Question For Those Who Have Used Atopica

[coffeecat2420]

Hello all. Just wanted to contribute my experience with the Atopica so far.
Octavia (6 years old) has been on prednisolone on and off (mostly on) since she came to me almost a year ago. I took over her medical care in December and took her to the allergy specialist, who did an intradermal test. Octavia receives an allergy shot every two weeks (started in April), and I'm told it can take up to a year to determine if these injections are helping. If so, it's a life-long treatment.
It's been a struggle to get Octavia stabilized and her lesions/hotspots to heal. Prednisolone seemed to work in the beginning but then it didn't. Eventually we switched to methylprednisolone. The methylprednisolone finally gave Octavia some relief and allowed the hot spots on her lower back and belly to clear up!
Once we saw the switch to methylprednisolone was working, the doctor quickly decided it was time to move her on to the Atopica so we can wean her off the steroid. We are 3 weeks into building up the Atopica while also still administering methylprednisolone. Hopefully, we can get her off the steroid soon.
She is receiving the Atopica in liquid form with meals. I give her a half dose with her breakfast and the rest with her dinner. The doctor was worried that the taste would throw her off her food, but so far so good. One thing I have noticed is that she seems to have developed an occasional "wet sneeze," and I can see one nostril is a bit runny – this started about the same time she started the Atopica.
I also transitioned her from Royal Canin dry to wet and then on to raw. I think she may have some food sensitivities as well, but of course, it's so difficult to get to the root of any of these allergy issues. In either case, the best diet can only help her.

 

[minniesunshine]

Yes, I have wondered about this as well. My two cats are going through the exact same symptoms as the other cats described here - shaking their heads constantly, itching their heads, chewing their feet, etc. I changed them over from Orijen to a new cat food (Iams Proactive Health), changed their litter (now using Fresh Step Simply Unscented), vacuum regularly and wash bed clothes, etc. They are also taking Revolution monthly, yet they still suffer from excessive itching. My boy Butch to the point where he pulls tufts of fur out of his head. He also has scabs and sores sometimes around his head.

I live in a basement environment now, where before we lived in a house and the cats never had any of the issues they do now. I'm assuming it's environmental and possibly dust mites or some form of mites. However, their ears are clean and I don't see any crust or gunk in them. I'm just wondering if it's due to the screwed up weather (being very warm and dry) that's causing the increase in bugs and such effecting the cats. But it's odd that when we were living at the house neither of the cats had any problems at all.

I've been doing everything I can for my kitties. It all started 2 yrs ago.. and after Neumerous vet vists and thousands spent, I'm once again feeling like Kim going to loose my baby Cream. She's been on antibiotics several times in 2 years. I have Atopica to give her. It a terrified that drug will kill her. She's off the antibiotics I've tried n tried to get her to eat heather food but since all this started she became picky n is eating horrible fancy feast with gravy. N now the past two day not only is her skin itchy, biting feet, scratching ears, licking her groin area n it's raw already but now she's barley eating can't play long enough without itching n now has thrown up the past two days. I have. A basement n one of my cats, lives down there bc he wAs an outside cat m I took him when we moved here. My other older cats will not tolerate him. But he's been itching n throwing up as welll. This all should stated 2 years ago, when we just moved here a year prior and every cat had all shots before we moved n Cream n Maurice have been to vets here. N they lee saying allergies. But they don't eat the same food . Sorry for this long story I've been wanting to come on for advice, I'm overwhelmed n upset that I'm going to lose them. Back to Atopica, I have the pill from if I give this to Cream, she's lost weight is very sad. N I'm scared I'll make her worse. The vets just say the thing over n over, so I look to every one on here for real advise through experience. Do u think I shy give Cream the Atopica, it's the dog form, so it's a pill. I don't know what to do anymore. It's taking over my life. She's my baby n I can't loose her. Please any advice or experiences r appreciated

 

[weebeasties]

I would follow your vet's advice and give her the Atopica. Zuzu has been on it since July and and she feels so much better. Her appetite has improved and she doesn't spend all her time licking anymore. Most of her hair on her belly has grown back already. Our vet recommends keeping the atopica pills in the freezer and giving her pill while it is frozen to avoid any stomach upset (as well as giving it to her one hr before meal time). We coat the pill with a little butter to make it easier for her to swallow. She is much happier now. I hope your baby gets to feeling better soon.

 

[grzina]

I would try the Atopica. My cat Boots has been on Atopica liquid for about 3-4 months now. The itching, scabs and bald patches are gone. He doesn't like the medicine and is smart enough to know when "medicine time" is and he hides. But other than that, he eats well and seems happier. I'm unable to pill him so unfortunately this is the best I can do. I've tried weaning him off the Atopica and the itching immediately comes back. Most people are able to wean their cat off but the best I can do is drop one day a week. His quality of life has to be better not having to constantly lick, itch and then throw up hairballs. I know Atopica can cause other issues but who can say what issues he would have anyway? No worries for the future, decided his quality of life here and now was the most important thing to focus on.

 

[babiesmom5]

I would follow your vet's advice and give your cat the Atopica. You have to think of your cat's quality of life...which is not very good right now with all the itching, scratching, and licking.
Cream is miserable! Yes, any drug may have side effects...but what is the alternative?

In my case, my boy had Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia. Were it not for the Atopica, which controlled his raging immune system, along with Prednisolone, he would be dead!

You have to weigh pros vs cons and prioritize your cat's quality of life. Your cat has allergies caused by an overactive immune system. Atopica is an immunosuppressant which tamps down the raging immune system, and thus quells the allergic reaction,itching, biting, scratching etc.

In my opinion, you should focus on your cat's quality of life. Atopica will improve that.

 

[bethsmokey1]

Hello
Yes, we plan on going forward in the next month or two and getting the inter dermal testing where they sedate the kitty and shave an area and check for about 72 different allergens. Then based on those results - they mix up allergy injections. We are also currently giving atopica for dogs 25 mg only because it's so simple to administer. The long term goal is to get her down to about 3-4 days of atopica per week as well as adding in the allergy shots ( which I have been told are life long, it's not like humans where you only give them for a year or two, this is a long term life long thing but apparently it's only 1x per week and then it tapers down even more I believe ).
Isn't it funny ,there are so many posts on the board about cats with severe itching and allergies - I never remember growing up any of my cats having these issues and we have quite a few cats - makes you wonder if it's something in the foods, or litter.....something has changed in the world of cats that is now causing all of these itchy kitties....

 

[bethsmokey1]

my cat has been on it for about three weeks see a great difference, plus he has to be in the bathroom for a steam bath 3 times a day to help with his breathing. the vet also told us that he can do the steam bath and since i have asthma i can give him a puff of my rescue inhaler when he is weezing. he has to be on it daily for a month then he can come off. thank god its 85.00 here and i haven't seen it any cheaper. if anyone knows where to get it cheaper please let me know he will be on it for the rest of his life when the fall season starts.