Depo-Provera / Spraying

[Pamela Macon]

I'm considering starting my M/N 7yr old on an IM injection of
Depo-Provera.
This is the same drug that is being used to chemically castrate repeat
sex offenders.

I've been advised that it's been fairly successful in treating spraying
in male cats. I've been the gambit of medications from Buspar to Valium
and the latest, Elavil, which worked fairly well for about six months.

Has anyone had any experience with Depo-Provera? Any side effects
beside lost of hair at the injection site? Why is it always the cat
you love the most that causes the most problems???

Thanks in advance for any helpful feedback.

Pamela
pjm...@ix.netcom.com

[Becky Steele]

In article <527fai$m...@dfw-ixnews6.ix.netcom.com> pjm...@ix.netcom.com(Pamela Macon) writes:
>From: pjm...@ix.netcom.com(Pamela Macon)
>Subject: Depo-Provera / Spraying
>Date: 24 Sep 1996 01:59:46 GMT

>Pamela
>pjm...@ix.netcom.com

Hi, Pamela:

I haven't had any experience with Depo-Provera, but my veterinarian has told
me she will NEVER prescribe it for spraying cats, unless the only other
alternative is putting the cat to sleep for its spraying.

Depo-Provera causes feline diabetes in about 10% of cats that are on it, as
well as mammary tumors.

I know how frustrating the spraying problem can be, but if I were you, I would
keep your cat away from Depo-Provera. Of all the drugs used to combat
spraying, this one is definitely the most dangerous.

I hope this helps.

Becky (whose spraying cat Zelmo is currently on 5 mg a day of Elavil)

[J. M. Allen, D.V.M.]

pjm...@ix.netcom.com(Pamela Macon) wrote:

>I'm considering starting my M/N 7yr old on an IM injection of
>Depo-Provera.
>This is the same drug that is being used to chemically castrate repeat
>sex offenders.

>I've been advised that it's been fairly successful in treating spraying
>in male cats. I've been the gambit of medications from Buspar to Valium
>and the latest, Elavil, which worked fairly well for about six months.

>Has anyone had any experience with Depo-Provera? Any side effects
>beside lost of hair at the injection site? Why is it always the cat
>you love the most that causes the most problems???

>Thanks in advance for any helpful feedback.

>Pamela
>pjm...@ix.netcom.com

You might get feminization with enlarged breasts.
In dogs chronic progesterone can cause acromegaly. In cats acromegaly
is usually caused by a growth hormone producing tumor though.
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Dr. J. M. Allen
Wayne County Veterinary Clinic
Monticello, KY
"I have seen the truth, and it makes no sense!"
Homepage: http://www.skn.net/~jmallen/first.html

[Susan M. Buschur]

Pamela Macon wrote:
>
> I'm considering starting my M/N 7yr old on an IM injection of
> Depo-Provera.
> This is the same drug that is being used to chemically castrate repeat
> sex offenders.
>
> I've been advised that it's been fairly successful in treating spraying
> in male cats. I've been the gambit of medications from Buspar to Valium
> and the latest, Elavil, which worked fairly well for about six months.
>
> Has anyone had any experience with Depo-Provera? Any side effects
> beside lost of hair at the injection site? Why is it always the cat
> you love the most that causes the most problems???
>
> Thanks in advance for any helpful feedback.
>
> Pamela
> pjm...@ix.netcom.com

I would get him fixed. My male is and he has never sprayed. I wouldn't
personally put any drugs into my cats system that wasn't absolutely
necessary. Just my opinion. Also, my male (Smokie) doesn't roam. He
stays right in the yard.

[Becky Steele]

In article <52ac4n$h...@news.cyberusa.com> "Susan M. Buschur" <"sus...@cyberusa.com"@cyberusa.com> writes:
>From: "Susan M. Buschur" <"sus...@cyberusa.com"@cyberusa.com>
>Subject: Re: Depo-Provera / Spraying
>Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 00:31:24 -0700

>Pamela Macon wrote:
>>
>> I'm considering starting my M/N 7yr old on an IM injection of
>> Depo-Provera.
>> This is the same drug that is being used to chemically castrate repeat
>> sex offenders.
>>

[snip]

>I would get him fixed. My male is and he has never sprayed. I wouldn't
>personally put any drugs into my cats system that wasn't absolutely
>necessary. Just my opinion. Also, my male (Smokie) doesn't roam. He
>stays right in the yard.

I think Pamela's cat is fixed -- isn't that what the "N" stands for in her
message? If not, then, yes, neutering him could very well stop the problem.

