{"id":630941,"date":"2025-01-06T18:12:16","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T23:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630941"},"modified":"2025-01-06T18:12:16","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T23:12:16","slug":"buspirone-for-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/buspirone-for-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"How is buspirone used for cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buspirone<\/span><\/a> (brand name: BuSpar) is a mild anxiety medication that can help cats with low-grade <\/span>anxieties<\/span><\/a> or behavior problems. In particular, buspirone is an effective and safe treatment for inappropriate spraying or urine marking. Unlike other drugs used to treat anxiety or marking, buspirone has minimal side effects and produces only mild sedation. Caregivers will have to consistently give the cat two to three doses a day for buspirone to work.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Buspirone<\/span><\/a> is a mild <\/span>anti-anxiety medication<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s appropriate for cats with low-grade anxieties, fears, and behavior problems. Veterinarians particularly prefer buspirone as a treatment for urine marking and spraying. It\u2019s not as effective as other treatments but doesn\u2019t cause noticeable sedation or muscle relaxation as other urine-spraying medications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Buspirone is not FDA-approved for use in cats and dogs, so its use in veterinary medicine is \u201coff-label.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Anxiety and problem behaviors<\/span><\/h3>\n

Cat owners are probably familiar with both feline anxiety and unwanted behaviors. They seem to be a normal part of being a cat. However, sometimes worry, anxiety, fears, and behaviors can be hard on the cat and caregivers, seriously affecting the quality of life for both. Veterinarians can help with advice, non-pharmacological treatments, and medications if necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because cats can\u2019t verbalize their anxieties and worries, caregivers and veterinarians can only identify anxious or worried cats from their behaviors, such as excessive grooming, aggressiveness, hostility, hiding, avoiding people, crying, meowing, and inappropriate soiling or urination. Feline anxiety is so closely associated with problem behaviors that they\u2019re sometimes considered interchangeable in terms of treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Veterinarians prefer to start with changes to the cat\u2019s environment, usually removing anything that stresses the cat. Medications or supplements might help calm the cat when environmental changes don’t work. Since the goal of therapy is to reduce overall anxiety, these medications and supplements must be used every day. The medications used are not appropriate to treat situational anxiety due to a temporary stressful event like travel or a vet visit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Veterinarians usually start treatment with antidepressants, but buspirone is sometimes a good alternative for low-grade anxieties or problem behaviors in a cat that may be vulnerable to adverse effects of other medications. It has very few side effects and doesn\u2019t make the cat drowsy like other drugs. It is also a strong candidate to treat social phobias or urine marking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike other anxiety treatments, buspirone markedly reduces a cat\u2019s inhibitions. <\/span>One veterinarian<\/span><\/a> calls buspirone the \u201cbravery drug\u201d since it makes cats bolder, more affectionate, and more eager to engage in social interactions. Unfortunately, it can also make aggressive cats even more aggressive, so veterinarians generally avoid it in those cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among feline behavior disorders, inappropriate urine marking and spraying are among<\/span> the most common complaints<\/span><\/a> caregivers have. It is also <\/span>one of the top ten reasons<\/span><\/a> pet owners relinquish their cats to a shelter. Since over <\/span>70%<\/span><\/a> of cats relinquished to shelters are euthanized, successfully treating a cat for urine marking can be life-saving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, veterinarians prefer to start with changes to the cat\u2019s environment, such as removing stressors, regularly cleaning the litter box, using litter attractants, or using pheromone sprays or diffusers. However, anti-anxiety drugs like antidepressants and sedatives are very effective at reducing or eliminating marking behaviors and may help other nonpharmacological treatments succeed. Buspirone is particularly effective but not the most effective, but it does have the best side effects profile. In <\/span>the defining study<\/span><\/a>, 55% of the cats given buspirone reduced their marking behaviors by over 75% without unwanted adverse effects like drowsiness, lethargy, weight gain, and other issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Buspirone is a more demanding medication for caregivers than the alternatives. Pet parents will need to consistently give two or three doses every day. It will take <\/span>seven to 30 days<\/span><\/a> of continual daily dosing before the cat shows improvements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Buspirone is a long-term treatment that is considered safer than other anxiolytics. Its side effects are minimal, and it causes minimal or no sedation in most cats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Buspirone is not safe for cats that have had an allergic reaction to buspirone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Veterinarians use it cautiously in pregnant or lactating cats as well as cats with kidney disease or liver impairment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Buspirone can make aggressive cats more aggressive, so veterinarians are wary about using it in cats with a history of aggression or hostility.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The most common side effects of buspirone in cats are:<\/span><\/p>\n