Antidepressants?

I've got a 14 year female persian who's getting crabbier by the day. She's never been particularly friendly or outgoing, but she's just been unbearable lately! And yes, she was checked out by a vet about 2 months ago.

For example: this morning my girlfriend held a treat out for her, she sniffed and licked it twice then went psycho and clawed her hand to death...

I did a google search and couldn't find much of anything on giving cats antidepressants. Is it common? A viable option? I certainly wouldn't want to do anything to harm her.

I would talk to a vet about it. I have had them prescribed. It's not that uncommon anymore.

Did the vet do a full blood panel? "Cognitive" disorders are possible, but more often than not an "attitude" problem is related to a health issue.

When you google again, try "prozac veterinary" (no quotes) or "buspar veterinary" or "paxil veterinary" (again, no quotes)...there are a few others that are used sometimes.

I know you said she went to the vet but did they do anything but a external exam??
When was your kitties last senior blood panel??? If over six months time for a new one ... Crabbiness is often the first sign of a "senior issue " in some cats

Of course if I went this route, I would get a more in depth work up. I was just hoping for other's experiences with using antidepressants before talking to the vet.

Did they work for your cat? About how much did it cost? Etc...

I used it for a 75lb dog ran me 30$ a month( about 9 yrs ago... it helped but today I use holistic "calming aids" ... cheaper safer and no RX needed

Prozac was about $12 a month from the pharmacy or $18 a month from the vet (different forms of meds, same dosage). It worked, although with that one (and some of the others I believe) you need to be prepared for it to take a little while to start working, minimum 4 weeks.

I would recommend at minimum, basic lab work to help rule out the possible causes, especially at age 14.

There was recently an article in The Toronto Star about vets now prescribing anti-depressants and such. It was not positive.

I have no experience such as the above poster, but I wouldn't give my animals drugs. Heck I don't even like taking drugs. I would be more inclined to try more natural remedies.

It is my personal belief (and I stress my PERSONAL belief) that we as a society are over-medicated due to doctors not being sure what's wrong with us and just "try" something. I saw this with my mom taking about 12 pills a day - I can't get behind this in any way and do not believe anyone needs to take 12 pills a day and now the vets have jumped on the bandwagon and have started dosing our pets.