After a couple years of trying everything for my cats allergies a friend reccomended that I give him benadryl for them as it worked for her cat. I'm giving him 6mg once in the morning and it is working great he is not drowsy and not scratching or itching. my question is this safe long term? Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 12 lbs

Yes, Benadryl is quite safe for long term use, but often causes excitement in cats. Always talk to your vet before giving Zach any medications to assure that the medication is necessary, safe and dosed appropriately.

Is Long-Term Benadryl Use Safe for Your Cat's Allergies?

Health & Wellbeing

My eight year old calico cat was diagnosed by my DVM with herpes and possible food allergies, particularly to chicken. She is given lysine powder daily as prescribed by my vet. She is constantly scratching her face, specifically around her eyes, he

It is always recommended to discuss any new medications with your veterinarian prior to starting, as they known your pet's history and current medications best. We sometimes use benadryl in cats, but sometimes other anthistamines we prescribe such as hydroxyzine, can be more effective. Other times if the itching is intense we may need stronger medication such as a short course of steroids or a medication called apoquel (this is off label use as it is only labeled in dogs). Sometimes we also add fatty acid supplements as well because these can decrease inflammation in the skin and help with itching. I would recommend talking to your vet and letting them know her itching is bad and she needs some medication to make her more comfortable, and they can help decide the safest/best medication for your kitty.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

Can you give Benedryl to a cat

Cats can have Benadryl, but it is not absorbed well when given orally and does not seem to work that well for itching associated with allergies. It also should not be given with certain medications or medical conditions. I recommend talking to your veterinarian before giving any over the counter medication to make sure it's okay for your pet.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

My cat has herpes and seasonal allergies, he is currently taking L-Lysine for his herpes, but what can he take for his allergies? I thought he could take benadryl, but after consulting with a vetenary hospital they said that was no good, can you reco

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can be used for cats. Other over the counter antihistamines for use in cats include Chlor-Trimeton® (chlorpheneramine), Claritin® (loratadine) and Zyrtec® (cetirizine). You can get doses for any of the above from your veterinarian. Legally, we are prohibited from supplying doses for medications, even OTC meds, in the absence of a physical exam and a VPCR (Veterinarian-Patient-Client Relationship).

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

Can I give my cat Benadryl? If so how much ? He weighs 8pounds and he is a year old , lately he’s been itching really bad causing sores but he doesn’t have fleas and I know that because I comb him everyday he also has flea medicine every month

Benadryl will not help your cat unfortunately so there is no point trying. if it is an allergy then either a steroid shot (for short term problem) or Cyclosporin are the only solutions for your cat and they are both prescription only, meaning you will need to take him to your vet for that.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

Can I give my pet benadryl 4 her allergies ?

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can be used to alleviate allergy symptoms, but you will need to contact your veterinarian for confirmation and a safe dose. Legally, we are prohibited from telling you to medicate Kalisi in the absence of a physical exam and a VPCR (veterinarian-patient-client relationship). Your vet can confirm allergies or diagnosis a different underlying cause for the symptoms.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

Can I give my cat children's Benadryl for car travel?

I recommend going to your vet for a travel tranquilizer made specifically for cats. Bendryl can sedate them, but occasionally cats will have an adverse reaction to it and vomit or be overly lethargic. I'd rather your cat be safe for his trip than potentially have a problem.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

My cat keeps sneezing is there anything i can do for him? Can cats have benadryl?

While cats can have Benadryl, it's against the law for me to say it's safe to give it to Buster. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. Keep in mind as well that the sneezing may also be due to a respiratory infection, and Benadryl will not help that. Benadryl is for allergic reactions, not respiratory infections, and you would be unnecessarily giving him a drug he doesn't need. I would have him seen by a vet for this sneezing. If he does have a respiratory infection, the vet can prescribe medication to treat it.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

One of our cats, 6 year old Molly gets seasonal allergies. Today she started itching and biting at herself. We see no flea she on her, but we found one flea while combing one of our other 4 cats. A vet appt. has been made for Monday morning, when we

Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Molly. Poor girl, I'm sorry she's so miserable. I wish we could legally say it's safe to give her Benadryl, but we can't because we are unable to see her in person. It's also against the user terms of the site. Give her vet a call now, and they can let you know if it's safe and can give you a dose for her. Best of luck.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

Is it safe to use benadryl cream on a cats hot spot?

This is not likely to cause a problem, but not ideal either. Topical Benadryl is not very effective in dogs and cats, and of course cats notoriously lick off whatever you put on them. Consider using [Zymox spray](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-spray-with-5-hydrocortisone). You can pick it up from the local Petco. Place an e-collar (cone) on him/her for a couple of days. If the spot isn't improving after 3-4 days, have your cat evaluated by a veterinarian. Thanks for asking Boop by Petco!

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

My cat Chloe has been sneezing since yesterday. I was told I could give her Benadryl but to ask a vet first. She weighs 10 pounds so I'm unsure how much to give her.

Hello! Thank you for contact pet coach! Benadryl is safe for use in cats, however it is unlikely to help with sneezing. The dose of Benadryl for a 10# cat would be 10 mg if you wanted to try it. Otherwise I would suggest humidification (placing the pet in the bathroom and running a hot shower works like a “steam room” for them. This may help with congestion. You can also try nasal saline drops such as “Little Noses”. If she does not stop sneezing within a week or 2, or if other signs develop, you may want to consider taking her to a veterinarian to be evaluated. I hope this information helps, and Chloe gets the relief she needs!

Updated on September 24th, 2025

My cat takes Benadryl for allergies. Is long-term use safe for my cat?

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My cat takes Benadryl for allergies. Is long-term use safe for my cat?

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Related Questions

My eight year old calico cat was diagnosed by my DVM with herpes and possible food allergies, particularly to chicken. She is given lysine powder daily as prescribed by my vet. She is constantly scratching her face, specifically around her eyes, he

Can you give Benedryl to a cat

My cat has herpes and seasonal allergies, he is currently taking L-Lysine for his herpes, but what can he take for his allergies? I thought he could take benadryl, but after consulting with a vetenary hospital they said that was no good, can you reco

Can I give my cat Benadryl? If so how much ? He weighs 8pounds and he is a year old , lately he’s been itching really bad causing sores but he doesn’t have fleas and I know that because I comb him everyday he also has flea medicine every month

Can I give my pet benadryl 4 her allergies ?

Can I give my cat children's Benadryl for car travel?

My cat keeps sneezing is there anything i can do for him? Can cats have benadryl?

One of our cats, 6 year old Molly gets seasonal allergies. Today she started itching and biting at herself. We see no flea she on her, but we found one flea while combing one of our other 4 cats. A vet appt. has been made for Monday morning, when we

Is it safe to use benadryl cream on a cats hot spot?

My cat Chloe has been sneezing since yesterday. I was told I could give her Benadryl but to ask a vet first. She weighs 10 pounds so I'm unsure how much to give her.

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