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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by memma on November 3, 2003, at 15:31:42
Hey yall,
This is my first post in Social. I've posted a couple times on the meds board.Anyway, I just got a new kitten, to my older cat's dismay. After about three weeks of excessive fighting between the two cats, the older cat scratched the kitten in his eye. I took him to the vet and luckily his injuries were superficial. Today, I took the older cat in to the vet to get her claws professionally clipped, and the vet said she was exhibiting "aggressive behavior" and put her on "Kitty Prozac!!!"
I'm on Lexapro and Adderall, and I thought it was hilarious that my kitty and I both need AD's!
I'm keeping the two kitties separated now, and I'll re-introduce them in a couple weeks, after her Prozac has gone to work! Wish me luck!!
love, memma
Posted by Dinah on November 3, 2003, at 21:21:36
In reply to My cat is on AD's too!!!, posted by memma on November 3, 2003, at 15:31:42
I don't know that much about cats, but in dogs that wouldn't be particularly uncommon - though certainly annoying. My dogs have never been onlies, and are used to being part of the pack. When a new one is introduced, they just move over with a few grumbles. "Oh, another one." But I have certainly seen plenty of cases where onlies were very protective of their territory and people.
I'm considering putting Harry's sister on Prozac tho. She's getting blind in her old age, and the shadows she sees apparently seem really threatening to her. She's exhibited some aggression towards the other dogs based on that. She hasn't attacked a person or anything, but she really doesn't seem happy and does seem afraid a fair amount of the time. The vet suggested confining her to a small space where she knows where everything is, and feels more secure. But that seems to make her even more unhappy and angry. She wants to be with her people.
Let me know how things go with kitty, as it might be my only option with her.
Posted by Wildflower on November 4, 2003, at 8:16:36
In reply to My cat is on AD's too!!!, posted by memma on November 3, 2003, at 15:31:42
Hi Memma!
I hate to laugh but it is pretty funny. I have a psycho cat with way too much energy and I joke about Kitty Ritalin. I never realized that they treat cats for that. Maybe I'll ask my vet next time I take the demon spawn in. Don 't get me wrong, I love my cat but it's hard to treat my depression and lack of energy with a cat that always wants to play - especially when I'm trying to sleep.
Posted by Liligoth on November 5, 2003, at 0:11:58
In reply to My cat is on AD's too!!!, posted by memma on November 3, 2003, at 15:31:42
hi Memma! my cat is on them too for the same reason. It's clomipramine, the vet said they dont prescribe prozac for animals there - I didnt have time to get into why but am curious. I would love to hear how it goes when you reintroduce them. It has been about 1 year now & she has had to have an increase recently.
cheers
Posted by Poet on November 5, 2003, at 13:12:52
In reply to My cat is on AD's too!!!, posted by memma on November 3, 2003, at 15:31:42
When my mother adopted a shelter cat (she already had two cats) they told her to rub a little vanilla extract in all the cats fur so they smell the same. That way the new kitty doesn't smell like a stranger so it gets accepted quicker. It couldn't hurt to try it, it worked for mom.
Some cats need ADs just like people do. One of my cats is diabetic and gets twice daily insulin injections. You're giving your kitty the meds she needs.
Poet
Posted by pixygoth on November 6, 2003, at 11:58:23
In reply to Re: My cat is on AD's too!!! » memma, posted by Poet on November 5, 2003, at 13:12:52
This is very interesting stuff... I'd normally (i think) worry about the ethics of this kinda thing, but cats being "skittish" anyway..
and what do you lot think of how the drugs work on the cats as opposed to on us? Maybe (this is guessing..!) they can get a "general" effect without the sideffects we can get due to our higher cognitive processes? I'm definitely not knocking cat-intelligence, but they for sure don't sit and worry or fret or obsess, right?
just thoughts. I'm cheered that reading all this stuff has brought me a bit up from the sh*tty way I've felt all day...
S x
Posted by memma on November 6, 2003, at 17:34:42
In reply to cats on drugs, posted by pixygoth on November 6, 2003, at 11:58:23
Hey everyone,
Thank you so much for responding!! Sorry it took me so long to get back to yall, I've had three tests this week!!!
Thank you so much for your support. I did feel guilty for drugging my cat, Chloe, at first, but she was so upset. She stopped eating, and she was stalking the new kitten. She got this crazy look in her eye and followed him around, it was very bizarre! If I separated them, she would claw at the door and meow. The last straw was when she injured the kitten....
So far things are going A LOT better! Liligoth: my cat is on Amitriptyline (the vet just called it Kitty Prozac - I don't know if it is). I think it might be more like an anti anxiety medicine. Chloe has started eating again and she's a lot calmer - most of her aggressive behavior has gotten better.
I still have the cats separated, so it is hard to tell what will happen with that, but I am optimistic! I will definitely try the vanilla oil when I do reintroduce them, neat idea! Hopefully, they won't kill each other!
Again, thank you so much for your support and I will keep you posted about what happens in the house of the depressed cat and cat owner!
love, memma
Posted by DSCH on November 7, 2003, at 19:38:33
In reply to Re: cats on drugs, posted by memma on November 6, 2003, at 17:34:42
>Liligoth: my cat is on Amitriptyline (the vet just called it Kitty Prozac - I don't know if it is).
