Cats are extremely sensitive creatures and anything outside their comfort zone is stressful to them, and you may think to give them Lorazepam.
Their noses are fourteen times more sensitive than ours and they can hear a larger amplitude of sound so they are more vulnerable to the changes in environment. The roar of an engine can be a near deaf experience and the smell of oil can be nauseating.
Some cats become so stressed their owners might feel the need to sedate them before they die of a heart attack.
Can I give my cat Lorazepam? Answer: Consult With Vet First
Lorazepam is an anxiety medication commonly used on people. The feline metabolism differs from that of humans and as a result many drugs and medications that work on people are just plain poison to cats. However, lorazepam has shown to have similar anxiety reducing and sedating effects on cats and in minute doses is not toxic to them. It is a fast acting drug and as such is used to sedate aggressive patients and can in theory work to sedate aggressive or panicked cats.
Giving your cat drugs should never be taken lightly because they often come with undesired side effects. Lorazepam can cause your cat to lose its balance and coordination. Always consult a veterinarian before administering any medication.
Lorazepam Dosage for Cats
Sedation is always a risky affair and should be done by a veterinarian. Drugs can always have unexpected side effects and are best administered by professionals. However, lorazepam in limited doses is usually safe for cats. If you decide to sedate your cat yourself, keep in mind that it is always best to err on the side of caution. Lorazepam is usually available for humans in pills of 0.5 milligrams. It is advised to give a quarter of one of the 0.5 mg pills to see how the cat reacts. If your feline companion is still stressed and restless it may be necessary to give another quarter of the pill. Do not give your cat more than half a pill every 24 hours.
Side Effects and Precautions
Medication always has side effects. The relaxing effect of Lorazepam is so effective that it can make your cat dizzy and lose coordination. This is actually a part of the desired effect. However, it also hampers the respiratory drive and should therefore not be given to cats that suffer from respiratory disorders such as asthma. Lorazepam should be avoided in cats that are planning to travel by airplane since the extreme state of relaxation and the influence on respiratory systems might interfere with their ability to regulate their breathing and heart rate to accommodate for changes in cabin pressure.
It is also an addictive drug, so each time you use it you increase the chances of making your cat a drug addict. Do not give your whiskered companion Lorazepam if he or she has experienced any allergic reactions to the ingredients of Lorazepam or any other sedatives.
Prepare Your Cat for Stress
It is no secret that it is sometimes easier to sedate your cat during travel. Their growls, hisses, and finally claws will make it very clear they are in no mood to move. However, there are other options that might help reduce the stress involved in traveling. The simplest method is to familiarize them with the environment. Put familiar objects in their carrier like their favorite toy or their beloved blanket. Give them treats while in the carrier to increase the positive associations. Progressively letting them spend more time in the car is an excellent way to get them used to the area.
Once they realize nothing bad happens in that space they will feel more comfortable being there. It takes a considerable amount of advance planning and patience, but it’s much healthier for the cat.
Pheromone Spray
Another option to make your cat more comfortable while traveling is a pheromone spray. The spray contains synthetic pheromones that communicate to the cat that the surroundings are safe and secure. In addition to your own soothing tones, it might just be enough to keep your clawed companion calm.
Sedation Always Involves Risk
The best option is always to travel without sedation whenever possible. Certainly look into other alternatives before you risk encountering any health problems. Lorazepam in low doses is relatively safe for cats, but make sure you are careful with the dose you provide. The safest option for sedation is still a visit to the veterinarian.
Making your cat a drug addict is absolute lunacy.
Our cat suffers from transferred aggression. She would attack our other cat suddenly and violently. 1/4 pill of Lorazepam twice a day keeps her happy and the rest of the household safe. In our case, the only other alternative was euthanasia. That is lunacy.
How do you administer it? I just smashed some up in a little water but he probably won’t drink it.
It is a true phenomenon in humans and animals. Passive aggressive. We were at the same desperate point with our kitty. Typically, female. As a last measure, we consulted with a cat behavior specialist. She started here on Fluoxetine 2mg. It worked overnight. Each morning she got it and was treated to a brand new little cat nip mouse. We made a point to shower her with attention, and redirecting her attention when she even remotely mimicked that “savage” behavior. She was completely of the Prozac in a year.
With all do respect- Ativan is addictive. Not just to humans, but in ANY central nervous system. Therefore, requiring increasingly large dosages to get desired affect. It is not designed for long term standing doses. That class of meds for anxiety (benzodiazepan), are for very short term use.
You would be so amazed at the difference. Ask your vet. Good luck to you and your pet thanks you for all that good love and care.
As for the previous comment I must be an addict because I have been using lorazepam over 18 years. That being said if I give it to 1 or 2 of my pride they to are addicts. I have 4 furrow cats with the 1st two having the same mother. In the beginning they reacted to each other like siblings. (I’m skipping a lot of this history) in the next 3 to 4 years another cat and kitten made my front porch home.
The oldest one the only female I named stupid. My girlfriend of 3 years doesn’t like that and with her dysfunctional personality calls her baby. Anyway some time around #3 Catsonova moving in baby isolated herself and became nocturnal she was once again afraid of me and every other living thing.
(Another long skip) Last year I bought a 5th wheel trailer, and so I could take the pride with me I bought a much larger 40′ toy hauler, this is a trailer with a 12 foot garage for carrying a small vehicle. The extra space is for the cats. I have spent as much time as I have been able to leave the garage ramp open and spent time in it with the door open for the cats to come in. It has been working fine.
Back to Baby. I. Couldn’t stand the though of leaving her behind to fend for herself. SO. I caught her a few months back and have had her locked In the house I just left her alone to find her way around.
