Drug therapy in cats: a systems approach

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pharmacology
• Feline Medicine
• Systems Pharmacology

Background:

• Feline drug therapy requires specialized knowledge due to species-specific sensitivities.
• A systems-based approach is crucial for understanding drug efficacy and safety in cats.
• Existing literature often extrapolates canine drug protocols to felines, necessitating a focused feline review.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of safe and effective drug therapies for common feline systemic disorders.
• To identify drugs safe for feline use, including those also used in canines.
• To highlight drugs that should be avoided or used with extreme caution in cats.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing veterinary pharmacology literature focusing on feline drug use.
• Analysis of drug efficacy and safety profiles across feline gastrointestinal, central nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, and urogenital systems.
• Comparison of feline drug protocols with those used in other species, particularly canines.

Main Results:

• Many drugs used in dogs can be safely administered to cats with similar or identical dosing.
• Certain drugs, like morphine derivatives and primidone, may be cautiously used in felines.
• Specific drugs, including certain emetics, antiemetics, phosphate enemas, and urinary antiseptics, should be avoided in cats.
• Cats exhibit increased sensitivity to adverse effects of drugs such as aspirin, digoxin, and antiarrhythmics, requiring extra precautions.
• Unique feline conditions necessitate specific treatments, such as taurine and calcium-channel blockers for cardiovascular disorders.

Conclusions:

• A systems-based approach is effective for feline drug therapy selection.
• Careful consideration of drug safety, feline-specific sensitivities, and unique disease presentations is paramount.
• Extrapolation of canine drug protocols to cats is often feasible but requires cautious validation.