Use of pharmacological therapy for behavioral modulation of domestic cats
Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31533/pubvet.v19n05e1774Keywords:
behavioral disorders, domestic cats, pharmaceuticals, treatmentAbstract
The lack of natural knowledge of domestic cats on the part of owners, associated with the increase in behavioral disorders, makes the use of modulating medications necessary to reverse behavioral problems. The objective of this study was to review the use of behavioral modulating medications in the medical clinic for domestic cats. The present work referred to a bibliographical review survey and analysis of works researched electronically through an internet database. Veterinary medical literature works in English and Portuguese, published between 2003 and 2022, were selected. Domestic cats, having been domesticated quickly and with the lack of understanding of natural behavior by their owners, led to errors in environmental management, health and food, causing behavioral problems in domestic cats. As a result, veterinarians needed to learn about their natural behavior. However, some cats need medical help to treat wandering behaviors until environmental management is carried out correctly. The most common errant behaviors are anxiety, fear/phobia, frustration, depression and repetitive behaviors, which can be treated with a specific medication class, such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), represented by amitriptyline, clomipramine, imipramine and doxepin; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline; benzodiazepines such as alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam and diazepam, in the class of anticonvulsants there is gabapentin; and the azapirone class, the medication used is buspirone. Each class presents different neural reactions and actions, which treat behavioral disorders. Behavioral problems in domestic cats are increasingly common in veterinary medicine due to the high rate of recent adoptions and the owner's lack of knowledge regarding the natural behavior of cats, causing behavioral problems that require domestic and pharmacological management to correct feline wandering behavior, with the use of psychotropic medications.
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