Since little is known about the feline hyperesthesia syndrome its causes are widely unknown. It has been found that the symptoms of this syndrome are very similar to the grand mal epilepsy symptoms. It is believed that the sudden change in the cat’s normal behavior is caused due to an electrical malfunction in the cat’s brain that is responsible for the cat’s predatory actions as well as it controls the cat’s grooming and emotional senses.

Feline hyperesthesia syndrome is often associated with obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD which makes the cat become excessively obsessed with its own grooming. Sometimes this obsession in cats’ results in self imposed attacks as the cat feels that it needs to groom more. Another widely believed theory is that cats have a chemical called endorphins present in their brains which generates morphine such as peptides which when stimulated causes harm to the cat’s central nervous system.

It is also believed that obesity or excess increase in the cat’s weight helps to stimulate the morphine produced by the endorphins present in their brain. Things that triggers stress in the cats suffering from feline hyperesthesia syndrome are the introduction of a new cat in the house or if other cats are behaving aggressively or the rearrangement of furniture in the house.