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Has anyone tried cat sedatives?
What are they like? How do I know I'm getting something safe for kitty? Our cat likes to meow at night, sometimes for hours. Please help!
Asked by
Member 636086
on May 28th 2008
in Noisiness
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- This question is closed.
Best Answer
I'm with Izzie. I am almost 2 and I still do some of that stuff. You just need to tire your cat out beforehand (that is not to say you will be able to sleep until 10 AM - you got a cat, you have to be a morning person now), and failing that, you learn to ignore the ruckus they make long enough to realize that making so much noise at night does not work. Worst comes to worst, you need to think whether he would be happier with someone who pays more attention to him, or with having another cat around to play with.
Boris answered on May 29th.
Other Answers
Answers
You can't sedate your cat at night, every night, that's really bad for him. Your cat is either telling you that he is bored or lonely. To keep our kitties quiet at night we play with them for 15 minutes, feed them, and bring out all of their special toys before we go to bed (We hide most of their special toys during the day). That way they're tired and have things to do. I also leave the door open to my room because they like to sleep with me. If they fight or act up they go in the study, which is also their kitty room and they tend to quiet down in there. Once they turned 3 they both started calming down at night, kittens tend to be more nocturnal.
If you do decide to sedate your cat for reasons such as travel you need to consult the vet and make sure your cat is healthy enough to be sedated and then get a recommended dosage from him.
Sam
answered on 5/28/08.
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The previous post is full of good advice. The only thing I would add is that I often wonder if people who consider psychoactive drugs for their cats have ever tried them themselves. Psychoactive drugs are notorious for being hit or miss (they may work, they may not, they may work for a while and then stop working), and they may also have totally unexpected side effects--antidepressants in humans not uncommonly have the opposite side effect of causing mania. Tranquilizers, which in the human realm are usually benzodiazepines, frequently have a tendency to stop working and even CAUSE anxiety, because the body develops tolerance toward them and undergoes withdrawal symptoms while taking the drugs. This is bad enough for humans, who have at least a certain understanding of their mental state and the ability to describe it, but cats do not have these capacities. Also, psychoactive drugs are still inadequately researched in humans, and I would suspect this is also true in the case of cats.
Chibi
answered on 5/28/08.
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I agree with both previous answers. If you are the same cat owner who posted regarding the dog whistle for your kitty, and now you are posting about sedatives, then you really need to examine your reason for having a pet in the first place. There is a reason your kitty is meowing at night. Cats are nocturnal creatures. He may not be getting enough attention during the day from you. Have you considered getting him a companion kitty? I truly believe your kitty is meowing at night because he lonely or bored or both. Please consult with your vet to see what he/she suggests to occupy your kitty at night or what you can do to make him more comfortable.
Izadore (Izzie)
answered on 5/28/08.
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