Cat refuses medication

[Jessica_Merlin_Meep]

Hello all,

Both of my cats have been on Fluoxetine for years, and one cat has been on Lorazapam as well.

Over the past year or so we have had immense trouble giving the double medded cat his meds. We used to get the Fluoxetine compounded into liquid, and for awhile he ate that. Now, not so much. I'm not sure what turned him against it but now he's averse to his food. We have tried syringing that one and he immediately throws it up. Won't take it in a Churu either, he smells it and looks disgusted.

So we ordered capsules instead to try for the Fluoxetine. This is our first week on it and this is almost worse. He won't eat AT ALL. It's supposed to not have a smell but boy, does he act like it has a smell. One whiff of his food and he's turning his nose up at it. I haven't tried pilling the capsules yet but they are sort of big and I've seen a lot of people say to reward with treats after pilling yourself so that they know it isn't traumatizing, but I know my cat and he will not accept a treat when he's stressed like that. He's not food motivated. So it's a matter of pilling him in the morning, scaring him into hiding, and then doing it all over again in the evening. That is the last thing I want for my cat, to be scared of me. I'm at a loss. I'm about to start weaning him off of the meds because I just can't do this anymore.

Good thing is, the meds aren't vital (they are supposed to help mediate the situation between our fighting cats), but I am sure they probably help in some regard. But does anyone have any advice for pilling a non-food motivated cat without traumatizing him??

 

[misty8723]

I'm sure there will be people more knowledgable than I am about these things, but just want to say something I've been thinking lately. Since we don't know how our cats are reacting to the medicines we give them, I wonder if they are experiecing side effects which of course they can't tell us about. If these aren't medically necessary, I might try different methods if your cats are fighting. For example, have you tried Feliway? I can't guarantee this works but I think it did for my cat. I believe they do have one for multicat households.

What have you tried besides medication? Have you tried separating them and reintroducing them? I've heard that sometimes works. Or just try to create a calm environment for them to be in, play soothing music, try playing with them together? Like I said, I don't have experience with anything more than play fighting, so I don't know what might work.

I think personally if giving him that medication is causing him stress, that will make the situation worse. If he is the one doing the fighting, he will have to take that stress out somewhere. And yes absolutely he smells it in the food. Cats have a way better sense of smell than we do.

Good luck!

 

[Jessica_Merlin_Meep]

I'm sure there will be people more knowledgable than I am about these things, but just want to say something I've been thinking lately. Since we don't know how our cats are reacting to the medicines we give them, I wonder if they are experiecing side effects which of course they can't tell us about. If these aren't medically necessary, I might try different methods if your cats are fighting. For example, have you tried Feliway? I can't guarantee this works but I think it did for my cat. I believe they do have one for multicat households.

What have you tried besides medication? Have you tried separating them and reintroducing them? I've heard that sometimes works. Or just try to create a calm environment for them to be in, play soothing music, try playing with them together? Like I said, I don't have experience with anything more than play fighting, so I don't know what might work.

I think personally if giving him that medication is causing him stress, that will make the situation worse. If he is the one doing the fighting, he will have to take that stress out somewhere. And yes absolutely he smells it in the food. Cats have a way better sense of smell than we do.

Good luck!

Yes we have two multi cat feliway but I’m not sure if they do anything. And this is a case of redirected aggression that we have been dealing with for years now. We have reintroduced again and again with setbacks. We were almost done with it in June after half a year of strictness in the reintroduction process and aggressor cat attacked with no trigger. So trying again…. Have tried different methods including JG and stuff our behaviorist has recommended

 

[Kris107]

I think I'd vote for the weaning off (as guided by your vet!). If they need to live in separate areas they do, but I don't know if drugging them the rest of their lives is really the answer. You also seemed to say that you weren't even sure if the meds helped. If that's the case, then better to not be on them. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Jessica_Merlin_Meep]

I think I'd vote for the weaning off (as guided by your vet!). If they need to live in separate areas they do, but I don't know if drugging them the rest of their lives is really the answer. You also seemed to say that you weren't even sure if the meds helped. If that's the case, then better to not be on them. Just my 2 cents.

