Information » Clinical Signs
The typical clinical signs demonstrated by affected cats are exaggerated licking and chewing movements accompanied by pawing at the mouth or tongue².
The mutilation caused can be dramatic and may require paw bandaging and/or an Elizabethan collar².
These signs may be continuous, or episodic. In the episodic form, the cat remains normal between episodes, although anxiety often precedes an episode. Episodes vary in length from minutes to hours, and often occur after eating or grooming². The continuous form is characterized by persistent discomfort/distress and is often accompanied by anorexia².
The condition may be exacerbated by stress or excitement².
Remission and recurrence is common².
Videos of a cat during an episode can be found here: