Gabapentin or Neurontin is a drug used for treating neuropathic pain and seizures on humans. The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) approved it in1994 as medication for partial seizures. It was then approved to be used for treatment of postherpetic neuralgia or neuropathic pain in 2002.
Animals like cats may also experience chronic pain and seizures. While the FDA has not approved Gabapentin to be used in cats, a lot of veterinarians prescribe it to treat felines that are suffering from the same conditions.
Aside from this drug, there are other medications and treatments that can help relieve your cat from pain. If the vet prescribes medications like Gabapentin, be aware that they may come with side effects. Aside from these drugs, there are natural ways on how you can help your pet get better. You may do these while administering the treatment provided by the vet.
Can I Give My Cat Gabapentin? Answer: By Prescription Only
Although the FDA has not approved Gabapentin for treating chronic pain and seizures in cats, it is generally an acceptable practice by vets to use the drug for treating cats with the same condition. Do not however administer this medication unless prescribed by the vet, as it may contradict with the other medications or supplements taken by your cat. It may have an adverse effect if your pet has other existing health problems. The best thing to do is to always consult a vet if you have any concerns with your cat.
If you suspect that your feline friend is suffering from chronic pain or it has experienced seizures in the past, go to your vet to have it checked. He will perform tests to determine the exact condition of your pet. If your cat is indeed suffering from said concerns, the vet may prescribe Gabapentin. You need this prescription for purchasing the drug. Make sure to follow the right dosage and schedule for administering the medication, and completing the full course of medication, for best result. Failure to do so may negatively affect the health of your pet.
Possible Side Effects
All drugs have side effects and Gabapentin is not an exemption. People who are under this medication often experience dizziness, eyesight problems, decreased energy, drowsiness, fluid retention, muscle pain and involuntary movement of the eyes. Others also experience diarrhea, weight gain, dry mouth, depression, mood changes, urinary tract infection and loss of memory.
Though rare, a patient may also suffer from pneumonia, suicidal thoughts, inflammation of the gums, chronic sleeping problems and decreased white blood cells. The drug also has side effects on cats and other animals that take it for treatment like diarrhea, sedation, loss of coordination and lethargy.
Cautions and Interactions with Other Drugs
Cats can take Gabapentin with or without taking food. However, it is important that the right dosage and prescribed frequency should be given to prevent any problems. Cats can safely take small dosages of Gabapentin. Taking more than the recommended dosage could cause serious health risks. This medication is eliminated from the system through the kidney.
Cats with kidney problems should not take this medication. It is also not recommended for pregnant cats as it may affect their babies. It should not also be taken together with antacids, as this could decrease its effectiveness. Taking it with hydrocodone may increase its effectiveness, though this would decrease the effectiveness of the other drug.
Other Treatments for Chronic Pain in Cats
The most common cause of chronic pain in cats is osteoarthritis. Aside from administering medications like Gabapentin to relieve pain, there are other things that you can do to help treat the disease.
Weight control. Excessive weight can cause more strain on its joints. Exercise and proper diet is needed to reduce weight. Walk your cat outside and give healthier choice of foods.
Supplements. There are supplements that you can give to your cat that could help repair damaged cartilage. Make sure to check with your vet before administering them to make sure that they are safe for your pet.
Physical therapy. There are professionals that provide this service to cats. Ask your vet for recommendations.
As a pet owner, you do not want your beloved cat to suffer from any kind of pain. Gabapentin is a proven medication for treating chronic pain in cats. However, make sure that you consult your vet before administering the drug for proper diagnosis and for the right prescription.
How many milligrams can my cat take? The vet said 200mg but I think that is a lot. I’m trying to calm her down so I can take her to the vet.
The vet prescribed one 100mg capsule for my 12 pound cat 2 hours prior to an appointment to ease stress.
How did your cat react after giving neurotic? My cat is like a wild animal at the vet but a baby at home. They recommended the same dosage before he came in.
So that I can safely put her in a carrier to take her for her shots, my vet prescribed 100 mg Gabapentin for my cat. She is 9 years old and only 11.5 pounds. I adopted her a year ago and was told that she came from a house with 3 big bad dogs. She was scared.
It took me at least 5 months to calm her down so that she wouldn’t bite or claw me. Now she is sweet and easy to pet as long as I don’t pet her too long or try to put her in a carrier. My vet also said that the Gabapentin they prescribed for her was formulated for pets. I just learned from my pharmacist that is not true!
Gabapentin is Gabapentin! But I take one, 100mg capsule of that med each night; I weigh 125 pounds. It knocks me flat out. So it seems like 100mg would be way too much for a tiny little cat. Can anyone give me some help with this?
How many milligrams can my cat take? 200mg? I’m trying to calm her down so I can take her to the vet. I gave 100mg already.
Why did my vet prescribe this to my 19 year old cat with Renal Failure? It says right in this article not to give to cats with kidney problems.
I hope you went back to the vet. Our 12 year old cat was prescribed Metacam and he died from kidney failure. Beware!
