2011 FHS (Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome) Cat Symptoms/possible help

I am not a vet! WHAT I READ PUT INTO 1 DESCRIPTION HERE FOR U, WILL POST VIDEO OF FHS ATTACK SOON.
This is what has happened to my cat that is approx. 4 yrs. old, as of a few weeks ago, he was twitching his back when u pet him and that would make him start licking hisself or whatever was in front of him. He sometimes will do this on his own when laying down awake on the floor or bed, you can see his back twitch and he licks some.
FELINE HYPERESTHESIA SYNDROME: also known as rolling skin disease, is a rare illness in domestic cats that causes episodes of agitation, self-mutilation, and a characteristic rippling of the skin when touched. It is often described as a seizure disorder but the cause is unknown.
SYMPTOMS:During an episode cats show a number of typical signs, including skin rolling or twitching, self-directed pouncing, or aggressive behaviour such as biting or attacking the tail. There may also be pupil dilation, vocalization and a general increase in activity.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION #1:
I read this on another video's comments: My cat's episode started when she didn't have her usual grain-free for 2 days (an old can of regular I was using up). After seeing these comments, I simply stopped the "regular" food and put her back on the low-carb Evo canned. Her symptoms cleared in 2 days. For suggestions on how to shop for low carb(grain) food try catinfo dot org - it's by a vet.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION #2:
Another YouTuber posted this comment: I have been using Wellness Core canned Chicken and Turkey formula. That's all - no kibble. I occassionally give her some pieces of raw chicken or beef. She is still doing great; I have not seen her have an attack in over 2 yrs. I hope this works for ur cat.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION #3:
A 3rd comment I read said this: A grain free diet worked for my cat. All symptoms are gone.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION #4: A 4TH youtuber had this noted:
So, I put her on the Phenolbarbital and hoped for the best. Honestly, it was the best thing I ever did. The first few weeks were very tough...seeing her not acting like herself, watching her have trouble jumping onto things (she would fall sometimes because she did not have 100% muscle strength) but the vet kept reassuring me that that was normal and I had to just trust her and know that the sedation effects would only last about 3 wks.
She was right. Slowly, my cat came back to normal...and now she is just as happy and playful as she was before - without all the twitching and licking! Once in awhile she will have an episode but they are nowhere near as severe or frequent as they used to be.
We had to play around with the dosage in the beginning. At first she was taking too much (there is a phenobarbital test they can do to check the levels in her blood) then she wasn't taking enough - now she is at 1/2 pill in the morning and a full pill at nt.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION #5: A 5th YouTuber said this:
After doing some research and speaking w/a few colleagues who were knowledgeable about animal behavior, she suggested starting my cat on a combination of 2 medications: Clomipramine (for anxiety) & a low dose of Gabapentin (for neuropathic pain, which the vet guessed may be causing aggression directed at her own tail). After about 2 weeks weird behavior symptoms disappeared. We kept her on both medications for a couple of months. Then, we slowly discontinued the gabapentin, and after another month or so of just being on clomipramine, we gradually stopped that, too. Nearly a year after discontinuing the meds, the same old symptoms resurfaced, so now (as of May 2011) she is back on just the clomipramine, and will be for the rest of her life. The good news is she no longer growls/hisses at her tail or attacks herself; she is a very happy and much more relaxed kitty. I hope that this information helps someone else out there who is desperately trying to figure out how to help their cat who exhibits these same behaviors.
THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT SO FAR:I asked another YouTuber this question:Can u please tell me the magnesium level & ash level on ur can food, and where do u buy that brand at? I'm in Texas & my cat is showing all signs of FHS and 1 1/2 yr. ago he almost died from having a blocked bladder. I was told to put him on a low magnesium & low ash diet which has worked wonders! He has not had a stopped up bladder again & seemed happier up until this back twitching&licking when u touch his lower back(FHS). I'm wondering after reading your post of grain-free foods, if since my cat is getting low magnesium & ash if that is now making him have this FHS, but he needs low ash & low magnesium or he'll get a blocked bladder again. Please let me know how much mag. & ash is in that grain-free food, I hope it is low enough I can give that to my cat for his FHS now. I HAVE DECIDED ON MY OWN TO TRY THIS GRAIN-FREE DIET, NO CRUNCHIES/KIBBLE FOR A FEW DAYS/WEEK, I WILL update my fellow u Tuber's here.

