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POSTER PRESENTATION / POSTER SUNUM

Pharmacological Management of a Behavioral Disorder
in a Cat Using Paroxetine, Trazodone, and Buspirone

Aleyna PATIR

Ankara University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Veterinary Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Ankara, TÜRKİYE

Correspound Author: aleyna.patr@gmail.com

Behavioral problems in cats are frequently observed as a result of trauma, stress,
environmental changes, or various diseases. This poster presents the pharmacological
management of aggression developed in a cat following trauma. The study subject was a 5-
year-old neutered male mixed-breed cat with a history of sudden-onset aggression. A detailed
examination was performed to rule out medical causes, and the cat was diagnosed with post-
traumatic stress disorder–related aggression. Treatment was initiated with paroxetine and
trazodone. Paroxetine was initiated at 1 mg/kg PO q24h, and trazodone at 50 mg/cat PO
q24h, resulting in decreased activity and calming from the first day. However, due to
progressively increasing ataxia and decreased responsiveness to the environment, trazodone
was discontinued after 6 days. Paroxetine was used alone for 30 days, but anxiety and
aggression persisted. Therefore, buspirone was added to the treatment at a dose of 0.5
mg/kg PO q24, and a marked reduction in anxiety was noted after 2 days. The cat appeared
more confident, social, and affectionate. Buspirone was continued for 100 days until
symptoms of fear and anxiety resolved. Following clinical improvement, treatment was
continued with paroxetine alone. Paroxetine resulted in a stable long-term improvement in
the cat’s overall behavior. By the end of the seventh month, the cat’s behavior had returned
to its pre-trauma state. Sudden behavioral changes following traumatic events may manifest
with signs of aggression and anxiety. The management of behavioral disorders can be
achieved through the use of pharmacological agents. In conclusion, a significant clinical
improvement was achieved in the cat with the combined and sequential use of paroxetine
and buspirone. The potential sedative effect of trazodone often leads to its use being limited
to short-term or single-event situations. In this case, the duration of use was limited due to
the pronounced sedation. The treatment of behavior disorders with psychological origins is
generally long-term; we believe that the effective management of behavioral problems seen
in cats can be achieved by using appropriate pharmacological agents, tailored according to
individual responses and closely monitored.
Keywords: Buspirone, Behavior disorder, Paroxetine, Trazodone.

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