My cat did also. I feel the vet should reimburse me for the weeks on dialysis and other expenses until they finally told me what happened.
My Vet gave my almost 16 year old Cat the same last week…She was foaming at the mouth and caused her to have severe breathing problems which she did not ever have and caused her heart condition to get worse… I am still in so much shock that she passed away on Easter night…It says everywhere do not give this medication to elderly cats or to kittens…My Mom was given the same earlier at Christmas and she had to stop immediately due to causing severe breathing problems…I am waiting for my Vet to call to see if he will say he is sorry but also I want him to know this medication is used when owners want to euthanize their animal home…If prescribed please do not accept it…I truly believe that medicine made my almost 16 year old cat to pass away…She was still acting like a kitten two weeks ago….I am in huge shock and my big question could this been avoided?
Is it safe to mix gabapentin and tramadol together for a 16 year cat?
My 18 year old cat regularly has 10mg of Tramadol every 12 hours and 50mg of Gabapentin twice a day. This helps him with arthritis pain. He weighs 4.6 kg. He has both the drugs at the same time but they are not mixed together because I got the tramadol compounded into a transdermal gel that I put on the inside flap of his ear.
Tramadol is so bitter that he won’t keep it down even if I get him to swallow it. The gabapentin can’t be compounded into a transdermal gel so I mix half of the powder from the 100mg capsule with a little brown sugar and tiny bit of milk drawn up into a syringe and administer it a quickly as possible down the back of his mouth.
He loathes this partly because the gabapentin is a bit bitter too but not as bitter as the tramadol. The brown sugar takes a bit of edge off the bitterness. The tramadol is best administered by transdermal gel because it absorbs gradually and you avoid the side effect of the drug hitting the cat all at once causing extreme and sudden drowsiness and catatonia.
Put Tramadol in a gelcap and roll it in butter or olive oil. It slides right down and no icky taste.
My vet gave me 25mg of Gabapentin for my 14 year old cat’s nerve ending damage. I’m hoping this will work. Any comments?
Would you consider acupuncture/laser treatments? They have been great for my animals.
My cat had an episode of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). His vet prescribed Gabapentin for 10 days. Can this medication cause kidney problems and/or UTI?
If giving medications is always a struggle, you might consider acupuncture/laser treatments. It doesn’t affect liver or kidney function and relieves inflammation and pain. Of course, it is not a cure but it has worked wonders on my animals, dogs and cat.
It’s so sad vets are resistant to less toxic forms of treatment like acupuncture or maybe even CBS. I’ve tried to suggest it to my cat’s vet but basically get laughed at. Did agree to try Gabapentin, though, with my 19 year old cat this morning and now she’s breathing very heavy, is very lethargic & I’m very concerned if the dose was too much for her.
My 18 year old also had trouble breathing and was falling. He could not stand in the litter box or to eat. Thought the breathing was his heart failure issue but now not so sure.
After going to an emergency vet for the breathing and having the gabapentin increased by them, I think the falling etc. may have been the med. He has not had any today and now can walk better and is breathing better. Check with the vet about this. I am as soon as they call me back!
My 21 year old cat has responded well to Gabapentin. She had calmed down and stopped her frantic howling when on treatment for a month. When I ran out of the med, I waited 3 days and the howling began again. So, I got her back on the Gabapentin. When she first went back on it, she seemed to stumble and lose her balance but the next day she was stable and doing well.
I am a chronic pain patient and gabapentin is one of the meds I use in rotation. I get a lot of side effects from almost anything I take. 100 mg of gabapentin gives me, a huge human, considerable side effects, and I wouldn’t want to drive on it. I usually try taking 50 mg, to try to quiet a pain flare, and only take another 50 mg, if that doesn’t work and I don’t have to go anywhere. For a tiny cat, I’d start very small.
I ask the same question because it ended up with my cat becoming so sick that he had to be put down. I wish I could sue my vet. This is the second time a vet has killed my cat. The other was from meloxicam.
I hope you’ve stopped giving it.
Can you empty a human capsule of Gabapentin, dilute it in water or mix it with wet food and give it to a cat? Is there any difference between human and the cat version of Gabapentin, other then the strength?
@Cathy: Thank you for the info on Tramadol trans-dermal gel. I did not know it existed.
@Donna: No difference in the Gabapentin. My vet suggested I give 100mg of my medication for sedation. Instead of the Acepromazine, I’ve given my cat for years before vet visits. He weighs 12 pounds. He, too, goes absolutely ballistic when anyone picks him up or handles him, and has almost bit the vet!
I want to sedate him, as I assume he’s scared out of his wits, poor baby. He isn’t aggressive at home unless he’s manhandled in some way. It worked well, but lasted a lot longer than the Ace, it is a heavy medication. I have to take at bedtime as it makes me sleepy and dizzy. Also, the Ace is so bland I can crush it and put it in his food and he wolfs it right down. (I always taste any oral medication I give him. ) The Gaba is very bitter. We cannot pill him unless it’s in his food.