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[hugobiwan1]

You should see a vet, preferably a board certified veterinary neurologist. This is a well known feline problem. It is a syndrome (a collection of typical signs and symptoms). It implies that are several causes/diseases for these signs. And obviously, only a properly trained professional can correctly diagnose and treat your cat. Experimenting and medicating your cat without a proper prescription and vet supervision is not only wrong, it is irresponsibe and dangerous.

[3greatgreyhounds3]

@hugobiwan1 I take awesome care of all 10 of my pets, they all have seen vets, my cat is the best he can be right now and the vet says no meds. for the time being. His symptoms are milder now.

[3greatgreyhounds3]

@hugobiwan1 I DO NOT EXPERIMENT WITH MEDICATIONS. IM NOT IRRESPONSIBLE. All I have done is switch his diet because the vet told me too. I actually saved my own cat here by taking him to the emergency vet & spending approx. $1000 to save him 2 yrs ago from his bladder being blocked. I gave him food I researched myself to lower his magnesium & total ash levels in his system because the vets food was higher & this diet with extra water added to his moist food has kept his bladder well.

[3greatgreyhounds3]

UPDATE ON MY MYRACLE CAT: Still no luck with changing his foods, I started him on "grain free" crunchy foods, and no luck with it yet..."EVOLVE" is the name of it from H.E.B. grocery stores. A 3 lb. bag was 6.99-7.99...doesn't last long for that huge price! :( He still has mild-med. symptoms...WILL UPDATE AGAIN AFTER I DO SOMETHING ELSE...He doesn't seem in pain, as when his stopped up bladder happened he meowed in pain, he does not meow in pain here or anything in fact he purrs most the time.

[3greatgreyhounds3]

MY VIDEO OF MY CAT HAVING A FHS ATTACK HAS BEEN POSTED NOW.

[anmoose]

Scary! And it makes me wonder. My older cat, Blackie, went through a "phase" a couple of years ago, where once in a while he'd act like his tail was attacking him, and he'd try to kill it, and he was NOT playing. When I realized what was going on , it was frightening to watch. I'd grab him and forcefully snap him out of it, but I couldn't imagine WHY. It just made no sense. Thankfully, he eventually stopped doing it on his own, but now I wonder if it was somehow related to this.

[3greatgreyhounds3]

@anmoose ...and w/all the deaths I had had in my family, all these pets of mine came after all that except for 1 cat, the old one Beacon (18-19 yrs.) and the pets reallly helped us through alot of bad times,& are like the kids & I's babies too! :) Especially Furball, he is such a sweet huge big lovable furry cat! Not kidding, sooooooo sweet!

[3greatgreyhounds3]

THIS 25 SECOND VIDEO IS JUST A PIC. OF MY CAT, WILL POST A VIDEO VERY SOON OF HIM HAVING AN FHS ATTACK.

[3greatgreyhounds3]

PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION FOR THE INFORMATION ON FHS.

Also I put this video together from all the research I did in the last 24 hrs. so that u all would have all the best information I could find all into 1 video. I am not a vet. Please take your cat to the vet if it is ill. Thanks to all the other people that posted info. & had videos on FHS it has helped me, so I hope my post here helps someone else too.

[3greatgreyhounds3]

@anmoose Hey M, yea I know what u mean, I also have an excellent "cat" only vet, so I will be speaking with her soon! Got Myracle over the bladder issue a yr. & half ago, now this...he hissed alot in pain w/the bladder thing, this FHS thing doesn't seem to bother him, is what the weird part is. He'll twitch & lick, then go right to sleep by me! and purr!

[anmoose]

@3greatgreyhounds3,

Being single, and not a parent, my cats are much to me like having a Tyler. They're my kids, and anything out of the ordinary will put me into a frenzy of worry, too. I'm lucky in having a vet I can trust. I don't think he'd take Tyler on as a patient, though. ;-P

Good to know that he's better, and back in the gym where he wants to be. I know these episodes must make him miserable.

[3greatgreyhounds3]

@anmoose Hey yes, thanks for the advice, the whole thing has literally had me in a frenzy the last 2 days! Plus Tyler is better & I've been taking him up to the gym!

[anmoose]

@3greatgreyhounds3,

If it's something persistent, and Blackie's case almost pushed that point, I wouldn't hesitate to call my vet. There's a wealth of information on YouTube, but a lot of it comes from amateurs with good intentions. If the life of my cat is in the balance, experimenting doesn't enter the picture.