clinical signs, can occur spontaneously, whether this is a direct result of the syndrome or a result of muscle memory being activated by sensations caused by the syndrome has yet to be determined. Cause The causes of feline hyperesthesia syndrome are highly disputed, largely due to the unknown pathophysiology of the syndrome and the variation in responses to different treatment methods. There are three main theories on the cause of the syndrome, as outlined below: The first theory suggests feline hyperesthesia syndrome is a behavioural disorder, which is caused by either behavioural displacement or stress factors. Stress increases the release of [alpha]-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and causes increased grooming and endorphin production. Behavioural displacement would occur when a cat experiences an overwhelming impulse to complete two or more unrelated behaviours simultaneously; this may lead to the cat completing a third and often unrelated activity, such as grooming. If this displacement behaviour continues for a prolonged period, it may result in the cat developing a compulsive behaviour disorder that would no longer be reliant on the original competing behavioural motivations. Excessive grooming and self-mutilation are recognised signs of obsessive compulsive disorder, lending credence to the overall idea that the syndrome is a behavioural disorder, but also supporting the third main theory that is mentioned later. It has been noted that affected cats tend to be dominating rather than submissive; some research argues that feline hyperesthesia syndrome is a form of conflict displacement, rather than just a form of general behavioural displacement, wherein the affected cat acts out thwarted territorial disputes on its own body. The overall theory that feline hyperesthesia syndrome is a behavioural disorder is disputed on the basis of the variability of responses within affected cats to behaviour modification and psychoactive drugs, as a purely behavioural syndrome would be expected to enter remission after the application of the aforementioned therapeutic treatments. The second theory proposes that the syndrome is a seizure disorder, and that episodes of vocalisation, wild running, jumping, uncontrolled urination, and tail-chasing are instances of epileptic activity. This theory is supported by reports of cats showing signs of epileptic seizures after an attack, with dilated pupils and dazed and absent behaviour. Use of antiepileptic drugs achieves a partial response in some affected cats; however, affected cats generally rely on a mixture of therapeutic treatments to combat all clinical signs. This theory is disputed on account of there being variable