Cats get anxious just like people, most often as a result of stress or separation anxiety. While eliminating the cause of that stress is an important facet of treatment, anxiety medication may also be useful. This is especially true for cats with nervous dispositions, who are easily disturbed and unable to simply "relax."
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Description
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When a cat perceives a threat, the hypothalamus area of the brain triggers the body to release chemicals that prepare the animal for fight or flight. Chronically anxious cats have a constant flow of these chemicals in their bloodstream, weakening their immune system and leaving them vulnerable to a variety of health problems. The symptoms of feline anxiety usually involve drastic behavioral changes. These include vomiting, meowing, pacing, trembling, apathy, excessive grooming, clawing, loss of appetite, weight loss, shyness, loss of affection, and urination or defecation outside of the litter box. Some cats seek out extra attention in times of stress while others avoid contact with people and hide under beds or couches.
Medication
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Both psychotropic drugs and pheromones are used to treat feline anxiety. Most work by either altering serotonin or dopamine levels. Their function is similar to anti-anxiety medication in humans, although the dosages are drastically different. Amitriptyline (Elavil), has shown promise in treatment of obsessive grooming, inappropriate urination, and separation anxiety. Clomipramine is the first medication to achieve FDA approval in the treatment of anxiety in humans and animals. Fluoxetine (Reconcile, Prozac) is another common anxiety medication, a version of which was created in 2007 and is specifically formulated for animal use. Other medications include Buspirone Hydrochloride (Buspar) and Alprazolam.
Feliway is an example of a product that mimics feline pheromones. Cats produce these pheromones from glands in their cheeks, which they rub against objects in their environment in order to mark territory. Drugs based on feline pheromones are engineered to signal a friendly environment to the cat, helping reduce general anxiety and territorial behavior.
There are herbal treatments for feline anxiety as well. These tend to be gentler and generally soothe the nervous system. Some common herbs in these medicines and tinctures include Scutellaria laterifolia, Passiflora incarnata, Kalium phosphate, and Argentum nitricum.
Considerations
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Feline anxiety medications are designed to be administered once a day to keep cats calm throughout the course of a day. They are not given as a response to a particular case of acute anxiety.
Consult a veterinarian before administering any treatment for feline anxiety. This is especially important because many symptoms associated with anxiety may indicate a different underlying illness or condition.
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