XANAX AND CATS 

Even the most composed cats occasionally experience stress, anxiety, or fear. As a result, numerous problems may arise; Quality of life may suffer under persistent or severe stress. Even physical sickness in cats can be exacerbated by anxiety. We will go over several typical scenarios when cats may need antidepressants such as Xanax to help combat moderate to severe anxiety. 

How Can You Tell If a Cat Has Anxiety or Stress? 

To humans, cat communication frequently seems subtle. But once you know what to look for, it might be simpler to identify a possible issue. The following are some typical signs of stress or anxiety in cats: 

  • Squeezing themselves into the small spaces 
  • Standing hair 
  • Growing pupils 
  • Excessive meowing 
  • Efforts to flee or conceal 
  • Appetite loss 
  • Aggressive behaviors such as hissing or attempts to scratch or bite 
  • Modifications in behavior, such as increased hiding or grumpiness 
  • Urinating somewhere than in the litter box 

The symptoms displayed by affected cats might range from one to many. Additionally, context matters. For instance, a cat’s pupils may enlarge while playing, which is quite normal. Before presuming the symptoms mentioned above are caused by stress, it is crucial to call your veterinarian or make an appointment because some of the symptoms can also be signals of a serious medical issue. Your veterinarian will do a physical examination and perhaps diagnostic procedures like bloodwork before giving a sedative or anxiety-relieving drug. This aids in excluding underlying medical issues as the origin of the cat’s problems. 

How Is Anxiety in a Cat Treated? 

There should always be some sort of behavior modification or environmental adjustment involved in stress reduction for pets. If done correctly, behavior modification, such as a form of training, can work wonders for some animals. But when done incorrectly, it can reinforce nervous habits. Therefore, it is crucial to seek competent advice from a professional. Environmental modification is considering how your cat sees the environment and then assisting them in feeling more secure and at ease. For instance, many cats find hiding to be a secure situation. 

A veterinarian may begin with natural treatments and advise you on how to make a cat feel more at ease in its surroundings depending on their needs. Anxiety-relieving medications may be required for other cats, such as Xanax. Xanax is a treatment given to pets for ailments like anxiety disorder and is implemented by helping to decrease the central nervous system which therefore acts like a sedative for stress, anxiety, and nervousness. If that is the case, your veterinarian will assist you in determining the best course of action for your cat’s medications, whether it’s short-term or long-term. This frequently entails a period of trial and error to determine which drug and dose are most effective for a certain cat. 

If you are concerned about your cat’s behavior, call Pet Poison Helpline® at (855) 764-7661 and your vet so you can determine the cause of the issue and figure out the next steps to take.