My experience is that zylkene does work, if given for at least a month on a daily basis. It may take a week or so to take effect, though. If the issues appear to have gone after a month, you can slowly increase the interval to once every 1½ days, then to 2 days, then 3, and see if the issues don't return.
Never discontinue it all at once.
If the problem returns, go back to giving it once daily.

I am on a constant zylkene regimen with Josje, due to her stress and insecurity issues. Every now and then, I can wean her off for a month or so, but then it will start all over again. So I intend to keep her on a maintenance dose of once every 2 or 3 days when I have her anxiety under control again.

 

I think I remember someone saying it can take about a month to kick in fully; I was using it for Charlie to help her get used to having Lori around. Then I forgot to take it to Mum's with me at Christmas so she had to go cold turkey - which probably worked quite well, as it means it did most of its wearing off on neutral territory! Haven't restarted it so far, as positive progress has continued, but she was on it for a good three months at least.

What size capsules are you getting? I got the big 450mg ones for large dogs and split that over six days, it works out a lot cheaper than the 75mg ones!

 

I buy the 75 mg capsules online, works out so much cheaper.....

 

I buy the 75 mg capsules online, works out so much cheaper.....

I bought the 450mg capsules online, worked out a heck of a lot cheaper!

 

I think Zylkene is brilliant, maybe he needs a larger dose, I gave my daughters cat it when he stayed with me while she was on holiday, he is not a friendly cat to people he doesn't know, it kicked in within 2 days
Also gave one of my cats Zylkene when she was very stressed once, she calmed down a lot, but actually I gave her, by accident the dogs dose as I was sent the wrong ones and it was the first time I had used it, she was really zonked out, I rang the vet but he said she would be fine

 

I would find it quite a challange to properly divide the 450 mg into equal doses, but if you know of a way to do so, please share, and I will order the 450mg myself.

 

I think I remember someone saying it can take about a month to kick in fully; I was using it for Charlie to help her get used to having Lori around. Then I forgot to take it to Mum's with me at Christmas so she had to go cold turkey - which probably worked quite well, as it means it did most of its wearing off on neutral territory! Haven't restarted it so far, as positive progress has continued, but she was on it for a good three months at least.

What size capsules are you getting? I got the big 450mg ones for large dogs and split that over six days, it works out a lot cheaper than the 75mg ones!

I'm using the 450 mg split over 5 days so quite a large dose, really. He's only a tiny cat.

Just doesn't seem to be responding to it at all I'll keep going with it, at least until these capsules are done with, and see if there are any changes over time.

Poor thing, I wish I could explain to him that I'm coming home and everything will be ok

 

My experience is that zylkene does work, if given for at least a month on a daily basis. It may take a week or so to take effect, though. If the issues appear to have gone after a month, you can slowly increase the interval to once every 1½ days, then to 2 days, then 3, and see if the issues don't return.
Never discontinue it all at once.
If the problem returns, go back to giving it once daily.

I am on a constant zylkene regimen with Josje, due to her stress and insecurity issues. Every now and then, I can wean her off for a month or so, but then it will start all over again. So I intend to keep her on a maintenance dose of once every 2 or 3 days when I have her anxiety under control again.

I'd agree with this - I put Mia back onto it when she came home & she calmed down again so much so that after about 6 weeks I weaned her off it and we had a little hiccup

She's back on it again & everything is fine again and I'm thinking she will now need to be on it long term - but hoping to reduce to maybe every other day soon (once I pluck up the courage!)

Does anyone know if it wears off after a certain length of time if they take it long term?

I would find it quite a challange to properly divide the 450 mg into equal doses, but if you know of a way to do so, please share, and I will order the 450mg myself.

I was a bit the same but eventually 'took the plunge' and tried dividing one of the dogs capsules

It's a bit fiddly but I can honestly say you get the hang of it pretty quickly

The trick is to very gently twist the top off each time

I also saw very small measuring spoons that I bought but TBH haven't used as I've more of less got the hang of it now

JR not sure what you feed Spooks - I have a feeling he's a bit like Archie with food and I know I've seen pics of him with Macs etc - but have you tried the RC Calm?

