Experiences with cats & amitriptyline?

kailie

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We brought Nova to the vet this morning for a spraying problem he's recently developed. We wanted to make sure he was checked all over and that no infection was present. Tests all came back good. We've always had Feliway going and have never had any problems like this with our kitties, however since Buster has come into the picture, Shadey & Imhotep will sometimes pick on Nova who has always been on the bottom of the kitty totem pole. We provided an extra litter box downstairs just in case as well (our large Rubbermaid tote bins we use as litter boxes are upstairs) but today the vet prescribed amitriptyline for him as he is a very high strung cat. I would just like to hear from other people who have experience with cats and this drug.
 

ldg

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Spooky is our pariah kitty, and when we moved into a house and Lazlo and Tuxedo didn't stop picking on her (we thought more space might solve the problem), she started stress peeing. :nod: We went through all the steps for 4-5 months to no avail. Rescue Remedy, Feliway, covering up our bed with a cut-down cardboard box. putting a litter box on that, covering up the couch.... gallons and gallons and gallons of Nok Out....

We came home from the vet with both amitriptyline and the Cat Attract additive (which was new at the time - there as no "full strength" Cat Attract litter). Within two days of being on the amytriptyline, she started peeing in the box again. One pee a day. The side-effect of amitriptyline is urine retention, and this - for whatever reason - helps many cats start using the box again. :dk: What I don't know is if the use of the cat attract helped as well, or what role it played in her return to the box. Anyway, this is the same drug they use for children that wet beds.

It made Spooky sleepy for about three weeks. Some people complain about this "zombie-like" behavior in their kitties. For us - and IMO probably for her too - it was a much needed break. We cleaned up the house without having to worry about her peeing somewhere again. But after that period, I guess her body adjusted to it, and she became her happy, playful self again. Happier, in fact. Calmer. :nod: It did make her talk a lot. The vet says that it does make some cats "chatty." We just... chatted with her. :lol3:

We kept her on it for about 4 months, then weaned her off of it.

I do hope it'll help your Nova! :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:
 
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kailie

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Oh no, Nova has one of the loudest, high pitched ANNOYING meows on the planet, so if this makes him more chatty I may need to invest in some ear plugs!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience hun!
 
 
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kailie

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Well, you probably want to trade ear plugs for no spraying. I hope it helps!!!!
LOL, that's true doll! Night one and there is ALREADY a difference. No pee in the kitchen this morning AND before, whenever Shadey or Imhotep got too close to Nova or sometimes even looked at him, he's get all sketchy and hiss, which of course set the top cats off. This morning Nova & Shadey went completely nose to nose and NOTHING!
 

ldg

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Oh that is a good sign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cross: Continued :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:

Elavil (amitriptyline) is one of those drugs that takes two weeks to get up to level blood serum levels. But we saw that quick change in Spooky too. :nod: (But that's also why you can't just stop using it. You have to gradually reduce the amount - when/if a time comes when you want to try weaning him off).
 
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kailie

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Wow, I must say, it is MUCH easier getting the pill into him with Greenies Pill Pockets!
Last night he fought like hell and spit it out a few times. Today I picked up some pill pockets and he gobbled it right up.
 
 

ldg

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I saw on FB. :lol3: Chumley's the only one I have to use pill pockets with, but yes, for difficult kitties, they are SUCH a blessing! :lol3:
 
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kailie

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He peed in the kitchen this morning, right after I saw him THINKING about using the litter box!
Oh well, it IS only day 2...
 
 

ldg

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Are you also using Cat Attract litter? I know it's really expensive for that many cats. But what about the additive? We used it with our existing litter, and we didn't follow the directions, but used less. Unfortunately, for some, it needs "full strength." But it's worth a try, I think.

Have you noticed he's peeing less frequently? Well - let me rephrase that, with that many cats it's impossible to know, really. Did he pee a LOT? Even if he doesn't pee once a day like Spooky did, the urine retention side-effect SHOULD help you identify his pee. You should start to see some really large clumps in the litter box.

How large is he and what dose is he on? Spooky weighed about 10 pounds and was on 10mg.
 
