For example, maybe an older cat is unhappy about a new kitten housemate. Or, a cat may have general anxiety due to their personality type or a previous trauma. Kitties who fall into this chronic stress category may benefit from long-term medications. This is especially true for cats whose stress manifests in physical symptoms.
A common example is cats with interstitial cystitis, an inflammatory condition of the urinary bladder. In cats prone to this condition, stress can bring on a flare up that requires veterinary treatment. Cat communication often appears subtle to human beings. But once you know what to look for, it may be easier to spot a potential problem in the early stages.
Affected cats may show just symptoms, or several. And context is important. Prior to prescribing a sedative or anxiety-reducing medication, a vet will perform a physical exam, and possibly diagnostic tests such as bloodwork.
It also helps ensure a cat is healthy enough for sedation. Stress reduction in pets should always involve some form of behavior modification or environmental changes. Over time, the cat may come to view their carrier as a fun place rather than a scary place. Done properly, behavior modification can have excellent results for some pets. However, improperly performed, it can reinforce anxious behaviors. Environmental modification involves thinking about the world the way your cat perceives it and then helping them feel safer and calmer.
For example, many cats feel safe when they are hidden. Teddington: Shepperton: Surbiton: Here are some of the stories of courage and bravery, and some the wonderful animals we work with every day. Register your pet at one of our practices by filling out the quick simple form. Unlimited consultation with any of our vets and nurses - whenever you need to see us, there's no charge for our time.
Read More. Click here to fill in the form. How much will I save? How much will it cost? Share this. Author Recent Posts. You could consider investing in a ThunderShirt. Their patented design provides the same sort of pressure of a towel wrap, much like swaddling a baby or using a weighted blanket for anxiety.
These wraps can be put on your cat for all anxious occasions, and instantly help your cat calm down. L-Tryptophan is a supplement that can be found in natural calming pet pills and in cat food specifically designed for cats with stress-related urinary issues especially FIC. When additional L-Tryptophan is added to the diet, it acts as a precursor for serotonin production.
This is a neurotransmitter in the brain that has a sedative effect and decreases pain sensitivity, decreases aggressive behaviors, and increases happiness.
Calming supplements are available on the market which contains a natural ingredient made from hydrolyzed milk proteins. These proteins are called casein. Casein is found in the milk of an animal and is known to relax newborns after breastfeeding. The internet is a scary place, and some information available is downright dangerous. If you browse the internet, you can come up with advice for all sorts of products that might sedate your cat and cause her major ill-health.
These are common recommendations for sedation, which should never be considered:. Diphenhydramine Benadryl is one of the most common antihistamines on the market, and while it is safe for fighting allergic reactions, it is not safe to give as a sedative. It is easy to overdose cats, and this can lead to seizures, coma, breathing difficulties, and death. Many cats also become very stressed when taking it, as cats resent the process of syringing it into the mouth.
It is also not often a taste cats approve of! In humans, many essential oils are relaxing, and may even make you want to drift off to sleep. But essential oils for cats are a big no-no. Essential oils are easily absorbed through the skin or respiratory system and have to be processed by the liver to be removed from the body.
The problem is, cats lack glucuronyl transferase, the enzyme required for the liver to break down the essential oils. One of the most commonly recommended herbs to calm a cat is chamomile, however before you boil a brew, stop! Chamomile is toxic to cats and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite, and allergic reactions. Chronic use can also lead to bleeding tendencies.
This is because of toxic ingredients such as bisabolol, anthem acid, chamazulene, and tannic acid. If your cat really needs to be sedated for something, speak to your vet.
He can give your cat injectable sedation if a short procedure needs to be carried out in a stress-free way, such as grooming matts out of a long coat, clipping nails, or tending to a wound. If your cat needs something more long-term, medication can be used to help calm her down. Commonly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs are used, which are a type of antidepressant. Through the use of synthetic pheromones. Through the use of body wraps and towel wraps. A similar variation to a body wrap is a towel wrap.
Through the use of food supplements that combat anxiety. Through the use of Bach Rescue Remedy. The Bach Rescue Remedy is a homeopathic solution that contains five flower essences: clematis, cherry plum, rock rose, impatiens, and Star of Bethlehem. Through the use of natural herbs.
These herbs are chamomile, catnip, valerian, and passionflower. The use of general anesthesia is sometimes the best option to sedate a cat for grooming but only in extreme cases such as when a cat has extremely matted fur and when a cat has parasites or infected lacerations or injuries.
General anesthesia may be done through gas inhalation, injection, or a combination of these two processes and performed by a licensed veterinarian.
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