I know it's dry but it def makes a difference to both my 2 - there are days when they don't touch it and other days they both eat a fair bit of it (so wonder if they know there's something in it that helps when they're stressed)

Happy to send you a small bit if you want to see if he'd eat it

 

some respond at different rates, when Rusty was on it for the first couple of weeks it made him really sleepy.

 

I would find it quite a challange to properly divide the 450 mg into equal doses, but if you know of a way to do so, please share, and I will order the 450mg myself.

It isn't dose critical so rough measurements would be fine. If you open up a capsule it isn't so difficult to use about one sixth.

 

I'd agree with this - I put Mia back onto it when she came home & she calmed down again so much so that after about 6 weeks I weaned her off it and we had a little hiccup

She's back on it again & everything is fine again and I'm thinking she will now need to be on it long term - but hoping to reduce to maybe every other day soon (once I pluck up the courage!)

Does anyone know if it wears off after a certain length of time if they take it long term?

I was a bit the same but eventually 'took the plunge' and tried dividing one of the dogs capsules

It's a bit fiddly but I can honestly say you get the hang of it pretty quickly

The trick is to very gently twist the top off each time

I also saw very small measuring spoons that I bought but TBH haven't used as I've more of less got the hang of it now

JR not sure what you feed Spooks - I have a feeling he's a bit like Archie with food and I know I've seen pics of him with Macs etc - but have you tried the RC Calm?

I know it's dry but it def makes a difference to both my 2 - there are days when they don't touch it and other days they both eat a fair bit of it (so wonder if they know there's something in it that helps when they're stressed)

Happy to send you a small bit if you want to see if he'd eat it

I'll look into those measuring spoons so he's getting a more accurate dosage daily.

As for the RC calm, I think I might have to try it- I think he'll eat it, he's eaten all dry food I've tried but I'm really put off by the ingredients (maize and wheat gluten mainly).

Still, I suppose a handful of them per day- in his treat feeder so he's stimulated- would be okay. Just a little reluctant, that's all :blush:

 

Aww bless spooks xx

I'm a big fan of Zylkene. I've not had to use it with Millie yet, but Milo has been on it twice. Once for his traumatic days with the boiler man and again when Molly died. I can't remember how much I gave, I think it was 75mg twice a day?

I'm sure it will kick in soon x

 

I've given it to Frank and Seb before a cattery visit, but a couple of months before their stay. I've noticed that it does take longer to kick in each time I've given it to them. I give them both 2 x 75mg.

I really hope that it starts to work soon for Spooks.

 

As for the RC calm, I think I might have to try it- I think he'll eat it, he's eaten all dry food I've tried but I'm really put off by the ingredients (maize and wheat gluten mainly).

Ohhhh I know BUT it def has made a marked improvement here & TBH I was a the end of my tether & at the point of trying anything to help them relax a bit!

I had Archie on Zyklene for a couple of weeks when she first got home but he's - touch wood - been off it since then & seems fine with just the RC Calm

It is funny though as he doesn't touch it for a while and then will eat loads in one day so I'm sure they must smell something calming in it (??) & eat it when they need to

I leave it down (free access) for both of them but they do still eat their other food so I wouldn't worry that he'll just start eating that and nothing else - esp if you maybe give him a little each day as you say in a treat ball

 

Now ..... thinking back - I remember someone a while ago wondering if you could feed the 'magic ingredient' from the RC Calm on it's own and I think (Havoc was it you?) did a bit of research and it looked like it could be a fairly easy thing to get wrong so it's probably best left to feeding in the RC Calm only!

 

I do remember the thread but can't recall the result exactly My motives were to cut RC food out of the equation if possible but think you are right that it wasn't a good idea to opt for the active ingredient alone.

 

Isn't the RC calm ingredient the enzyme that is found in their mothers milk?

