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Rippling Skin Disorder2007-11-25 12:25:15

Has anyone ever heard of this or has a cat that suffers from this?

Answers:

"Rippling Skin Disorder" is a common name for a condition known technically as Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (FHS), and it is characterized by a number of seemingly unrelated symptoms.

The critical difference between "normal crazy behavior" that most younger cats exhibit and feline hyperesthesia is that with the latter, the cat is actually in distress. It is also entirely possible that the stress the owner feels over these worrysome symptoms may be "telegraphed" back to the cat, thus exacerbating the problem.

Symptoms of Rippling Skin Disorder

The Trademark Rippling Skin

The skin on the cat's lower back visibly ripples, accompanied by the cat's biting and scratching at his back or tail.

Loud and Insistent Meowing

Cats afflicted with this syndrome may also meow loudly for no apparent reason, often at night.

Strange Eye Appearance

His pupils may become dilated, and he may stare blankly into space. His eyes may appear "glassy."

Erratic Racing

The cat will often run in circles, or race off, first in one direction, then another.

Sensitivitiy to Touch

A cat affected with rippling skin disorder may sometimes show extreme sensitivity and discomfort with petting.

It is not surprising that a condition with so many varied symptoms also includes a varied number of theorized causes, ranging from a compulsive disorder to allergies or toxins. Nor is it surprising that this syndrome also carries a number of other descriptive names, such as self-mutiliation syndrome, twitchy cat disease, feline psychomotor epilepsy, and atypical neurodermatitis.