Fluoxetine for my cat

Hey, I thought I’d come on here and share some insight if anyone considered having their cat on meds for behavioural issues. This is just my experience, I’m not a pet behaviourist or a vet just a cat mama.

My cat is 9 and indoors, desexed and the only pet in the home. He doesn’t like other animals, he becomes extremely aggressive ie redirected aggression so I could never bring another animal in the home in his lifetime.

My cat was extremely vocal, would scream at the door or windows when I was coming home and would try and break out. He’d stalk my guests and try to attack them, he bites a lot, particularly my boyfriend. He’d wake me up every night, I hadn’t gotten a full night sleep in years at home but I’d accepted that a long time ago. He’d have good and bad days, the bad days he’d be restless and knock things off shelves and bite, scratch the walls and yowl and then other days where he’d be relaxed and sleep and cuddle. I tried herbal supplements for his moods, wall plugins and spray, and it didn’t do a whole lot.

For his enrichment I’d take him outside in the garden under my supervision in the mornings for 20 minutes, play with him on his cat tower, bought soft blankets for him to lay on, snuffle mats for treats and a cat tunnel.

I knew that he wasn’t happy and wasn’t content, I’d worked with a pet behaviourist years ago when his redirected aggression was at its worst and that helped some but not a lot. I spoke with my vet and we decided to try fluoxetine to see if that would make him feel better and enjoy his life. I won’t lie, I felt so guilty and questioned it this was the right thing to do. What made me decide ‘Yep, it’s worth it to try’ was the fact that in a few years I’d have a baby and there’s no way I’d be able to trust the cat around the baby. I’d rather we find a solution now so when the time comes the cat is settled and happy and the baby is safe.

My cat has been on it for two weeks, and the results have been remarkable. He’s so much happier and playful, he’s able to relax and enjoy pets and kisses from my boyfriend, when I come home now he’s on his armchair (you read that right, his own armchair) laying down and looking at me happy instead of yowling at the door. He’s biting has gone down drastically, he’s now rubbing his head on shins for attention rather than biting. He’s so much happier and calmer, and I’m very glad with my decision. He’s eating the same amount as before, sleeping even less but still normal amount for a cat and he’s content.