Hair loss after Maropitant (Cerenia) in cats

The FDA has received 144 reports of hair loss in cats after Maropitant. That is 3.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 14% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

144Reports

31%Marked serious

17%Recovered

6.3%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

27 20%

1–2 days

30 23%

3–7 days

36 27%

1–4 weeks

26 20%

Over a month

13 9.8%

How the animals did

Recovered

24 17%

Still unwell when reported

69 48%

Died

3 2.1%

Euthanised

6 4.2%

Not known

42 29%

Problems reported at the same time

Application site reaction

41 28%

34 24%

34 24%

21 15%

21 15%

21 15%

14 9.7%

12 8.3%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Maropitant prevents vomiting and motion sickness.

Products with this ingredient include Cerenia. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Maropitant cause hair loss in cats?: 144 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 4 days 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).

Hair loss with similar medicines

Hair loss after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) 75 reports · 4.0% of its reports

All reported side effects of Maropitant in cats · Medicines most reported with hair loss