Can you give a cat benadryl?

Question

she won't stop l*****g her hind legs and the hair has begun to come off. I've made her an appointment for the vet but until then can I give her benadryl for the itching?

Answer 1

NO WAY!!!

QUESTION ANSWERED!!

Answer 2

no, you could kill the cat because its not prescribed or made specially for animals!

Answer 3

No. Never give medicine meant for human use to animals.  Never.  It's too risky.

Answer 4

yes you can,but it does sound like a flea , teething or gingivitis problems,some cats with teeth problem will l**k at their bodies just to relieve the pain in their mouth.a visit to vets as soon as possible,what ever it is she need a anti itching injection to calm her  down and stop l*****g herself.if it fleas she could be allergic to it bite which gets into the blood stream and drives the poor cats insane,just like us when we are itching from insect bites or rashes.

Answer 5

Yes. Diphenhydramine hydrochloride (trade name Benadryl) same stuff as a stores brand. That what they will suggest to do or do other things. my vet said to give my cat 1/2mg per lb. every 8 hours (max dose 2mg per lb.) so if my cat is a 12 pounds i give her 1/2 of a pill.  

Answer 6

Here is a list of a few of the over-the-counter medications that you can give your pet in an emergency. Please remember to contact your veterinarian before medicating your pet, and do not give these medications long-term unless your veterinarian recommends it. Also remember that just because some is good, more is not necessarily better, and that two similar medications used to treat the same problem in humans can have very different effects in an animal.

   1. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) – Dogs and cats can be given 1-2 mg/lb every eight hours. This can be used to treat allergic reactions, and it also has some anti-anxiety and anti-vertigo effects. As a general rule, it is pretty safe stuff. The primary side effect is drowsiness, so please do not allow your pet to drink alcohol or operate heavy machinery while taking it.

Answer 7

yes benadryl is safe for cats but you will need to get the proper dosage from your vet because it would go by weight and age

Answer 8

Probably not a good idea. But you may want to contact a vet to be sure.

Alternative:They have some stuff called bitter apple at the pet store. It's for hot spots. If you spray a little of that on there the cat will stop l*****g.

Answer 9

Ask a vet before taking any decision.

Answer 10

Its hard to get a proper dosage for meds and cats don't do liquid well.

So, no.

Answer 11

Call your vet and ask first. It may be fine but it may be dangerous

Answer 12

Actually, my vet recommended once that I gave my cat CHILDREN's benadryl when she was having really bad allergies.. cleared it right up! I wasn't too sure of it, so I asked another vet and they said that it was fine.

But, I wouldn't do it until YOUR vet says its okay.

Answer 13

I was told to give benedryl to my cat with allergies by my vet and was told to give her 1/4 of a pill. But some cats may react to the medication, or need a different dose based on their size or condition. Always be under a vet's care when giving any kind of medication.