licking his back like crazy since the treatment?

I would guess that is related to whatever got him itching in the first place. You used a topical flea treatment, correct? That is absorbed into the body and effects the entire body, not just a specific area - unless you used the treatment on his back end instead of his neck?

Have you had the chance to look for fleas? I am still guessing it might be the food change. Especially, if you other cat doesn't appear to be having any issues.

The other thing about food changes is that they need to be done over a slow period of time, like adding a small amount to the existing food, and then increasing new/decreasing old gradually. However, I do not know if he turns out to be allergic to something in the new food whether or not that would have helped any.

The vet said over the phone that its very unlikely to be the new food since its only been 4 days...I did not take him to the vet but am monitoring him. Hoping the compulsive licking today was due to the flea med going through his skin...

Im hoping its a flea allergy but I have wishful thinking..I cannot find fleas on them because they are persian cats and they are sooo furry.. The only time I knew before they had fleas was because my other kitty Allie is pure white and seen one running around on her face...

About a month ago I was sitting on the front porch and I swear I seen a bug(flea) bounce off my shorts so I am hoping...Hoping

Ok.Possible cause...

Before he went to sleep on my moms bed which he has not slept on in months he was purrfectly fine...

He slept next to her pillow on the sheets for many hours, as soon as he got up and walked into the living room his episode happened...

Hours later I smelled him and I could smell a scent on him from the bed, smells like mom.....

Mom uses all kinds of face cremes that probably gets rubbed on the sheets where he was sleeping..

Could this be a high possibility of the allergic reaction?

Hes doing much much better tonight but still sensitive but nothing like yesterday evening...Compulsive licking has stopped significantly...Fingers crossed

Burts said:

Could this be a high possibility of the allergic reaction?

Click to expand...

Yes, it is possible that he is reacting to something on your mother's bed (maybe some kind of detergent? Bug bite? Or residue from her cosmetics like you say.
) Is he still itching? If so you could try to help by giving him a bath. Depending on what caused the reaction bathing may help by cleaning off potential allergens.

I put two and two together and have determined that my boy has feline hyperesthesia syndrome. He showed signs of this throughout his short life, this episode I posted was evidently his largest episode..

I ordered Jackson Galaxy Skin Soother...Sigh I love my boy so much, I wish he didnt have these problems

Hes been a lot more sensitive since that big episode

Well, you could be right, but you could be wrong. Did I miss where you said you've had him to the vet recently for a full check up? If I did, sorry. If I didn't miss that, and you haven't done so, please vet a vet check up. Just to rule out other things first.

Also, if what you bought - JG Skin soother - doesn't prove to be fruitful for you there a tons of other calming products you could try. Just do a search on the internet for 'feline calming products'.

Have you considered other stress factors that might be involved - hyperesthesia is typically tied to over-stressed cats.

Here is a TCS article on the subject, just in case there is any information that might help you.
Feline Hyperesthesia

When he was young I scratched his head and he started blinking, shaking his head and running away.. Since then I see occasions with his skin crawling and his nerves jumping. Last night there was a lot of company and he had a mild episode of scratching. A tuft of fur was coming out but if I tried to gently remove it he would panick and get out of dodge, so sensitive..


He is a anxious cat despite having a large outdoor catio with tons of bridges and cat runs that go across my garage overlooking my large backyard. He also goes for rides in a stroller in the back yard a lot and watches birds...I plan to take him for harness walks to make him happier

Poor (but nicely spoiled!!) little Oliver. I hope you find something that helps him calm down. Like I said, try other calming products until you find one that helps him - not all of them work on all cats!!

I gave Oliver a Oatmeal bath today, my cat has been itchy for well over a year as I always find tufts of fur around, actually as long as I can remember..

Is it possible corn causes itch as it was the main ingredient in royal canin urinary so...He is on blue buffalo sensitive stomach now that contains zero corn but it does mention light grains...

His biggest checkup was may 2017 when he had urinary problems and he had everything known to man checked up and my wallet got thin... He was there 3 weeks or so ago for his throwing up but had no blood work done...

His hyperesthesia attack happened 2 weeks later after the vet, maybe he had nightmares of the vet as he was left there overnight when he had urinary probs.. I have been doing everything in my power to enrichen his life

It is possible that Oliver could be allergic to corn - especially if after he's been on the new food for a while that you see is itchiness decrease. It might take weeks for it be noticeable. But, I gather his throwing up has stopped? At least that is one problem potentially resolved!

If Oliver is considered a senior - somewhere around 8-10 years old - vets would normally recommend a full senior check-up and full blood panel annually. If he isn't at that age yet, your wallet will be happier for a while longer! But, standard blood tests still should be done fairly routinely.

As far as the hyperesthesia, it is believed to happen in highly stressed or easily stressed cats. Things like vet visits, throwing up, etc. can all be stressors that could trigger an incident. Sounds like you are doing all the things to help de-stress his life as much as possible. Nice catio!! Try some different calming products to see if that might help him any.

Keeping my fingers crossed that the food change helps reduce the itchiness.