My vet has prescribed Gabapentin as a sedative for my cat before her next appointment – 100 mg the evening before, plus 100 mg 90 minutes prior to her appointment at 9.00 a.m. the next morning. She weighs 450kg. Does this seem like a high dosage?
Ellie, my vet has recommended the same: 100mg the night before, plus 100mg two hours before appointment. I have several cats, all weighing between 5-10 pounds. It has worked well for all of them. Some become more sedate than others, but the anxiety level surrounding a vet visit is much reduced. I haven’t tried gaba for a cat’s pain, but it’s on the horizon, as I have several older cats beginning to experience various health problems.
By the way, gabapentin is very bitter! Mixing it with a strong sweetener – honey – will not fool your cat. If your cat can’t take a 100mg capsule, open some of your vitamin capsules, empty them, and put half of the gabapentin in each. And what a good suggestion (above) to coat the capsule with butter or oil (Fish oil, if you have it.)
As I wrote, I take 900mg daily, for arthritis. It makes movement much more tolerable.
I babysit a male cat. He is on 20mg x1 prednisone, Miralax 1/4 teaspoon 2 x Cosequin 1x and was recently put on Gabapentin 100 mg x 1.
He seems to do better on Gabepentin, but vet only gave enough for fourteen days. Ricky is 14 years old and has gained a lot of weight partly due to Prednisone.
He has really bad arthritis so I’m wondering if anyone has tried these meds or combo of meds and what you would suggest. Ricky also gets 3ml of Morphine when needed.
Ricky is not my cat but I watch him often. I’m just trying to get ideas for making him more comfortable. He does walk and climb stairs, but he can’t jump up anymore.
My cat is on Onsior 1 tablet once a day. She has been prescribed Gabapentin 25mg twice a day. Is it safe to give both medications at once? Her blood is normal. She has spondylosis and the Gabapentin is because she has trouble eating (mouth pain possibly). A CT scan cannot identify why. So, the idea was to give Gabapentin in case the problem is nerve pain. I am just nervous to combine and also the side effects.
My 10 year old cat was recently given 50mg of Gabapentin twice daily and Metacam for moderate arthritis. The vet took him off Metacam and put him on Onsior as he thought this would be more beneficial for his pain along with the Gabapentin. I’m sure it’s perfectly safe but my cat didn’t do as well on the Onsior so we switched him back to Metacam. It was probably just the Onsior that didn’t agree with him as much as the Metacam did.
My cat is 15 years old. He was diagnosed with lymphoma about 2 months ago. So far has been doing pretty well with Prednisolone twice a day. Although, he is skin and bones despite being always hungry and eating a lot. I know the end is coming soon, and I had already contacted a vet who makes house calls to come to euthanize him when it is time.
Now with the Coronavirus rampant here, I’m wondering if she’ll be willing/able to come to the house. I am also concerned about my own safety. Is there any way I can help my cat die peacefully at home without pain if the vet is not available? I have several Gabapentin capsules and pills (1,000mg) that were prescribed for my other cat’s arthritis. What dose would I use to euthanize a cat weighing less than 10 pounds? Is this a good option? I’m open to any suggestions.
Do not attempt euthanasia yourself! You will not know for sure when your beloved pet has actually died, as opposed to really lowing heartbeat and breathing. Imagine burying him/her alive! I Suggest asking this vet how they would do it. And, at a minimum, protect yourself with face mask and shower after handling your pet.
My 14 year old cat is very stressed. She had an injury in the past to her back. She also suffers with anxiety and is now on Gabapentin. I gave her a tablet this afternoon. Recently she can’t walk properly staggering and falling over. I am very worried she won’t be able to go to the loo as she is very tired. She is supposed to have one every 8 hours.
My cat weighs 15 pounds. Can I give more than 100 milligrams?
My 9 year old cat has been prescribed Gabapentin (50mg) twice daily. 60 small tablets costs 55 British Pounds. I talked to the vet today and asked if I can use my Gabapentin instead, which would save us a lot of money as he’s also taking Metacam for moderate arthritis. The receptionist told me the Gabapentin is the same medication as I’m taking but was not allowed to say whether it was safe to give him mine or not. She did say I could have a prescription & try to buy the tablets from the Chemist and that would maybe be a cheaper option. Surely, if that’s the case, the medication will be the same as I’m presently taking? Any advice would be appreciated.
My new vet told me to give my 16 year old cat 100mg gabapentin at night after also diagnosing him with kidney failure in the same visit. He was walking stiffly like with arthritis. I gave him one pill and his legs stopped working. He fell over when trying, but keeps trying because she also gave him an appetite stimulant for his ears, so he’s constantly getting up to try to get to the food.
Now, 24 hours later, he can still barely walk. He’s able to cross the room and has peed twice in the litter box on his own but still collapses on his walking. I’m so mad at the vet. Everything online says at his weight of 8 pounds it’s 50-75mg, and to not give to cats with kidney failure.
He wasn’t even in much pain! He was climbing stairs and jumping up to the bed before this pill. Now they want to see him tomorrow and I’m sure they’ll say put him down. She killed my cat!