Hate Driving Your Cat to the Vet? FDA Just Approved a Drug for That!

Stressed About Taking Your Cat to the Vet? FDA Approves New Drug to Help

FDA recently approved a drug for all you cat owners who dread taking your furballs to the vet. Say goodbye to the stress of car rides with your feline friends!

If you belong to one of the 46 million American households with a cat, you already know how stressful a trip to the vet can be for your feline – and you. But fear not, dear cat owners! The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has come to the rescue with an exciting announcement: they have approved a new medicine to help calm cat anxiety.

Introducing Bonqat, the pill that has been specifically designed to alleviate acute anxiety and fear associated with transportation and veterinary visits in cats. The FDA’s news release has arrived like a superhero, bringing hope to all pet owners who dread the dreaded cat carrier struggle.

“But what’s so special about this pill?” you may ask. Well, Bonqat contains pregabalin, a drug that calms overactive nerves. It’s like a magic potion that casts a tranquility spell on your furry friend, easing their anxiety and turning them into the purring embodiment of zen.

Now, let me break it down for you. The drug is administered orally approximately 1.5 hours before the start of the transportation or veterinary visit. You can give it to your precious feline for two consecutive days to ensure a stress-free experience for both of you. With Bonqat, the dreaded vet visits can become a breeze.

“But why would my cat need this magic pill?” you may wonder. Well, according to information from the VCA Animal Hospitals, some cats can develop severe anxiety and motion sickness during transportation. And let me tell you, the symptoms can range from frantic meowing, lip smacking, and drooling, to stress-induced motion sickness that can trigger urination and defecation in anxious cats. Talk about a full-blown panic attack!

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But don’t worry, fellow cat enthusiasts! Medications given before a vet trip might just save the day. And now, with Bonqat on the market, you can bid farewell to those nerve-wracking moments spent coaxing your feline into the carrier.

The FDA’s approval of Bonqat was based on real-world trials conducted by the drug’s Finnish maker, Orion Corp. They asked people whose cats had a history of fear and anxiety during veterinary visits to bring their feline friends for a physical exam. In one of the trips, Bonqat was administered to the cat prior to the visit, and the results were nothing short of remarkable.

“A little over half of cats given Bonqat had a good to excellent response during both transportation and the veterinary visit compared to about one-third of cats given placebo,” the FDA reported. “In addition, 83 out of 108 (77%) cats given Bonqat showed improvement in levels of fear and anxiety over the course of the two physical examinations, compared to 46 out of 101 (46%) cats given placebo.”

But hold your applause, there are a few temporary side effects from the drug. Some cats may experience mild sedation, lethargy, and balance issues. It’s like they’ve taken a cat-sized chill pill, and they may need a little extra support navigating their surroundings. But hey, a little temporary wobbly-ness is a small price to pay for a calmer kitty.

Now, before you rush out to snatch this feline savior, please note that Bonqat is a prescription-only drug. The potential for misuse by humans is a real concern, so it’s essential to follow your veterinarian’s guidance and not venture into “self-medicating” territory.

One final thing to keep in mind is that handling the drug requires caution. The FDA advises pet owners to avoid contact with Bonqat on their skin, eyes, and other mucus membranes. Let’s face it, contact lenses are not the latest feline fashion trend!

For more information on anxiety in cats, check out the ASPCA’s guide. And remember, Bonqat is here to make vet visits less stressful, which means a happier, healthier cat and a more serene pet-parent partnership. Because who says vet visits can’t be a purr-worthy experience?

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, statement, Nov. 17, 2023

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Hey there, fellow cat lovers! I hope you enjoyed this exciting news about Bonqat, the new FDA-approved pill for calming cat anxiety. No more scratching your head and wondering how on earth you’ll get Mittens into that dreaded cat carrier! With Bonqat, those stressful vet visits can become a walk in the park (well, a meandering stroll, at the very least).

Now, I’d love to hear from you! Do you have any hilarious cat carrier stories to share? Or perhaps some tips and tricks for making vet trips a breeze? Let’s start a conversation in the comments below and create a support network for all those brave pet owners out there. Remember, we’re all in this together!

Until next time, keep your cats purring and your hearts smiling!

*Disclaimer: The content in this article is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional veterinary advice.