Meloxicam for cats

In this article:

• Meloxicam uses for cats
• Is meloxicam safe for cats?
• Dosage
• Alternatives
• Summary

In this article

• Meloxicam uses for cats
• Is meloxicam safe for cats?
• Dosage
• Alternatives
• Summary

Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) similar to but more powerful than ibuprofen or aspirin. For cats, veterinary meloxicam can provide much-needed pain relief. Meloxicam is FDA-approved as a one-time injection in cats to relieve pain and swelling due to spays, neuters, or bone or muscle surgery, but veterinarians can prescribe low-dose oral meloxicam off-label as a daily treatment for feline pain. There are risks, so caregivers should closely monitor their cat for side effects while the cat is on meloxicam. 

What is meloxicam used for in cats?

In cats, meloxicam is used to relieve pain. The FDA has approved its use as a one-time injection that’s given right before surgeries: spaying, neutering, or orthopedic surgery. Additionally, international and American veterinary guidelines recommend low-dose meloxicam for long-term pain management in cats, noting it is both safe and effective. 

As an NSAID, meloxicam inhibits the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). These enzymes synthesize prostaglandins, which initiate the process of swelling and pain after an injury. 

RELATED: How to treat your pet’s pain

Spaying, neutering, and orthopedic surgery

Meloxicam is FDA-approved as a single injected dose before ovariohysterectomy (spaying) or castration (neutering). It can also be used as a single injection before orthopedic surgery, such as joint or ligament surgery. In cats, the meloxicam injection is a pre-emptive treatment for post-surgical pain and swelling. Other pain relief drugs may also be used before or immediately after surgery. Following surgery, the cat will probably be sent home with other pain relief medications or therapies.

Daily pain management

For the Food and Drug Administration, multiple doses or the use of meloxicam oral suspension, such as brand-name Metacam, should never be given to cats. All FDA-approved meloxicam products come with a black box warning that repeated doses of meloxicam can cause renal failure or death in cats. 

However, recent research suggests that low-dose meloxicam can be safe and effective for cats when used daily, but the cat requires careful screening, and the pet’s caregiver must dose the cat correctly and monitor the cat closely for side effects. Because meloxicam is associated with kidney damage in cats, caregivers should make sure the cat is drinking enough water to avoid dehydration.

Is meloxicam safe for cats?

Meloxicam is safe for cats as a single one-dose injection before surgery. Multiple doses are considered safe when given in small doses, but the caregiver must monitor the cat closely for side effects. Currently, only two NSAIDs are FDA-approved for use in cats: meloxicam as a single-dose injection and robenacoxib for up to three doses. 

Meloxicam decreases blood flow to the kidneys, so even a single dose can cause mild kidney dysfunction. Because of its adverse effects on the kidneys, meloxicam and other NSAIDs may be too risky to give to a cat with kidney disease. Kidney problems due to meloxicam are also a risk for dehydrated cats or cats with low blood pressure. To avoid these risks, veterinarians will carefully screen the cat and perform blood tests before administering meloxicam.

Meloxicam is never safe to give to cats who are dehydrated or who have:

• Low blood pressure
• Advanced kidney disease
• Liver dysfunction
• Gastrointestinal issues such as lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, GI bleeding, or GI disease

Meloxicam should not be given to cats taking other NSAIDs, corticosteroids, or aminoglycoside antibiotics.

Side effects of meloxicam in cats

In clinical trials, the most common side effects of a single dose of injected meloxicam in cats were:

• Post-treatment anemia
• Renal dysfunction (as measured by increases in serum blood urea nitrogen)
• Injection site pain

Other side effects are possible, including:

• Gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Behavior changes

The most serious adverse events of meloxicam in cats are usually due to giving the cat repeated doses. These include:

• Renal failure
• Death

Cats on daily doses of meloxicam must be carefully monitored for side effects. If any side effects are observed, caregivers should immediately stop administering meloxicam to the cat and contact the veterinarian.

Cats on daily meloxicam are at risk of kidney damage or death, so caregivers must ensure the cat is drinking enough water to maintain healthy fluid levels. If the cat stops drinking, call the veterinarian for advice.

Interactions of meloxicam with other pet meds

Other pet meds can interact with meloxicam, so tell the veterinarian about any other medications, supplements, or vitamins the cat is receiving. A veterinarian is less likely to use meloxicam if the cat is taking certain types of drugs, such as:

• Other NSAIDs
• Corticosteroids like prednisone or dexamethasone
• Diuretics
• Drugs that damage the kidneys, such as aminoglycoside antibiotics
• Blood pressure drugs called ACE inhibitors
• Anticoagulants (blood thinners)
• Methotrexate

Meloxicam dosage for cats

The FDA-recommended meloxicam dosage for cats is 0.3 mg/kg, administered as a single subcutaneous injection before surgery. The FDA advises that additional doses of meloxicam or other NSAIDs should not be used for pain control after surgery.

