SENTRY Stop That! For Cats

[WitchyWoman]

How do you get your SVs to take the Prozac? I can't imagine trying to feed Theo a pill! He has to sedated at the vet, he is so uncooperative

I use a pill shooter with my F6. He's easy to pill and always happy to get a treat afterward. My F2 doesn't like treats. He is also savvy about detecting meds in his food regardless of whether it's pill, capsule, or liquid. So I have to try to fool him. Sometimes I stuff the capsule down the mouth of a chicken or quail, put a small piece of meat on top of that and hope for the best. Other times, I snip the top of the capsule, pour the powder onto some ground meat, make a small meatball to stuff in the mouth of the quail or chicken. He gets a dose every other day with breakfast. I also underfeed him dinner the night before so that he's so hungry by morning he'll eat everything I give him. I cannot hold or pick him up. Some weeks he gets his full doses and some weeks he doesn't. The drug does stick around awhile in the body and I haven't noticed any adverse effects if he misses a few doses in a row.

 

[Patti]

Or he may need a buddy.

This was my thought as well...

 

[Theo & Shady's Mommy]

He was absolutely horrible tonight - even after several interactive play sessions and a short walk (it's pretty stormy out right now). Attacked the blinds upstairs and downstairs, howling at the top of his lungs nonstop, not even interested in playing with us or eating. We had to put him on so many 5 minute time outs, it was ridiculous. The time outs are b/c he is so loud, I'm concerned about the neighbors complaining (not to mention he's destroying the blinds). I'm going to make a vet appt ASAP . Thanks everyone for the thoughts and suggestions


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[Patti]

I think Deborah has given you the best advice - Prozac (or equivalent) to see if you can curb his behavior. It won't change his basic personality, but it might help bring it out. If you are making an appointment with the same vet that neutered him you might want to talk to him to about the surgery to make sure that everything was removed intact. Even a tiny bit of retained testicular tissue can secrete hormones that can lead to excessive calling and aggressiveness. I believe you can check testosterone levels with a blood test to confirm that he has no excess testosterone circulating in his system that may be precipitating his behavior.

 

[Theo & Shady's Mommy]

I think Deborah has given you the best advice - Prozac (or equivalent) to see if you can curb his behavior. It won't change his basic personality, but it might help bring it out. If you are making an appointment with the same vet that neutered him you might want to talk to him to about the surgery to make sure that everything was removed intact. Even a tiny bit of retained testicular tissue can secrete hormones that can lead to excessive calling and aggressiveness. I believe you can check testosterone levels with a blood test to confirm that he has no excess testosterone circulating in his system that may be precipitating his behavior.

Our vet (bless her soul!!) just gave my husband a prescription of tuna-flavored Prozac (liquid formulation). Theo is VERY non-compliant when it comes to, um, anything he doesn't want to do. Husband thinks we should trick him into taking it - fortunately he loves tuna - as forced administration will probably be traumatic. Will try the first dose tonight, fingers crossed!!

 

[Patti]

Just realize that Prozac needs to build up a level in the body so you won't see results right away - in fact, it may be two weeks or so before it is at a therapeutic level and you are able to see any improvement. Be patient, and if it doesn't work there are other alternatives such as Paxil or Buspar. Just as with humans, even those these are basically the same classification of drugs they can have different effects on different people, and cats.

 

[Theo & Shady's Mommy]

Just realize that Prozac needs to build up a level in the body so you won't see results right away - in fact, it may be two weeks or so before it is at a therapeutic level and you are able to see any improvement. Be patient, and if it doesn't work there are other alternatives such as Paxil or Buspar. Just as with humans, even those these are basically the same classification of drugs they can have different effects on different people, and cats.

Just realized that the med the vet prescribed is actually not Prozac but Clomicalm (clomipramine). From what I've read, it's used commonly to treat separation anxiety in dogs. Not sure if anyone has experience with this med? Marilyn the cat coach did diagnose Theo with separation anxiety, so maybe this is a good choice?? I am nervous about giving it to him after reading about the side effects but of course side effects are possible with all drugs

 

[Patti]

You are right, there are potential side effects to every drug - Prozac has a huge list of them as well. This works a little differently than Prozac but if it is effective that's what counts - I would give it a shot.

 

[Theo & Shady's Mommy]

Is there a thread on the forum re: getting SVs to take meds? I have a feeling (based on last night) this is going to be tough...


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[WitchyWoman]

Is there a thread on the forum re: getting SVs to take meds?

There have been discussions in the past but they are so scattered among different threads I think it'd be difficult to find. One of the methods used by some folks here is the clip

then there's usual wrapping in a towel method.

I think you said the med is tuna flavored. Try putting the dose into a dish with some tuna water (from water-packed, not oil-packed tuna) and see if he'll drink it. Or you can try putting it in his food and sprinkling the food with parmesan cheese or some other treat he likes. It'll be trial and error for awhile.