Nope, that's a tricyclic, and not specific to kitties either! :-)
Posted by memma on November 7, 2003, at 20:16:01
In reply to Re: cats on drugs » memma, posted by DSCH on November 7, 2003, at 19:38:33
WOW, I am so embarrassed, DSCH - It's Elavil!
Oops. I feel like a very neglectful mom. (I promise I'm not, just a little stressed out recently, I'm on new drugs, last year of college, bleeding kittens, etc...).
Anyway, thanks for letting me know!
memma
Posted by DSCH on November 7, 2003, at 21:19:24
In reply to Re: cats on drugs » DSCH, posted by memma on November 7, 2003, at 20:16:01
It's interesting that that is what your vet turned to. I have heard of cats getting female hormones and Prozac (for real) for this sort of thing, but not amitriptyline.
Since suicidal ODing isn't an issue here, I guess the tricyclics are on a more level playing field as it were.
Your vet probably thinks you don't know about ADs other than Prozac. Most people would go "hunh?" at the mention of Elavil or amitriptyline. :-)
Posted by Liligoth on November 8, 2003, at 5:52:16
In reply to cats on drugs, posted by pixygoth on November 6, 2003, at 11:58:23
> This is very interesting stuff... I'd normally (i think) worry about the ethics of this kinda thing, but cats being "skittish" anyway..
> and what do you lot think of how the drugs work on the cats as opposed to on us? Maybe (this is guessing..!) they can get a "general" effect without the sideffects we can get due to our higher cognitive processes? I'm definitely not knocking cat-intelligence, but they for sure don't sit and worry or fret or obsess, right?
> just thoughts. I'm cheered that reading all this stuff has brought me a bit up from the sh*tty way I've felt all day...
> S x
I read something recently that claimed cats are thought to have the intelligence of a 2 year old child! About them not worrying & obsessing - she does also have ocd issues & has always been a self-mutilater. The drugs are helping with that too so I think she is much happier on them. We did all the right things & kept them separate in the beginning & we used the vanilla essence thing & that worked quite well. It was only after they were living together & things were ok for a while that they started to go downhill.
Posted by Poet on November 8, 2003, at 11:29:24
In reply to Re: cats on drugs, posted by memma on November 6, 2003, at 17:34:42
I used to be on the same med as your cat! Amitriptyline is an antidepressant. It probably works for anxiety, too, as I took it to help me sleep at night.
Poet
Posted by memma on November 10, 2003, at 1:55:32
In reply to Re: cats on drugs » memma, posted by DSCH on November 7, 2003, at 21:19:24
DSCH,
Well, I adopted this cat through my vet, so she knows Chloe pretty well! Based on that alone, I think the Amitriptyline is an ok choice.
Otherwise, do you know where I can get more info about the side effects seen in cats on Amitriptyline? For a few days, things were getting better, but this weekend, after about a week on the drug, my cat is just lethargic!! She's acting like she's mad at me, she's not eating very much, she has little interest in playing, etc.
I just want my cat to be happy!!!!!!!
She's on 5mg in the AM, do you think I should alert my vet or just wait it out? I noticed similar side effects (zombie behavior) when I started Lexapro... but they went away after a week.
Any advice? Thanks!
love memma
Posted by memma on November 10, 2003, at 2:12:46
In reply to Re: cats on drugs » DSCH, posted by memma on November 10, 2003, at 1:55:32
Hey everyone,
I have no idea if this should be on the meds board...but anyone's animals have any side effects from taking Amitriptyline?
After about a week on the AD, my cat's acting very depressed...she's eating less, has no interest in playing, etc. I don't know if it's the medicine or the new kitten. Hmmm...
Again, thank you all for your support and for laughing with me. Originally, I felt really guilty about treating Chloe with this drug, but your messages have made me feel so much better!
love memma
Posted by DSCH on November 10, 2003, at 13:14:29
In reply to Kitty Amitriptyline Side Effects?, posted by memma on November 10, 2003, at 2:12:46
You may want to look at this thread where Francesco and I discussed tricylics (for *humans*, but my guess would be that the side effects will be similar for cats)
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030917/msgs/262225.html
Perhaps PM dose would be better due to the sedation?
Posted by memma on November 10, 2003, at 18:04:30
In reply to Re: Kitty Amitriptyline Side Effects? » memma, posted by DSCH on November 10, 2003, at 13:14:29
DSCH,
Thanks! I'm going to read that now! :)love memma
Posted by betsybb2424 on November 12, 2003, at 7:53:50
In reply to Re: Kitty Amitriptyline Side Effects? » DSCH, posted by memma on November 10, 2003, at 18:04:30
Hi Everybody! I'm new too, but am a kennel owner and groomer. I have heard that they are pulling Prozac off the shelves (so to speak) because of the damaging side effects, so I'm happy to hear your kitty is not getting Real prozac!!! Amitriptolene, I think, would cause some sleepiness? Does it kind of dope your kitty up? OR IS SHE JUST CALMER? I am so interested in this since loads of behavior problem kitties and dogs come to me for answers (well, not the animals themselves, but the moms and dads!!). Thanks!!! - Betsy
Posted by pixygoth on November 12, 2003, at 8:38:25
In reply to Re: cats on drugs » pixygoth, posted by Liligoth on November 8, 2003, at 5:52:16
I'm glad it's going well. Kittens are the quintessence of cute wonderfulness, can't stand the thought of one getting beaten up!
love,
S
This is the end of the thread.
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