For daily pain relief, the recommended dosage is 0.01–0.05 mg/kg administered orally. Guidelines recommend that cats be given the lowest possible dose to reduce the risk of serious side effects.

Can cats overdose on meloxicam?

Because veterinarians inject meloxicam in cats as a single dose before surgery, a meloxicam overdose is unlikely. 

If the cat is sent home with oral meloxicam, overdoses are a very serious risk. Follow the veterinarian’s instructions and the instructions packaged with the medicine very carefully. Daily doses of meloxicam can cause serious kidney problems, so an overdose will contribute to that risk. If an overdose is suspected, discontinue the medication and contact the veterinarian.

Can I give my cat meloxicam every day?

Veterinarians consider meloxicam safe to give to a cat every day, but caregivers must be cautious to avoid overdoses, watch for side effects, and make sure the cat stays hydrated.

How to give your cat meloxicam

Meloxicam is a risky drug for cats, but it can be safe if caregivers are attentive. The veterinarian will prescribe an oral suspension, like Metacam. The veterinarian may give caregivers a custom instruction sheet for dosing cats. Otherwise, caregivers will have to follow the veterinarian’s instructions included with the medicine. Meloxicam veterinary suspensions are intended for dogs, so here are the best practices:

• Give the cat only one dose every 24 hours.

• Always shake the bottle before measuring a dose.

• Always mix the dose with food. This will help prevent giving too much medicine.

• For small cats, use the dropper provided with the medicine.

• Most cats can be given doses with the oral syringe.

If you use the dropper:

• Depending on the dose, the veterinarian may ask you to use the dropper or the oral syringe.

• Ask the veterinarian how many drops to give. The number of drops will be based on the suspension’s dosage strength (0.5 mg/mL or 1.5 mg/mL).

If you use the oral syringe:

• For syringes that come with the medicine, doses are measured in pounds, but these are doses for dogs! Cats will get smaller doses per pound.

• Ask the veterinarian what dose to give your cat, and mark it on the dosing syringe.

• Alternatively, the veterinarian may supply an oral syringe. Again, mark the correct dose on the syringe.

Store the meloxicam suspension at room temperature. Because the medicine is sweetened, keep it out of the reach of children and pets.

Meloxicam alternatives for cats

Although meloxicam is FDA-approved as a single-dose injection for cats before surgery, veterinarians have a safer choice for multiple days of NSAID therapy: Onsior (robenacoxib). This NSAID is administered as a single tablet or injection before surgery, and the cat is then sent home with additional tablets for up to three doses over three days. However, ISFM and AAFP guidelines consider robenacoxib safe for long-term use at low doses.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) advises veterinarians to use multiple therapies to treat post-surgical pain in dogs and cats. In this way, pain is managed by targeting several different pain mechanisms. Veterinarians will choose the medications they believe are most appropriate for your cat’s situation, but they are likely to send the cat home with more than one drug or therapy. Meloxicam is a “pre-emptive” pain reliever. It’s given before anesthesia to reduce pain after the surgery. 

In addition, postsurgical pain can vary widely among cats. Some cats may need more pain relief than others, so doses or therapies may need to be modified in the days following surgery. Cat owners should be aware of the clinical signs of pain and distress in cats and contact a veterinarian if the cat is not responding well to drugs or therapies. 

As far as drugs are concerned, veterinarians have other and sometimes better choices for both post-operative pain and daily pain relief for cats. These include:

• Opioids: Tramadol and buprenorphine are common choices, but the cat may balk at the taste.
• Gabapentin: Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that is safe in cats and can be prescribed in a broad range of doses. This makes it a good choice if the cat has more pain than expected.
• Amantadine: Amantadine is an antiviral medication that can be used as an add-on treatment when pain is largely caused by nerves.
• Amitriptyline: Amitriptyline is an antidepressant that can also be used along with a pain reliever for nerve pain.
• Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids like prednisolone significantly reduce swelling and pain, so they’re suitable for cancer pain, joint pain, or musculoskeletal pain.
• Biologic drugs: Solensia (frunevetmab) is a monoclonal antibody that can relieve osteoarthritis pain in cats. Once-monthly injections relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and increase mobility.

Alternative pain relief therapies that don’t involve drugs include:

• Changes to the environment
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Cold therapy
• Acupuncture
• Massage
• Weight management

If interested, ask the veterinarian for advice about using these alternative pain treatments.

RELATED: Discount pet meds

Summary

Meloxicam is an NSAID that is FDA-approved as a single-dose injection to treat surgical pain in cats, but low-dose meloxicam may be safe as a daily pain treatment. A single-dose meloxicam injection may be appropriate if your cat is getting spayed, neutered, or undergoing orthopedic surgery. When a cat is on daily meloxicam, pet parents must be careful to ensure the proper dosage, monitor for side effects, keep the cat hydrated, and call the veterinarian if any problems arise.