need advice from fellow cat people, or anyone with feline vet experience, please
Ohai All(*hugs* to my F-List Peeps!)!
After much research, I have concluded(though I don't have any medical training, really, outside of a CNA cert, and a lifetime with cats), that my cat, Romero, probably has Feline Hyperesthesia.
A short background on Romero:
'Boo,' as we call him, is an orange marble-tabby, and was born on April 15, 2011. Almost as he was born, his mother and littermates were snatched by a coyote(i saw this--and NO, i was NOT able to even yell before it had happened, it was too fast). I found Boo crawling across our driveway dragging his still-attached placenta behind him. It was cold that night, and it took forever to warm him up, but we succeeded and the kitten was soon bottle-fed, as well. Needless to say, after a rocky start, Boo is now a spoiled brat! XD The only side-effect seems to be that now, when the coyotes howl, Boo prowls the house, growling like a dog at all the doors and windows. O.o
Symptoms:
Boo has always been a bit strange(my other cat has Pica, though, so 'strange' is relative). As a kitten, he would often nip or chew his right hind-heel, whenever he was angry(usually after being bathed).
Unfortunately, this has since progressed to him chasing and biting his own tail. To begin with, this was a bit amusing, but now it is just awful. Boo spends most of his time snarling, hissing, spitting, growling, and biting the blood out of his tail(and screaming in pain when he does so). Right now he has a 3-inch section that is nothing but crusted, bloody scab. And he seems to be getting worse by the day.
I've done a lot of research, and i've tried the various methods of distracting him, from spraying with water to clapping my hands sharply, to engaging him in play, and none of it works for more than a few minutes.
Some of what i've read suggested tail amputation. :(
I spoke with Boo's vet and he believes that Boo would simply transfer his aggression to another limb. It was suggested that kitty Prozac may be the answer, but as yet, i haven't had the funds to take him in so the vet can even diagnose him(i will in the next 2 weeks, though, and will set up an appointment asap).
My Questions:
Does ANYONE out there have a cat with this condition?
How are you handling it?
Have you tried your cat on any meds for this?
Have they helped at all/are they worth the cost?
What is the average cost per month?
Are there alternative treatments?
Please, any advice on dealing with this issue would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
-Siro
To anyone who reads this, can I please get a signal boost on this post? Thanks! *hugs to all!*
After much research, I have concluded(though I don't have any medical training, really, outside of a CNA cert, and a lifetime with cats), that my cat, Romero, probably has Feline Hyperesthesia.
A short background on Romero:
'Boo,' as we call him, is an orange marble-tabby, and was born on April 15, 2011. Almost as he was born, his mother and littermates were snatched by a coyote(i saw this--and NO, i was NOT able to even yell before it had happened, it was too fast). I found Boo crawling across our driveway dragging his still-attached placenta behind him. It was cold that night, and it took forever to warm him up, but we succeeded and the kitten was soon bottle-fed, as well. Needless to say, after a rocky start, Boo is now a spoiled brat! XD The only side-effect seems to be that now, when the coyotes howl, Boo prowls the house, growling like a dog at all the doors and windows. O.o
Symptoms:
Boo has always been a bit strange(my other cat has Pica, though, so 'strange' is relative). As a kitten, he would often nip or chew his right hind-heel, whenever he was angry(usually after being bathed).
Unfortunately, this has since progressed to him chasing and biting his own tail. To begin with, this was a bit amusing, but now it is just awful. Boo spends most of his time snarling, hissing, spitting, growling, and biting the blood out of his tail(and screaming in pain when he does so). Right now he has a 3-inch section that is nothing but crusted, bloody scab. And he seems to be getting worse by the day.
I've done a lot of research, and i've tried the various methods of distracting him, from spraying with water to clapping my hands sharply, to engaging him in play, and none of it works for more than a few minutes.
Some of what i've read suggested tail amputation. :(
I spoke with Boo's vet and he believes that Boo would simply transfer his aggression to another limb. It was suggested that kitty Prozac may be the answer, but as yet, i haven't had the funds to take him in so the vet can even diagnose him(i will in the next 2 weeks, though, and will set up an appointment asap).
My Questions:
Does ANYONE out there have a cat with this condition?
How are you handling it?
Have you tried your cat on any meds for this?
Have they helped at all/are they worth the cost?
What is the average cost per month?
Are there alternative treatments?
Please, any advice on dealing with this issue would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
-Siro
To anyone who reads this, can I please get a signal boost on this post? Thanks! *hugs to all!*