Species
Cat: adverse event reports
148,080 reports, 10.9% of FDA's animal drug adverse event database
148,080 adverse event reports in FDA's database concern cats: 10.9% of all reports received from January 1987 to March 2026. 12,477 arrived in the 12 months to March 2026, down 11% from 14,089 in the 12 months before. That is 16.6% of all reports received in those 12 months and about 3,773 reports a year over the whole record.
By active ingredient, the drugs named most often are selamectin (14.8% of cat reports), spinosad (7.8% of cat reports), fluralaner (7% of cat reports) and nitenpyram (5.8% of cat reports). Drugs given to the most animals lead the list for that reason; brands are masked in the public data.
The terms listed most often are vomiting (12.5%), lethargy (9.7%) and lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea (7.5%). 35.6% of reports stating seriousness were classed as serious (38.6% across all species), and 9.5% record a death or euthanasia (6.4% overall).
FDA posts reports quarterly with a delay of three to six months, so the newest months are incomplete and usually grow in later releases.
Drugs named most often, by active ingredient
| Active ingredients recorded for the drug | Reports | Share of cat reports | Share of the drug's reports that concern cats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selamectin | 21,956 | 14.8% | 35.3% |
| Spinosad | 11,576 | 7.8% | 15.9% |
| Fluralaner | 10,365 | 7% | 12.2% |
| Nitenpyram | 8,657 | 5.8% | 40.6% |
| Cefovecin sodium | 8,558 | 5.8% | 64.4% |
| Imidacloprid + Moxidectin | 8,129 | 5.5% | 35% |
| Sarolaner + Selamectin | 7,910 | 5.3% | 83.6% |
| Frunevetmab | 7,624 | 5.1% | 97.5% |
| Emodepside + Praziquantel | 5,701 | 3.8% | 93.3% |
| Buprenorphine | 5,445 | 3.7% | 74.9% |
| Velagliflozin | 4,288 | 2.9% | 93.3% |
| Bexagliflozin | 3,770 | 2.5% | 98.3% |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | 3,707 | 2.5% | 51.5% |
| Maropitant | 3,707 | 2.5% | 22.8% |
| Insulin | 3,627 | 2.4% | 27.2% |
| Meloxicam | 3,624 | 2.4% | 21.1% |
| Robenacoxib | 3,191 | 2.2% | 87.3% |
| Fluralaner + Moxidectin | 3,059 | 2.1% | 81% |
| Eprinomectin + Esafoxolaner + Praziquantel | 3,011 | 2% | 94.3% |
| Cyclosporine | 2,986 | 2% | 13.9% |
| Butorphanol Tartrate | 2,211 | 1.5% | 29.2% |
| Isoflurane | 1,979 | 1.3% | 38.7% |
| Gabapentin | 1,833 | 1.2% | 17.6% |
| Mirtazapine | 1,786 | 1.2% | 63% |
| Carprofen | 1,709 | 1.2% | 3.3% |
| Praziquantel | 1,667 | 1.1% | 42.1% |
| Amoxicillin | 1,616 | 1.1% | 18.7% |
| Tiletamine Hydrochloride + Zolazepam Hydrochloride | 1,565 | 1.1% | 50.1% |
| Enrofloxacin | 1,553 | 1% | 19.4% |
| Imidacloprid | 1,518 | 1% | 21.8% |
Ordered by report count, which follows how widely a drug is used. FDA states that these data "cannot be used to estimate the risk associated with the product or compare one drug or device product with another". openFDA masks brand and manufacturer names in adverse event records, so the reports counted here cannot be attributed to a particular brand.