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kailie

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Yep, I always have some on hand for litter training foster kittens, love it. I've seen him use the litter box, so I know he does, but for some reason this morning he decided the kitchen floor was a better place to go.
Yes, he is peeing less frequently too.
 
 

ldg

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OK. Stupid question. Could he be in pain for any reason? Has he had a dental recently? In the end, Spooky also peed outside the box because she was in pain. I still am not sure she was actually stress peeing. After she was off the elavil, a while later she peed outside the box. Of course off to the vet we went again, just to make sure it wasn't a bladder issue. But in her check-up, the vet said she badly needed a dental. So we got that done. And no more peeing. She needed a tooth extracted, in fact. A year later, same thing. And she needed a tooth extracted. So now she just gets dentals every six months. But I think the first bout was a coincidence, and she was letting us know she was in pain. :dk: Just another thought there...
 

4catsncounting

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By the way, after my neutered male cat was going through his territorial spraying in the house,

I'd clean it up with regular solvent, soap and water, but also when I was done, I'd saturate the marked area with plain vinegar.

I'd read somewhere that it is an inexpensive way to neutralize the lingering odor.

I know there is also specific "enzyme" products out there, but it was handy and it was likely much cheaper.

Where ever I'd clean with vinegar, he'd never return to that spot.

He'd find another wall to spray, however. 

Lil' jerk. 
 

orientalslave

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In the UK we have biological (enzyme) washing powder, and so long as one is buying power or liquid it's an effective and cheap way to clean up toilet accidents.  Buying a small cheap pack will make up far more solution than the fancy sprays sold for the purpose for much less money, and I believe it's just as effective.
 
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kailie

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I buy the Natures Miracle. It's great stuff, and I get a discount on it at work.


Laurie, I asked Dana, as I was working when he brought him into the vet, and he said the vet did a complete check-up and did check his teeth and everything looked good. He doesn't seem to be in any kind of pain. He's playful, active and happy otherwise. No pee today! I think we just need to wait for the pills to kick in. He's about 14 pounds and is only on half a pill, 5mg. The vet said if we don't see the results we want in a few weeks to start giving him the full 10mg pill.
 
 

southernl3elle

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I have had my 3 out of 5 cats on Amitriptyline for at least 6 months or more now... 2 of the 3 kept fighting with each other and all 3 were marking their territory. Here is my experience...

They still mark their territory, however not as often. If I skip a dose... there's urine everywhere. The girls still fight with each other but now I'm not cleaning up blood or being awoken out of a dead sleep anymore. One of my cats are very sensitive to the drug, so she becomes VERY vocal and has an INSANE insatiable appetite! The most stressful thing for me thus far though is that it has changed all of my cats' meows... It is now raspy and sad. Granted, their lives are of high quality... but their voice to me has changed and become pitiful. I at first thought it was some sort of new and mysterious laryngitis that was infecting my entire house of cats... but have come to the realization that, that is just crazy. I am convinced it's the drug. So, I have decided I will ween them off the drug, replace it with Reconcile, and place Feliway diffusers around the house. Ampitriptyline isn't the answer...

Also, if you all need a good cleaner for cat urine : Fizzion - on Amazon.com - works like a charm!
 
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mark feller

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That is welcome news to me!! I have a 2 year old named Claudio who has mind cystitis, and who recently started showing symptoms of complete blockage as he would attempt to pee on the futon, and my bed etc... but nothing was coming out so I feared the worst. Rushed him to the Vet and they determined he was stressing about me being gone more than usual along with cystitis etc... Left him over night with them and they started him on amitrityline 10mg. He is using the box and no episodes at all thus far 36 hours later. But Claudio who lives to play, and fetch, and purr is depressed and sleeping all day. he only gets up to eat and drink tons of water. I expected this, but am terrified that he won't ever be himself again. Your post has made me feel so much better!!! I hope I can too ween him off the drug one day but with the cystitis it might be a long term lifetime scenario.. I just hope he rebounds like your cat did! Again thanks for the post, made my day!!
 
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