What You Should Know About Anxiety Meds for Cats

by Linda Hall, Cat Behavior Expert

Are prescription anxiety meds for cats always necessary for anxious cats? Well, it depends on the cat, the behavior, the medication prescribed, and your vet.

We see a variety of behavior issues in cats. The most common issues we see are problems getting cats to peacefully co-exist, cats eliminating outside of the litter box, and issues with aggression or destruction.

Do you know what each of these issues has in common? Every one of these issues stems from fear, anxiety, and/or stress.

Medical Causes for Anxiety and Medical Solutions

Some behavior issues have a medical cause, so we are always happy when a client tells us their cat had a vet check up before our cat behavior session. If there is no medical issue, veterinarians often suggest a prescription medication. While we are not against prescription meds, we like to try other things first.

I have to point out that we are NOT veterinarians. While we feel it’s important to share our experiences and observations, it is NOT meant to be taken as medical advice. Always do your research and discuss care plans with your veterinarian.

The majority of our clients who sought veterinarian advice are given a prescription. There are a few vets who advise talking with a behavior expert, but many don’t know much about what we do or even that we exist.

Rita and I use a combination of natural calming aids and actions to soothe those stressed kitties. These methods solve the issue 99% of the time and allow clients to avoid the prescription route. The other 1% may have a chemical imbalance or neurological issue which requires medication. If that’s the situation, we encourage their use but urge clients to research and be sure the correct medication is being prescribed.

Popular Anxiety Medications for Cats

Here are a few medications we have experienced.

Prozac (Fluoxetine):

The med we see most often prescribed is Prozac. We have had a few clients obtain good results. However, most clients do not want to keep their cat on meds long term. In this case we add our methods and later they can work with the vet to attempt weaning them off. Sadly, many report no change from Prozac and others see side effects. The most common side effect is lethargy. One client said her cat became a couch pillow. She said the cat lost their PURR-sonality. Lethargy can include a decreased appetite. Vomiting, diarrhea, shaking, seizures and  aggression are other possible side effects.

Elavil (Amitriptylene): This med increases serotonin levels and can reduce pain. Elavil can also cause lethargy, drooling and stomach troubles. It can cause disorientation, leaving them confused and stumbling. A more rare side effect is agitation and anxiety. There can be more serious side effects like heart problems, so ask your vet about monitoring kitty’s heart while using this med. There are other possible side effects like lowered white blood cell count and thyroid issues.

Buspar (Buspirone): According to an article from VCA Animal Hospitals, Buspar is more effective than others for this purpose. The most common side effect is an increase in affection. That sounds nice, but constant purring and rubbing can get annoying. Rare side effects include aggression, nausea and dizziness.

What to Ask Your Veterinarian

There are many other anxiety meds for cats to choose from; you can refer to this list on Pet MD for the top 10 anxiety meds for cats.

If you feel it’s time to try medication, ask your veterinarian what they suggest and why. Ask if it comes in another form, such as an oral liquid or a transdermal gel, or if the pill can be crushed and put into food in case you are unable to pill the cat. Transdermal gels are great for cats who don’t tolerate oral meds well. But vets often don’t suggest it, because it can be less effective in that form. It is, however, better than being unable to get the medication into the cat at all. After your visit to the vet, search the web for the pros and cons of the medication suggested.

Should you decided it might be time to take your cat off of a prescription medication, always consult your vet first. Many medications have side effects if suddenly discontinued, which could make your cat very ill. Your vet will work with you to wean kitty off in increments, while monitoring his overall health and wellness.  Slowly weaning your cat off the anxiety medication will also help you know if your cat no longer needs the medication at all, or if he still requires a low dose.

Sometimes cats need medication permanently or temporarily, other times holistic remedies are enough to do the job. By working closely with both you veterinarian and your cat behaviorist, you can turn your kitty back into that calm, cool, cat you first fell in love with.