Signs listed in reports
share of cat reports listing the termall species
- Vomiting12.5%18,463
- Lethargy[unusually tired or inactive]9.7%14,307
- Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea[the product did not have the expected effect: fleas]7.5%11,093
- Anorexia[not eating]7.3%10,823
- Application site alopecia[hair loss where the product was applied]6.2%9,183
- Death5.4%8,042
- Application site hair loss[hair loss where the product was applied]5.3%7,802
- Diarrhoea[diarrhea]4.8%7,063
- Lack of efficacy - NOS[the product did not have the expected effect]4.7%6,951
- Behavioural disorder NOS[behaviour change, type not specified]4.6%6,750
- Ataxia[unsteady, uncoordinated movement]4.4%6,585
- Weight loss4.4%6,521
- Hypersalivation[drooling]4.1%6,125
- Depression[dull, quiet or withdrawn]4.1%6,123
- Emesis[vomiting]3.8%5,681
- Death by euthanasia[the animal was euthanized]3.6%5,323
- Hyperactivity3.1%4,582
- Not eating3%4,431
- Vocalisation[crying out or unusual noise]2.9%4,279
- Fever2.7%4,006
- Accidental exposure[exposure that was not intended]2.6%3,869
- Pruritus[itching]2.5%3,759
- Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN)[a kidney value above the normal range]2.5%3,631
- Hiding2.3%3,477
- Decreased appetite2.3%3,364
- Elevated creatinine[a kidney value above the normal range]2.1%3,058
- Ketosis[ketones building up in the body]2.1%3,038
- Dehydration2%2,921
- Hyperglycaemia[high blood sugar]1.9%2,805
- Panting1.9%2,801
Single ingredients, pooled across combinations
- Selamectin29,764 reports · 20.1%
- Fluralaner13,343 reports · 9%
- Praziquantel12,259 reports · 8.3%
- Spinosad11,867 reports · 8%
- Moxidectin11,233 reports · 7.6%
- Imidacloprid9,191 reports · 6.2%
- Nitenpyram8,657 reports · 5.8%
- Cefovecin sodium8,558 reports · 5.8%
- Sarolaner8,206 reports · 5.5%
- Frunevetmab7,624 reports · 5.1%
- Emodepside5,701 reports · 3.8%
- Buprenorphine5,457 reports · 3.7%
- Velagliflozin4,288 reports · 2.9%
- Ketamine Hydrochloride3,961 reports · 2.7%
- Bexagliflozin3,770 reports · 2.5%
- Maropitant3,707 reports · 2.5%
Age and weight
Age of the animal
Weight of the animal
Outcomes and report types
Outcome recorded in the report
What kind of report it was
Coloured bar: cat reports. Grey bar: all 1,357,245 reports. Outcomes are as stated by the reporter.
Trend
Reports by month FDA received them. The newest months are incomplete because FDA posts reports with a delay of three to six months.
| Measure | Cat | All reports |
|---|---|---|
| Reports | 148,080 | 1,357,245 |
| Classed serious, of reports stating it | 35.6% | 38.6% |
| Death or euthanasia recorded, per 1,000 reports | 94.9 | 63.8 |
| Filed as lack of expected effectiveness (wholly or partly) | 13.8% | 23% |
Breeds with their own page
- Domestic Shorthair64,581 reports · 43.6% of cat reports
- Domestic Longhair9,492 reports · 6.4% of cat reports
- Domestic Mediumhair6,361 reports · 4.3% of cat reports
- Siamese2,912 reports · 2% of cat reports
- Maine Coon2,217 reports · 1.5% of cat reports
- Persian1,655 reports · 1.1% of cat reports
- Ragdoll1,065 reports · 0.7% of cat reports
- Himalayan896 reports · 0.6% of cat reports
- American Shorthair719 reports · 0.5% of cat reports
- Bengal717 reports · 0.5% of cat reports
- Russian599 reports · 0.4% of cat reports
- Manx323 reports · 0.2% of cat reports
- Abyssinian cat250 reports · 0.2% of cat reports
- American Curl Shorthair223 reports · 0.2% of cat reports
- Sphynx203 reports · 0.1% of cat reports
- Burmese194 reports · 0.1% of cat reports
- Norwegian Forest187 reports · 0.1% of cat reports
- Tonkinese159 reports · 0.1% of cat reports
- Siberian112 reports · 0.1% of cat reports
- Bombay104 reports · 0.1% of cat reports
Single-breed labels with at least 100 reports. Crossbred animals count in the species total only.
Questions about cat reports
How many adverse event reports involve cats?
148,080 reports through March 2026, 10.9% of the database; 12,477 in the latest 12 months.
Which drugs are reported most often for cats?
By active ingredient: selamectin (21,956), spinosad (11,576), fluralaner (10,365), nitenpyram (8,657) and cefovecin sodium (8,558). The order tracks how widely each is used; brands are masked in the public data.
What signs are reported most in cats?
vomiting (12.5%), lethargy (9.7%), lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea (7.5%), anorexia (7.3%) and application site alopecia (6.2%).
What ages are the cats in these reports?
1 to 3 years (19.9%), 12 years and over (19.8%) and 4 to 7 years (18.3%); age is not given in 12.8% of reports.
Do more reports mean more risk for this species?
No. Counts follow how many animals are treated and how readily their owners and veterinarians report. FDA states that "there is no certainty that the reported drug or device caused the adverse event" and that the event "may have been related to an underlying disease, other drugs used at the same time or other non-drug related sources."
How do I report a problem?
Call the drug company using the number on the label, or send Form FDA 1932a to FDA. See the guide on how to report.
Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Animal & Veterinary adverse event bulk files released 28 Sep 2026, which hold reports FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine received through 31 Mar 2026. openFDA masks brand and manufacturer names in these files, so drugs are counted by the active ingredients each record discloses and no figure is attributed to a brand, application or company. Ingredient names, and the separate reference lists of approved products, follow the FDA Green Book as of 30 Sep 2026. No report text, lot numbers or reporter details are published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.