I agree with you that drugs are not an attractive option for cats, but
sometimes there really is no other choice (except putting the cat to sleep or
taking him to a shelter, where he is sure to be euthanized, because nobody
wants to adopt a spraying cat). I'm speaking from experience -- I've got a
spraying cat who is on Elavil.

Also, my cat *is* fixed. The spraying started *after* he was
neutered -- about one year after, I think. Just goes to show you that
neutering is not a 100% foolproof guarantee against spraying. :(

Becky

[Fraizh]

Pamela Macon wrote:
>
> I'm considering starting my M/N 7yr old on an IM injection of
> Depo-Provera.
> This is the same drug that is being used to chemically castrate repeat
> sex offenders.
>

> I've been advised that it's been fairly successful in treating spraying
> in male cats. I've been the gambit of medications from Buspar to Valium
> and the latest, Elavil, which worked fairly well for about six months.
>
> Has anyone had any experience with Depo-Provera? Any side effects
> beside lost of hair at the injection site? Why is it always the cat
> you love the most that causes the most problems???
>
> Thanks in advance for any helpful feedback.
>
> Pamela
> pjm...@ix.netcom.com

I am also very interested in any information about treatments for M/N
cats that are prone to spraying. I have tried fresh litter boxes and
valium with little success. My cat also has gotten f.u.s. on many
occassions. He eats Science diet cd to maintain his condition.

We have just moved into our first home and would like the spraying to
stop. We neutralize the areas but he just finds new ones. We also have
a female spayed cat. Each have their own litter but she enjoys using his
sometimes.

I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Jo-Anne
Toronto, Canada

[Becky Steele]

In article <324C96...@sympatico.ca> Fraizh <jopo....@sympatico.ca> writes:
>From: Fraizh <jopo....@sympatico.ca>

>Subject: Re: Depo-Provera / Spraying

>Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 20:08:57 -0700

>I am also very interested in any information about treatments for M/N
>cats that are prone to spraying. I have tried fresh litter boxes and
>valium with little success. My cat also has gotten f.u.s. on many
>occassions. He eats Science diet cd to maintain his condition.

>We have just moved into our first home and would like the spraying to
>stop. We neutralize the areas but he just finds new ones. We also have
>a female spayed cat. Each have their own litter but she enjoys using his
>sometimes.

>I'd appreciate any advice.

>Thanks,

>Jo-Anne
>Toronto, Canada

Hi, Jo-Anne:

There are other drugs besides Valium that are used for spraying cats. My cat
Zelmo is on 5 mg of Elavil a day, and this is to treat interstitial cystitis
(which was diagnosed after repeated urinalyses. The only definitive diagnosis
is bladder biopsy, a very painful operation).

Other drugs include Buspar and Prozac.

You said your cat has had several bouts with FUS (now called FLUTD). Has
your vet thought about interstitial cystitis? This is a chronic inflammation
of the bladder wall. It cannot be cured, but it can be treated and kept under
control. One of the symptoms is spraying, because the cat feels more
comfortable urinating in a standing position, rather than squatting in the
litter box.

I responded to Pam's original message about Depo-Provera, and my advice to her
was NOT to try it, because it's been known to cause feline diabetes and
mammary tumors. Granted, all drugs are going to have side effects, but this
one is particularly dangerous. My vet prescribes it ONLY when the only other
alternative is putting the cat to sleep.

Another thing you could do is switch to distilled water for drinking water for
your cat. It may not help, but it won't hurt. Zelmo has been on
distilled water for several months, because our local tap water is loaded
with minerals.

Good luck.

Becky

[Kittychat]

In article <rsteele.4...@indiana.edu>, rst...@indiana.edu (Becky Steele) says:
>
>In article <324C96...@sympatico.ca> Fraizh <jopo....@sympatico.ca> writes:
>>From: Fraizh <jopo....@sympatico.ca>
>>Subject: Re: Depo-Provera / Spraying
>>Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 20:08:57 -0700
>
>
>>I am also very interested in any information about treatments for M/N
>>cats that are prone to spraying.>

<Snip>

Another thing you could do is switch to distilled water for drinking water for
>your cat. It may not help, but it won't hurt. Zelmo has been on
>distilled water for several months, because our local tap water is loaded
>with minerals.
>
>Good luck.
>
>Becky

The water in our area is so bad that many people get cramps from it.
I don't give my cats anything but bottled water either. Can you imagine
how it must affect a cat if it affects a human that way? No wonder some
people's cats stay under the bed! Cats get bad stomach aches and flu
just like humans.