{"id":627200,"date":"2024-03-06T16:57:35","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T21:57:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=627200"},"modified":"2025-11-07T17:32:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T22:32:55","slug":"trazodone-for-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/trazodone-for-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Trazodone for cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trazodone<\/span><\/a> is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SARI) used to treat people with depression. In veterinary care, trazodone is commonly prescribed to treat dogs with anxiety-related behavior issues and sometimes as a sedative before vet visits. Although veterinarians sometimes use trazodone in cats, it\u2019s more widely used and well-studied in dogs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t

\n\t\t\t

Save up to 80% on Trazodone with SingleCare<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.<\/p>\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tTrazodone 50 mg (30 Tablet)\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t23666 - Hampton, VA\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Kroger\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t$6.06\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Harris\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t$6.06\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tSee Trazodone prices at all pharmacies<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/span><\/p>\n

What is trazodone used for in cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Veterinarians may use trazodone to help cats relax in situations that cause situational anxiety, such as veterinary visits, hospitalization, thunderstorms, or travel. It may also be prescribed to prevent cats from being overly active while they recover from surgery. However, veterinarians are more likely to use <\/span>gabapentin<\/span><\/a> to sedate cats since its use has been better studied than trazodone and proven effective and safe. Some veterinarians may add a trazodone dose to the gabapentin dose <\/span>in exceptional cases<\/span><\/a> where the gabapentin doesn\u2019t sufficiently calm the cat\u2019s behaviors.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Gabapentin for cats<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

For trazodone to effectively calm cats, it must be given about two hours before the cat experiences stress. For instance, if the cat needs sedation for vet visits, the pet parents should give the trazodone dose two hours before putting that cat in a carrier for transport. They will have to give their cat a tablet. If this proves too hard, the vet can provide a liquid version for easier dosing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Long-term use of trazodone for anxiety<\/span><\/h3>\n

Trazodone\u2019s use as a long-term anxiety medication has not been researched in cats, even though it is used in dogs as an add-on daily medication <\/span>to calm anxiety-related behavior problems<\/span><\/a>, such as aggressiveness or fearfulness. For long-term use in cats, most veterinarians start with a <\/span>selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)<\/span><\/a> like Reconcile <\/span>(fluoxetine)<\/span><\/a> or a tricyclic antidepressant such as <\/span>amitriptyline<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>clomipramine<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>imipramine<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>doxepin<\/span><\/a>, since these drugs have dosage guidelines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>How trazodone can help anxious dogs<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Is trazodone safe for cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Trazodone is not well-studied in cats. In two studies using trazodone to calm cats before and during a vet visit, trazodone doses of <\/span>50 mg, 75 mg, and 100 mg<\/span><\/a> were effective and didn\u2019t cause any side effects that would cause worry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Side effects of trazodone in cats<\/span><\/h3>\n

The most common side effects of trazodone in cats are relatively mild and include:<\/span><\/p>\n