Only give your cat antibiotics which have been prescribed for them by a vet. Don’t give human antibiotics to your cat. Medicine that helps humans can be poisonous to cats. Sometimes vets will treat cats with a human antibiotic or one that’s usually used for other species.
Which antibiotics are safe for cats?
A number of antibiotics, such as cephalexin, clindamycin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and trimethoprim sulfa, are safe for cats. But they are only safe to use when the right dosage is administered for the right condition on a regular basis. Making these decisions is the responsibility of your cat’s veterinarian.
Can I use human amoxicillin for my cat?
Cats can use human amoxicillin, but only if your veterinarian prescribes it at the right dosage and frequency. Your prescription amoxicillin shouldn’t be given to your cat. Most likely, the dosage is incorrect, and the directions on the label may not be what your cat actually needs.
What Types Of Human Antibiotics Are Safe For Cats?
Any medication can have the potential for unwanted side effects. These include vomiting, diarrhea, and others. This can occur even when a cat receives treatment with an antibiotic that has FDA approval.
Certain antibiotics are utilized off-label and without FDA approval. Veterinarians can still use these safely at doses that have been researched.
If there is no indication at all for the antibiotic to be used in cats, the likelihood of adverse effects is significantly higher.
It is crucial to recognize that certain antibiotics are prescribed for human use but not for cats, and vice versa for cat medications. This is typically caused by variations in the metabolism and excretion of specific drugs in the bodies of cats and humans.
A great example is the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics. Pradofloxacin (Veraflox) is FDA-approved for use in cats. Off-label use of marbofloxacin (Zeniquin), a close relative, for the treatment of cats Both of these are only used in veterinary medicine and have no generic equivalents in humans.
On the other hand, ciprofloxacin, another fluoroquinolone, is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is administered to patients. Ciprofloxacin is generally not recommended for cats due to their poor metabolism and lower effectiveness when compared to its similar counterparts.
If the cat is unable to properly metabolize and eliminate the medication, using an inappropriate antibiotic may result in unpleasant side effects, potentially even toxic ones. The incorrect antibiotic may cause an infection to worsen or continue, even in cases where side effects do not materialize. It will also contribute to antibiotic resistance.
FAQ
What human antibiotics can a cat take?
Can you get antibiotics for a cat without seeing a vet?
Can human antibiotics work on pets?