Clomicalm?

[mbr64]

Great, thanks! Our cat only has problems when we leave for longer than say 3 days, so hopefully it will calm her separation anxiety while we are gone.

I wonder if we can just dose her for the time we are gone, maybe start a few days before hand, and quit after we return? I guess we will figure that out on a trial and error basis. Do you know if it's ok to just stop the med? 5 mg seems like a pretty small dose.

[Medusa]

Yes, 5 mg. is a small dose but it's all that's needed for us. Your vet can tell you what dosage is appropriate and you may have to play w/the dosage for a while.

As for starting and stopping, that hasn't worked for me. It's important not to miss a dose or the stressing and/or inappropriate behavior can start up again. If you only want to medicate your cats while you're away, perhaps talk to your vet about amitryptilene. A small dose of that also keeps them calm. I was dosing my cats for a different reason, inappropriate peeing, so that drug only worked for a little while.

Also, have you tried Feliway? There is a plug-in that you can try and Catty1 has had great success w/spraying just a little tiny bit on her cats' stretchy collars to keep them from stressing. She swears by it. Once again, I had no success w/it. I tried the plug-ins and my cats peed on it. LOL However, your situation is due mainly to separation anxiety so it may work for you. Perhaps PM Catty1 and see what she says. I'm sure she'll be happy to help.

[mbr64]

We tried the Feliway spray and plug-ins as well, no help. Here's hoping the clomicalm works!

Thanks again.

[mbr64]

Well, my cat has been on the clomicalm for 6 days now. There are a couple side effects I am a bit concerned about. She is pretty sedated - I assume that will go away once she gets used to the med? Also, she seems a bit constipated - will that go away? She weighs 10 pounds on we have her on 5 mg/day dose. We open the capsule and mix it with tuna juice. Once capsule mixed with 5 ml of tuna juice - she gets 1 ml per day which apparently equates to 5 mg/day. I wonder if I should lesson the dose a little, or just wait it out and see if the side effects go away?

thanks

[Medusa]

Five mg. may be too much for her. Shave a little off, perhaps in half, and see how she does w/that. I've got all mine on 5 mg. at night. They aren't sedated but just calmer; it does help them sleep. Are you administering it at night? That may also be part of the problem. I do have one that takes 5 mg. morning and night b/c he's a particularly tricky character but he isn't sedated in the least. Each cat is different, just like humans, so you may have to play w/the dosage for a while before you get it right. Don't give up. And keep the faythe.

I just thought of something else. The Clomicalm that I get is in tablet form. When they swallow it, it probably takes longer to get into their system. Yours is a powder that goes down w/food and it may react more quickly. I don't know that for sure, not being a pharmacist or a vet, but it might be the case. Are you able to get the tablets instead of the capsules?

[mbr64]

Just capsules for now, however, maybe in future I can get tablets.

We noticed she has some trouble passing urine in the box, as she keeps 'trying' but nothing comes out for awhile. Also, number 2 has not happened as much as normal. I think I will cut dose down a bit. She is on it for 'separation anxiety', and we are leaving for 5 days beginning Friday. She just needs something to cut the edge off a little while we are gone. I think a lower dose may do the trick!

thanks!

[Medusa]

Just capsules for now, however, maybe in future I can get tablets.

We noticed she has some trouble passing urine in the box, as she keeps 'trying' but nothing comes out for awhile. Also, number 2 has not happened as much as normal. I think I will cut dose down a bit. She is on it for 'separation anxiety', and we are leaving for 5 days beginning Friday. She just needs something to cut the edge off a little while we are gone. I think a lower dose may do the trick!

thanks!

If she's having trouble passing urine, then stop the Clomicalm and call your vet ASAP. She may be having a reaction to it or it may have nothing to do w/it at all but it sounds as though she's developing a bladder infection. That's very painful and she'll continue to strain until she passes blood if she does have a bladder infection. Don't put off calling your vet. Time is of the essence.