She has not been making much progress getting along with the other cats and is still hiding during the day and coming out at night snuggling with us. Keeping us awake.
I started giving her about 1/4 of a .5mg tab. Once or twice a day every few days she has now rebonded with her brother and. Gets along with the other cats. They all sleep on the bed and eat together. When she gets hissy again I give her the meds again. Just like I take them.
You’ve gotten all your ferals fixed, right? They’ll get along much better with each other and will be so much happier without that terrible instinctive drive to reproduce. I have 10 cats and there are only 2 that can’t seem to work out their issues with each other.
My daughter had a 14 year old cat with stomach issues. She wanted to take her to the vet. This cat is very aggressive, high strung and freaks out when she goes to the vet. Gabapentin was suggested as a sedative the night before.
This cat goes outside a lot, and she went outside that evening. She has never been seen again. My theory was that she had stomach cancer and went off to die but I wonder if the medication made her confused and she got lost.
This is pretty heartbreaking to hear. Why would you give a cat new medication and allow it to go outside without supervision? You wouldn’t let a child outside when sick and on meds. It seems cruel to allow that for a cat.
I need to catch my skittish inside cat that somehow got outside under our house. How can I quickly sedate him to catch him before he dies of starvation or heat stroke?
You need to go down to your local animal control through the county you live, or humane society and get a trap. They show you how to set it. Place as close to cat as possible. Check it every 2 hrs. He will eventually be trapped. You may trap other cats. Simply release animal and refill food, then set. Usually once a unintented animal gets traps, they stay back. Be patient. Good luck.
We have been feeding my cat twice a day. She talks and late at night she comes and talks to our indoor cats and then will lay on the rug in our front door. She knows she is safe in our yard. I want to sedate her to net her or throw a heavy blanket on her. Soon the snow will be falling. Any tips I take 2ml how much for a 10 pound cat?
1/4 of 0.5mg (not ml) (1/16 of a tablet if you have 2mg tablets. 1/2 of 1/2 of 1/2 of 1/2 of 1 of your 2 mg tablets OR 1/4 of 1/4 of one of your 2 mg tablets.
If you have liquid then I would not give it as that is impossible to measure accurately with the eye. Less is better and then observe.
Does she stagger, faint, drool, gasp, have a seizure, diarrhea, get more agitated? If none of those things, or any other odd, or scary, or dangerous things happen then, observe Does she calm down, rest, sleep? If so, then that was a good dose. If not, then another same dose can be tried. Observe some more and do NOT exceed 2 doses in one full day (24 hrs). Wait 24 hours before you give more after the 2nd dose.
I suggest only giving Lorazepam if you have tried, play, cuddling, food, phermones (brand I use is Feliway by Ceva) that mimic momma cats comforting scents (humans generally cannot detect cat pheromones.)
If you are giving your cat anything NOT prescribed FOR your cat, then at least look up the nearest emergency vet first and be prepared to drive him/her there. —Have had cats for 54 years, attended cat surgery, births, deaths, and worked in the medical field for humans taking repeat Pharmacological classes. Hope this helps…
Hi Sue Adams. Thank you for helping. Could you express that in mg per pound, please? I calculated from your calculations 0.0125 per pound but don’t think what I calculated can be right.
1/4 of 0.5 mg = 0.125 mg for a ten-pound cat
0.125 divided by 10 = 0.0125 mg per pound
So, for an 8 pound cat, the dosage would be 8 x 0.0125 = 0.1 mg, ie. one tenth of a milligram.
I have 1.5 mg tablets. So I would need to give my eight-pound cat 1/15th of a tablet?
I am driving over 1,200 miles with my once feral cat. She is almost 6, weighs 12 pounds. Last year I gave her 0.5mg of Lorazepam to calm her for this trip. It worked great. She was a doll.
This year her anxiety increased when I gave it to her. I crushed a pill into her wet cat food. Meowed all day and a nuisance in the car, climbing all over the driver. Up all night in motel. Ate and drank more than usual. I was agitated to a point my driver was completely distracted and angry.
It is 3am and I can’t sleep due to her. I may have to choose between my pet and my companion because we travel often.
Sounds like your cat doesn’t travel well. Almost none do. This type of travel required a Vet consultation. Ativan is a very short acting medication. You could have prepared yourself with transdermal meds for anxiety.
If you think you and you partner we’re miserable, how do you think the kitty felt? I lost my patience with your comment, when you closed by saying, “I guess I have to choose my cat or my partner). Please, get a house plant next time.
Try a (pheromone) calming collar, Walmart $20, lasts 30+ days.
My vet recommended this for may cat since she started to attack my other cat, dog and myself. She prescribed a liquid form. I pick it up tomorrow. No one will take her. I do not want her to be put down so sedation it is.
My cat is a rescue (like all of my animals), but I saved him when he was a kitten. This was 6 or 7 years ago. He is a domestic long hair. I have had a problem lately keeping my cats inside of my new home. I have 2 acres of land and a large house. I don’t want to keep my cats from roaming, but with 3 kids plus a adopted kid, and so many fur babies, I can’t afford to pay for flea meds on the regular for maintenance.
The groomer won’t take him. He has fleas, and I can’t get him together because he has mats under his arms and belly and he has tried to kill me. He’s black n white fluffy and mean. I need to sedate him. So I can get the flea problem under control. My mom’s got cancer. I am going to try to sedate my cat to prevent further infestation. Help me please! I don’t want to hurt him but my 3 year old is getting eaten by fleas and he’s more important.
I need to bathe an outdoor cat I adopted and want to make it an indoor cat. I have 1mg Lorazepam tabs. How much should I give him to calm him for a quick bath? He is about 16 months old.