cats and antidepressants?

[Denine]

Has anyone used amitryptiline (elavil) for their cat? Ours has a behavior problem of urinating in places other than the box. The vet suggested this and said to discuss it and call her on Wedenesday.

I can't give my cat pills. I can't catch her.

The vet said it also comes in a gel you put on the ear which is great, but then I read that the medication may not be absorbed well in this manner.

Anyone have experience with this?

 

[Virgo10]

Yes, we've tried this with two of our cats. One of them, let's say, has poor litter box behavior.

I don't give it to him all the time. He'll go for weeks and be OK. Then he'll start getting super hyper and I'll use it for a day or two until he calms down and starts using the litter box successfully.

The other cat we used it on had a condition called Interstitial cystitis. This condition also effects people. Here's a short blurb on it.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a condition that results in recurring discomfort or pain in the bladder and the surrounding pelvic region. The symptoms vary from case to case and even in the same individual. People may experience mild discomfort, pressure, tenderness, or intense pain in the bladder and pelvic area. Symptoms may include an urgent need to urinate (urgency), a frequent need to urinate (frequency), or a combination of these symptoms. Pain may change in intensity as the bladder fills with urine or as it empties.

Would the cat take the medication if you crushed it and put it in food? That's how I'm medicating another one of my cats who is now on thyroid medication. Thank goodness it's working because it would be a nightmare trying to catch her twice a day for her pill.

Good luck!

 

[emmoms]

My cat, Oscar, has been taking Busporine (an anti-anxiety medication) for over a year. He has Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome. http://www.purelypets.com/articles/felinehyperesthesia.htm
Before he was diagnosed, he severly mutilated his tail. I had taken him to the vet who discovered that he had been biting his tail - when he caught it after these episodes. The vet shaved the hair off of Oscar's tail and medicated the bites and put him in an "E" collar so that Oscar would be unable to bite his tail while it was healing. Instead, Oscar wound his tail around his body while sitting and put a 2 and 1/2 inch in his tail with his front claws - that required 14 stitches to close. The vet prescribed Diazepam and Busporine to begin with - the Diazepam was to calm Oscar as the Buspirone built up to its effective level. He took two pills a day for about 9 months and since then, he's been taking one pill a day. We also encased all of Oscar's front claws in Soft Paws so that he couldn't wound himself again.

Oscar is pretty good about taking his pill. Each evening we go through pretty much the same routine. We pick him and bring him in the kitchen. I have a spot on the counter where he sits and I get the pill out of the cabinet. I open his mouth and pop the pill in. He usually tries to spit it out, but I keep my fingers gently under his chin and blow lightly into his face. He swallows and then he gets a treat. Sometimes he plays hard to catch -- hiding under the glass coffee table, as if we can't see him or reach him there. I think it's a game for him.

Several years ago, he had hepatitic lepadosis - we thought we were going to lose him that time! But the vet started him on omoxicillan - yes, the same pink, bubblegum smelling liquid that is prescribed for infants - and the idiotic cat LOVED it! We'd just have to say: "Time for your bubblegum, Oscar" and he'd coming running!

 

[Denine]

Thanks for the replies.

Hera has an incredible nose. I have tried putting stuff in her food before and she won't take it either.

I hate the idea of giving her meication to stop her from peeing where she shouln't, but I am tired of having to wash everything all the time.

 

[Pooh93]

My cat is on Buspar 10 mg/day. I give him a pill in the morning and at night. He was urinating every where so bad that I/we were considering getting rid of him. It's been a very trying summer. He's done it off and on for years, but it was getting to the point he wouldn't even use the litter box and he'd urinate/spray (even though he is neutered) the wall right in front of me, particularly in the basement. I even had him in a cage with his litter box and he refused to use it and I was coming home to a MESS everynight.
Needless to say he is no longer allowed in the basement. We just put down new carpet and plastered the walls and he was ruining it!!!!!

I started off giving the pill to him in a little piece of cheese, but that started getting old with him after a couple of weeks and he'd spit it back out. Now, I just pick him up, cradle him in one arm like a baby, use my other hand's finger to pry open his mouth and toss the pill towards the back of his throat, stroke his chin while keeping his mouth closed and down the hatch it goes!!!

Also, we are treating him sort of like a dog and have moved his cage and litterbox outside and he goes in and out to use it. When I ask our dog if she wants to go out, he also heads for the door. Actually, it's kind of funny!
I just don't know what I'll do this winter when the weather is too cold. I haven't thought ahead that far.

I asked the vet about any long term side effects and he said there aren't any and usually people just don't want the hassle of the pill or expense of it. I don't care about giving him the pill for the rest of the life if that's what it takes. Right now things have settled down and are going smoothly. A month ago, I'd have said he was a goner.

I'm sorry this was so long, but I hope it can provide you some help. Good luck! I know how frustrating it can be and I know how much you love your cat.

 

[Denine]

Pooh93: Thanks. I hope the buspar is helping your kitty.

Befire these two kitties, we had two others and they BOTH received medication. One for asthma and one for heart problems. I am a VERY experienced pill giver.

The problem is, Hera spent 1-1/2 years in the shelter. She was 3 when we adopted her. She is a very nervous kitty, I know, the elavil would help that. After almost 2 years, she is finally coming out more, but the second I try to put 2 hands on her, she is gone. Heck, most of the time if you enter a room she is in, she runs out. We had to trap her to get her to the vet last week.

She seems to pee on things that are new to the home or when she gets scared i.e. vaccuum. Although, there are times when I have no idea why she peed. She has peed on all our beds at least twice. She has peed on rugs numerous times. At least she usually pees on stuff that can be washed. I have had to throw stuff away though.

She is the sweetes cat, but we are frustrated.

I guess I am will to try the medication, but it will have to be the gel on the ear, at least at first. Maybe I can get enough in her system, that she would let me pick her up. What do you think?