With a few exceptions as noted below, one should avoid using all medications in pregnant and lactating (nursing) cats. There may be instances in which a medication not recommended for use during pregnancy may need to be used to save the life of the queen, even though it may potentially harm the fetuses. Always consult with your veterinarian before administering any drug or supplement to a pregnant or nursing cat.
NOTE: This is only a partial listing of drugs that should be avoided in pregnant or nursing cats. A listing of all such drugs is beyond the scope of this article. If you have concerns regarding a specific drug, type it in the search box above.
| Drug |
May Be Used |
Do Not Use |
Safety Studies in Cats Not Available |
| Acemannan |
|
x |
|
| Acepromazine |
|
x |
|
| Acetylcysteine |
Use as an antidote, only. |
|
|
| Activated Charcoal |
x |
|
|
| Albuterol |
|
x |
|
| Allopurinol |
|
x |
|
| Amikacin |
|
x |
|
| Aminopenicillins (Amoxicillin, Ampicillin) |
|
|
x |
| Aminopentamide (Centrine) |
|
|
x |
| Amitraz (Mitaban, Preventic Collars) |
|
x |
|
| Amitriptyline (Elavil) |
|
x |
|
| Antacids (Maalox, Milk of Magnesia) |
|
x |
|
| Artificial Tears |
x |
|
|
| Aspirin |
|
x |
|
| Atropine Eye Medication |
x |
|
|
| Buspirone (Buspar) |
|
x |
|
| Butorphanol (Torbutrol, Torbugesic) |
|
x |
|
| Carprofen (Rimadyl) |
|
x |
|
| Cephalosporins (Keflex, Cefa-drops) |
|
|
x |
| Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) |
|
x |
|
| Cimetidine (Tagamet) |
|
x |
|
| Cisapride (Propulsid) |
|
x |
|
| Clemastine (Tavist 1) |
|
x |
|
| Clindamycin (Antirobe) |
|
|
Use with caution. |
| Clomipramine (Clomicalm, Anafranil) |
|
x |
|
| Cyproheptadine |
|
x |
|
| Dextromethorphan |
|
x |
|
| Diazepam (Valium) |
|
x |
|
| Digoxin (Cardoxin) |
|
|
Give only if clearly needed. |
| Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) |
|
x |
|
| Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) |
|
x |
|
| Enalapril (Enacard, Vasotec) |
|
x |
|
| Enrofloxacin (Baytril) |
|
x |
|
| Epsiprantel (Cestex) |
|
x |
|
| Erythromycin |
|
x |
|
| Erythropoietin (EPO, Epogen) |
|
x |
|
| Estrogens (ECP, DES) |
|
x |
|
| Extended-Spectrum Penicillins (Carbenicillin) |
|
x |
|
| Famotidine (Pepcid) |
|
x |
|
| Fatty acids |
|
|
Not recommended for pregnant humans. |
| Fenbendazole (Panacur) |
x |
|
|
| Fentanyl |
|
x |
|
Fipronil (Frontline)
Frontline Plus
Frontline Top Spot
Frontline Spray |
x
x
|
x |
|
| Fludrocortisone (Florinef) |
|
x |
|
| Furosemide (Lasix) |
|
x |
|
| Gentamicin (Gentocin) |
|
x |
|
| Glucocorticosteroids (Prednisone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone) |
|
x |
|
| Glycosaminoglycans (Glucosamine, Chondroitin) |
|
|
x |
| Griseofulvin (Fulvicin) |
|
x |
|
| Hairball Remedies (Laxatone, Drs. Foster & Smith Hairball Remedy) |
x |
|
|
| Imidacloprid (Advantage) |
|
x |
|
| Insulin |
x |
|
Note: Diabetic cats should not be bred. |
| Itraconazole (Sporanox) |
|
x |
|
| Ivermectin (Heartgard) |
x |
|
|
| Kanamycin (Amforal, Kantrim) |
|
x |
|
Kaolin (Kaopectate, Canine Pectate)
**See Note Below |
x |
|
|
| Lufenuron (Program) |
x |
|
|
| Mannitol |
|
x |
|
| Methimazole (Tapazole) |
|
x |
|
| Methionine (Methigel, Methio-Form) |
|
x |
|
| Metoclopramide (Reglan) |
|
|
x |
| Metronidazole (Flagyl) |
|
x |
|
| Milbemycin (Interceptor, Sentinel) |
x |
|
|
| Natural Penicillins (Penicillin G, Crystiben, Penicillin V) |
|
x |
|
| Neomycin |
|
x |
|
| Omeprazole (Prilosec) |
|
x |
|
| Orbifloxacin (Orbax) |
|
x |
|
| Oxytocin (Pitocin) |
At delivery. |
|
|
| Pancreatic Enzymes (Pancrezyme, Viokase-K) |
x |
|
|
| Penicillinase Resistant Penicillins (Cloxacillin) |
|
x |
|
| Pentobarbital |
|
x |
|
| Phenobarbital |
|
x |
|
| Phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim) |
|
x |
|
| Phytonadione (Vitamin K) |
|
x |
|
| Piperazine (Piper Worm Wormer, Pipa Tabs) |
Other wormers are preferred. |
|
|
| Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan (Adequan) |
|
x |
|
| Potassium |
Depends on type & reason for use. |
|
|
| Potentiated Penicillins (Clavamox, Augmentin) |
|
x |
|
| Primidone |
|
x |
|
| Psyllium (Metamucil, Vetasyl) |
x |
|
|
| Pyrantel Pamoate (Nemex) |
Do not use wormers with additional ingredients. |
|
|
| Pyriproxyfen (Bio Spot for Cats) |
|
x |
|
| Ranitidine (Zantac) |
|
x |
|
| Rotenone (Goodwinol Ointment) |
|
|
Caution: Do not use on kittens, or expose kittens to this medication. |
| Sucralfate |
|
|
x |
| Sulfadimethoxine (Albon, Bactrovet) |
|
x |
|
| Synotic |
|
x |
|
| Terbutaline |
|
x |
|
| Tetracyclines (Doxycycline, Oxytetracycline) |
|
x |
|
| Theophylline (Theo-Dur) |
|
x |
|
| Thyroxine (Synthroid, Soloxine) |
x |
|
Note: Hypothyroid cats should not be bred. |
| Trimethoprim & Sulfadiazine (Tribrissen) |
|
x |
|
**CAUTION: Some Kaopectate includes bismuth salicylate as an ingredient. This should not be used in cats unless directed by your veterinarian.
|
