Head bobbing after Ketamine in cats

36 reports to the FDA describe head bobbing in cats given Ketamine. That is 1.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

36Reports

31%Marked serious

22%Recovered

8.3%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

11 73%

1–2 days

3 20%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

1 6.7%

Over a month

0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

8 22%

Still unwell when reported

10 28%

Died

2 5.6%

Euthanised

1 2.8%

Not known

15 42%

Problems reported at the same time

Wobbliness (ataxia)

20 56%

Eye or vision problems

8 22%

Dilated pupils

8 22%

Tremors

7 19%

Restlessness or agitation

6 17%

Lethargy

6 17%

Seizures

5 14%

Fever

5 14%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Ketamine cause head bobbing in cats?: 36 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within the same day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Head bobbing with similar medicines

Head bobbing after Tiletamine + Zolazepam 38 reports · 2.3% of its reports

All reported side effects of Ketamine in cats · Medicines most reported with head bobbing