 

We don't have Zylkene over here, so I can't speak to that, but have you tried colostrum or these:

Calming for Cats by Pet Naturals® of Vermont

Every cat I have loves the taste of both, even if they don't need to calm down, so there's a plus. And since other things haven't worked for the poor boy, I figure it can't hurt for you to have more and varied ideas as backups.

 

We don't have Zylkene over here, so I can't speak to that, but have you tried colostrum or these:

Calming for Cats by Pet Naturals® of Vermont

Every cat I have loves the taste of both, even if they don't need to calm down, so there's a plus. And since other things haven't worked for the poor boy, I figure it can't hurt for you to have more and varied ideas as backups.

Looks good and available on amazon! :thumbsup:

 

We don't have Zylkene over here, so I can't speak to that, but have you tried colostrum or these:

Calming for Cats by Pet Naturals® of Vermont

Every cat I have loves the taste of both, even if they don't need to calm down, so there's a plus. And since other things haven't worked for the poor boy, I figure it can't hurt for you to have more and varied ideas as backups.

Ohhhh they look interesting!

Found them on a UK site

Buy CALMING FOR CATS 21 Chews Online UK

but £2.95 delivery (which is a bit steep for something that weighs less than 100g!)

Also E*bay

PetNaturals of Vermont CALMING TREATS Stress Relief for Cats 21 Chews 1.1 oz | eBay

I'm just a worry-wart about getting things from abroad - it can't really be free delivery from the US so what am I missing?

Oh - also Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pet-Naturals-Calming-Chicken-Flavoured/dp/B0011DHJ2W

 

When Gwennie and Jezebel were having one of their periodic tiffs, I tried them, and not only did they work, but they and the rest would climb over each other to get to them. I thought they smelled repulsively of liver and Kraft singles (do you have those over there? If not, I mean the processed cheese food slices wrapped individually wrapped). Apparently what I find repulsive is rather like crack for a cat.

They seem to just take the edge off and make the cats feel rather zen without making them dopey.

 

We don't have Zylkene over here, so I can't speak to that, but have you tried colostrum or these:

Calming for Cats by Pet Naturals® of Vermont

Every cat I have loves the taste of both, even if they don't need to calm down, so there's a plus. And since other things haven't worked for the poor boy, I figure it can't hurt for you to have more and varied ideas as backups.

That does look interesting- may be worth a shot!

I've tried colostrum too, and he enjoyed it. Did perk him up a little bit but equally, it perked up his bowel a little too much by causing 'explosions' :blush:

 

That does look interesting- may be worth a shot!

I've tried colostrum too, and he enjoyed it. Did perk him up a little bit but equally, it perked up his bowel a little too much by causing 'explosions' :blush:

Poor baby, he really is a rare and delicate little orchid, isn't he? He's lucky to have you looking after him so devotedly. There's colostrum in the chews, just so you know, but it's not the primary ingredient and I think being cooked into a chewy little treat also would lessen the effects.

 

I have ordered princess some 75mg zyklene tablets how many mg a day should I give her and how long does it take before the zykleen has a effect?

 

Poor baby, he really is a rare and delicate little orchid, isn't he? He's lucky to have you looking after him so devotedly. There's colostrum in the chews, just so you know, but it's not the primary ingredient and I think being cooked into a chewy little treat also would lessen the effects.

He should be okay with them, I think, it just doesn't agree with him on its own (even lactose free!).

The only thing I've found that gives him the runs, actually!

I have ordered princess some 75mg zyklene tablets how many mg a day should I give her and how long does it take before the zykleen has a effect?

I thought it was one 75 mg capsule per day but others are saying 2- the dose is weight dependent though, it should say in the instructions

After writing this post due to my frustration with it all and the fact he's seemed to have relapsed I am happy to say that he's just spent an hour or so sat on Mum's lap!

As such, it seems he's getting a little more sociable and enabling others to fuss him. Hopefully it's a good first step towards a content Spooks when I'm not at home :smile5: