Vet 101:Mood Meds For Cats

Our philosophy at Cat Wisdom 101 is a holistic one. As a cat behaviorist, Layla Morgan Wilde believes giving psychotropic drugs to cats is a serious decision for a cat’s care giver and veterinarian to make, and only as a last resort. In the U.S. a staggering 1 in 4 women are on moods meds for everything from anxiety, OCD, ADHD, depression to insomnia. They are becoming the quick fix for today’s stresses but at what price? For an actual transcript of a woman calling 911 about her “crazy” cat, scroll to the end.

Cats are constantly mirroring our moods. If we’re stressed, our cats can and do pick up on it. How they cope with stress differs. In extreme cases, a psychotropic drugs for cats are the answer. Unfortunately, given our economic malaise, many clients opt for the cheaper alternative of meds than paying for both a vet and a behaviorist. All behaviorists agree, a vet must rule out physical causes before attempting any alternative treatment or therapy.

Q: What are your thoughts on prescribing psychotropic drugs for cats?

A:Over the past two decades or so, there have been tremendous advancements in the recognition and treatment of anxiety disorders in humans. This has led to the recognition and treatment of similar disorders in our feline friends.

Buckle your seatbelts for a quick physiology lesson on how depression and anxiety work in the body so we can better understand how to effectively treat it in our kitties.

The chemical serotonin is crucial to affecting our moods and emotions. Serotonin molecules are released from nerve cells in the brain (called “presynaptic neurons”), cross a space called the synapse, and are then absorbed by the next nerve cells (called the “postsynaptic neurons”) to transmit an electrical “mood” impulse. In people, low levels of serotonin are associated with irritability, depression and hostility. Higher levels of serotonin are associated with calmness, confidence and restraint. So, it makes sense that one of the goals in treating depression and anxiety disorders, would be to increase the amount of serotonin that is available to postsynaptic neurons to keep the “happy thoughts” moving along. How do we do that?

When serotonin is released from the presynaptic neuron into the synapse, one of three things can happen to it: it can be absorbed by the postsynaptic neuron to transmit its “positive mood” signal, OR it can be reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron for later use (called “reuptake”), OR it can be destroyed in the synapse by a chemical called MonoAmine Oxidase. (Those of you who are familiar with psychotropic drugs are now perking up, as some of these terms may start to ring bells!). In order to increase the amount of serotonin in the synapse (so that it can be available to exert its positive effects on the postsynaptic neuron), drugs can be employed to block the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic neuron (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRI’s, such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft), and/or inhibit the action of monoamine oxidase in the synapse (MonoAmine Oxidase inhibitors, or MAO inhibitors, such as Elavil and Clomicalm). Make sense?

Anxiety in cats can be expressed as aggression, nervousness, obsessive-compulsive disorders (like incessant licking, or repetitive behaviors), and, very commonly, elimination disorders. Since we humans are not always privy to the triggers that upset felines, we are often left with witnessing the behavioral manifestations: aggression (directed at household members, both two and four-legged), hiding, urinating and/or defecating outside the litter box, etc.

But before blaming “mental anxiety”, it is imperative to make sure there is not a medical reason for a cat’s behavioral issues before jumping to the psychotropics medications. I can’t stress this enough. Diseases such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, arthritis, and even dental disease, can all cause changes in a cat’s behavior. A thorough physical exam, including lab work, is very important.

Once we know everything is physically normal, we can (and should) address possible “emotional” issues. Don’t just assume your cat is crazy and that nothing can be done! Recently, I saw a kitty whose owners had reached their wit’s end with the cat’s inappropriate choices of litterboxes (namely, the sofa and the owner’s pillow). They felt they had no choice but to put their cat to sleep. Previous lab tests and exams had all been normal. No obvious emotional trigger could be determined. I suggested a trial of Prozac for the kitty, as the issue may have had some emotional basis. Miraculously, within 2 weeks, the inappropriate urination stopped, and the kitty became more social than ever! In this case, Prozac literally saved his life!

There are many options available now for treating anxiety and emotional disorders in cats. Psychotropic medications are just one weapon in the arsenal. Some medications are now available in a topical ointment, so that the stress issue is not worsened by having to pill your cat! Homeopathic remedies, pheromones, and behavioral modification techniques can also be effectively incorporated into the management plan. The key is to rule out physical causes, and then see what works best for your cat, what keeps everyone content, and what keeps everyone peeing in the right places.