Yes we have attempted to wean off before, but aggressor cat got irritable easily off one of them (not sure which one) so vet recommended upping the dose back. But yeah, I mean I was never comfortable with medicating in the first place but it seemed like it was the answer to this problem and I'm not even sure now. Now I feel bad for even medicating them for so long, I was just trying to mediate the situation and do what I felt was right for them

 

[Kris107]

Cohabitating cats can be extremely difficult. These forums are the proof. There are just sometimes cats who really rub each other the wrong way and have a hard time. Do what you think is best. Hopefully you have some space to keep them separate.

 

[Jessica_Merlin_Meep]

Cohabitating cats can be extremely difficult. These forums are the proof. There are just sometimes cats who really rub each other the wrong way and have a hard time. Do what you think is best. Hopefully you have some space to keep them separate.

Oh yes. We’ve had them separated for almost 4 years now, with attempts at reintroductions. They liked each other, then there was an incident and now the younger one hates the older one. We are actually coming to terms with rehoming because I just don’t think it’s fair - and it really separates my husband and myself. On long days we can’t spent time with one another because we are making sure each cat gets the attention he deserves and isn’t locked up all day. I don’t even feel like I can get a full time job because being gone all day long with a cat locked up and then coming home and each cat is screaming for attention - It’s exhausting and I’m completely over it. We are planning to work on it until the end of the year and then reevaluate because we want to move next year and aren’t taking two separated cats to a new house in a brand new place - that spells disaster in my head. We just love our babies so much and the aggressor cat is so sweet...when he's not with the other cat. He loves us and we love him. Making me tear up just thinking about it

 

[Hellenww]

I just did a search. You can get fluoxetine transdermal. Ask your vet if that would work for your cat.

 

[FriendofFerals]

I have one that was on fluoxetine first...now amitriptyline (pill) for psychogenic alopecia, prednisolone (pill) for allergies, asthma, and IBD, and amlodipine for hypertension (pill)...oh, and a transdermal thyroid cream daily. I used to crush the pills and hide in the food. But the loss of appetite from the IBD and hyperthyroid made him turn off to food with meds....and then food without meds.

I thought maybe to crush the pills, add chicken broth, and give it in a syringe...but he'd throw them up immediately.

Solution...for a cat that needs up to 4 pills a day... A pill popper loaded with 1-2 pill halves at a time (he needs 1/2 pills). Another syringe (like a repurposed one from a previous prescription that I saved) with a little water in it.

Sit on the floor, the cat facing away between your knees, grab their face from above (they will want to back up but can't go anywhere) open their mouth by putting your left-hand index finger on one side of their mouth and thumb in the other side. The cat will put their head up. Perfect. Put pill popper syringe all the way in the back and dispense. Hold the cat's head still in case they like to shake it and fling the pills to each side of the room, never to be found again. Follow with a little bit of water from the other syringe if your cat is one who hides pills under their tongue or in their cheek pockets. Rub their throat to help encourage them to swallow. Open their mouth and check for hidden pills like my little sneaky "Squeaky."

***Then.....important part to keep them from puking*** get them to eat something they like on their own. I have to keep grocery store rotisserie chicken on hand for my super senior spoiled brat. But it works. 100% success rate keeping the pills down this way, as long as they eat something on their own immediately afterward.

 

[misty8723]

Yes we have two multi cat feliway but I’m not sure if they do anything. And this is a case of redirected aggression that we have been dealing with for years now. We have reintroduced again and again with setbacks. We were almost done with it in June after half a year of strictness in the reintroduction process and aggressor cat attacked with no trigger. So trying again…. Have tried different methods including JG and stuff our behaviorist has recommended

Good for you for continuing to try to keep trying. I hope it works!