Clomicalm - effects on cat

[MrsSchadenfreude]

My cat has been prescribed Clomicalm in an attempt to stop her soiling outside of her tray. She has been on the tablets for about a week now, and they seem to be having a remarkably odd effect on her:

She sleeps in a box in the bedroom all the time, or on the windowsill, and doesn't want to leave the bedroom.

When she is not asleep, she is sitting bolt upright with staring eyes and very dilated pupils.

She is not interested in food or playing, strokes or anything.

I thought it was having some effect on the poo issue, but she performed outside of the box again tonight.

A bit of background as to how we got to this stage: We have already gone through Feliway (she pooped next to the diffuser), Zylkene (no effect), have ruled out UTIs (but vet put her on special urinary cat food in case there was a problem). She was not just pooping next to the box, but would also do it right next to her food, while she was being stroked, essentially, just where she happened to be at the time. The other cat finds this very distasteful, and shouts loudly at her when she does it (he was particularly unimpressed with the turd next to his food). She just gives him a "fuck you, mate" look, and stomps off.

I'm going to call the vet tomorrow, but does anyone know if these are normal side effects, and will they improve/will she get a bit more normal? Or do we need to try another drug?

Ths is the 3 year old who used to pee and poo everywhere with gay abandon? Has she stopped peeing outside her tray?

Yes, touch wood, the sprinkling of our duvet and pillows, rugs, tea towels, abandoned children's pants with wee wee has now stopped.

I don't know about Clomicalm side-effects although what she's doing in terms of the sitting and staring etc brings to mind a cat who is a bit confused and scared and is trying to fight druggy feelings to stay alert in case of any danger. Has she got a really safe and warm place to go that she can get to easily if she's not feeling up to climbing?

Oh -and remind me - how many trays has she got available to her ? (Or how many between two(?) cats.) I can't remember if the other cat uses a tray as well or if they get on with each other.

Have you thought of trying a homeopathic remedy? One of our young cats was killed by a car last September and his brother became extremely anxious and depressed for months after. He would hardly go out, lost weight due to barely eating and slept most of the time. Tried feliway but didn't make much of a difference.
The vet mentioned a homeopathic compound (drops) called Dorwest Valerian compound which can be added to food and is attractive to cats as we didn't want to distress our cat anymore by giving him tablets given his history of spitting them out.
We found it calmed him down and reduced his anxious behaviour (started jumping of tops of doors and kitchen cupboards) and he's started spending more time outdoors now the weathers better.
Recently decided to try the Dorwest Skullcap & Valerian tablets which we put in his food and have found that he is happy to eat them that way. Overtime they build up in the system so have a lasting effect and can already see an improvement in him (not hiding under covers to sleep, not complaining at being picked up, rubbing around legs and generally a bit brighter in himself).
Can be used in conjunction with the compound if needed. Hoping that by starting now it'll make his cattery stay later in the year more bearable as he doesn't have the comfort of his brother this time.
Cheaper to buy online but can be bought via vets. May be worth a try....

Perhaps try drafting in the help of a cat behaviourist. (like a psychotherapist, but for cats) Your vet should know of some reputable ones.

Cozie - she has a little box in our bedroom that she has adopted as "hers", that she likes to sleep in. The cats have two trays - we did have three but got rid of the third one, as it was never used. Both are out of the way, in quiet locations, but easily accessible. She seems better this morning - the fixed staring and dilated pupils are no more, she has eaten her breakfast, and we had a little cuddle. She is now curled up on the bed with the other cat, who is giving her a wash, she is "making pudding" and purring loudly.

Dorwest - thank you for the recommendation. I'll ask the vet about it when we take her back.

Maybe she's started to adjust to/relax into the feeling of the meds and realizes that the sky isn't falling after all - it seems like a positive step anyway so I'd be interested to know how she gets on.

Useful recommendations from Mantra and Mykittens there.

She is now sitting on the mantlepiece watching Grand Designs.

Sounds good - has she used her tray today though?

Yes! Apart from yesterday, she has been much better about doing it in the box. She has been more "normal" today, and ate a nice big bowl of food this evening. But she is a nightmare to medicate! It really is a wrestling match - have tried pill pockets, mixing with food, crushing with butter or marmite, and all get refused, so it is hold her down, open the little jaws and pop the tiny tablet in. I never knew cats could spit so far...

Seniorboy is a pill phobic - I wouldn't even attempt to give him one. (And his vet wouldn't bother to even prescribe them.) Maybe try additionally the drops recommended above if your vet is OK with them?

We seem to have gone two steps back today. A big pile of poo on the bathroom floor. She won't come out of the bedroom, and won't go near the kitchen (so I am feeding her in the bedroom) - possibly because that is where we medicate her. We are back to lethargy and dilated pupils. And lots of miaowing. She spent all night on our windowsill (it's a nice wide one), has eaten, and has now rushed back to the windowsill. I am going to call the vet and ask his advice.

I have taken her off the Clomicalm, and she is much more her normal self, and touch wood, no accidents, although Gentleman Pussy, who usually shouts at her when she performs outside the box, has just done a massive wee on the carpet, so back to the vet tomorrow with him...