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The sedation side effect is promoted by combining gabapentin with other sedating medications such as antihistamines, mirtazapine, CBD, or narcotic pain relievers. Concerns and Cautions. Gabapentin may be given with or without food. Doses for cats are small enough that a compounding pharmacy may need to prepare an appropriate product. NB: The sedative dose (>20 mg/kg) is higher than the analgesic dose of gabapentin in cats (gabapentin for analgesia in cats = 5 – 10 mg/kg or 25 – 50 mg per cat, PO, BID) The use of pre-hospital gabapentin has been the single most effective tool for reducing fear and anxiety in healthy cats that I and many clinicians have used. Determining how much gabapentin to give your cat for sedation requires careful consideration and professional veterinary advice. Understanding gabapentin’s role, dosage guidelines, and potential side effects is crucial for responsible and effective use. Oral gabapentin in cats – often without additional sedation/premedication – can be used by house-call and clinic-bound veterinarians to facilitate examination, blood draws, cystocentesis, blood glucose curves, ultrasound exams and additional injections. Some cats will need the injectable sedation in addition to gabapentin, and this is okay. Downing’s preferred protocol is acepromazine (1 mg/mL at 0.02 mg/kg), hydromorphone (2 mg/mL at 0.05 mg/kg), and midazolam (5 mg/mL at 1/4 of the normal anesthetic induction dose) given subcutaneously 15 minutes prior to the appointment. For cats at home, even those without neuropathic pain, gabapentin can be a sedative option. Gabapentin can also be used when clients are taking cats to the veterinary hospital; 50 to 100 mg PO administered 2 to 3 hours beforehand will produce mild to heavy sedation and possible ataxia. No stairs, no jumping, no driving for cats on sedative doses of gabapentin. Gabapentin has analgesic effects in cats, and reducing pain may be one of the ways it helps reduce fear. Gabapentin is typically used prior to sedation/premedication protocols (see below). Gabapentin does not replace in-clinic sedation/premedication protocols. -or- 2 Does Gabapentin Sedate Cats? Gabapentin is often used as a sedative for cats, but the sedative effect largely depends on dose, which is why it’s very important to follow your vet’s advice when using it for this purpose. For sedation and calming, vets usually prescribe 40-70mg for smaller and old felines and 75-90mg for adult cats 2-3 hours before a vet visit or travel. Like other medicines, the safe dosage of gabapentin depends on the size of the cat, body weight and overall health condition. Give oral anxiolytic at home 2-3 hours prior to visit. Options: Gabapentin 20 mg/kg PO 2 - 3 hours prior to leaving home. Trazodone approx. 10 mg/kg PO 2 hours prior to leaving home. Liquid preparations can facilitate administration of the medication and accuracy of dosing. RESULTS Owner-assessed cat stress scores during transportation and veterinary examination and veterinarian-assessed compliance scores were significantly lower when cats received gabapentin than when they received the placebo. Sedation was a common effect of gabapentin administration, and ataxia, hypersalivation, and vomiting were also reported. Owners of the two lightest cats reported marked sedation after return home. The authors suggest: ‘For cats with a body weight close to the mean in this study (5.15 kg), a gabapentin dose of 100 mg (approx 20 mg/kg) appeared to result in the best balance of clinical effect with adverse effects. No stairs, no jumping, no driving for cats on sedative doses of gabapentin. Gabapentin has analgesic effects in cats, and reducing pain may be one of the ways it helps reduce fear. Gabapentin is typically used prior to sedation/premedication protocols (see below). Gabapentin does not replace in-clinic sedation/premedication protocols. -or- 2 A randomized, blinded, crossover clinical trial of 20 cats demonstrated that a single dose of 100 mg/cat given 90 minutes before transportation was safe and significantly reduced client perception of transportation stress and veterinarian perception of handling compliance. 8 Studies of gabapentin in community cage-trap–confined cats given 50 In a second study, published in a 2018 issue of Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, investigators in North Carolina concluded 50 mg or 100 mg gabapentin (9.2–47.6 mg/ kg per cat) reduces fear responses in confined community cats without measurable sedation over 3 hours post administration vs placebo. 3.
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