Pilot study explores imepitoin for cats stressed by vet visits

A new pilot study in Veterinary Sciences suggests a single oral dose of imepitoin may help reduce some signs of veterinary visit-related stress in cats, though the findings are early and far from practice-changing. In the open-label study, 32 cats were randomized to imepitoin or placebo before a clinic visit. The imepitoin group showed a greater drop in heart rate and a significant decrease in salivary cortisol, while respiratory rate fell over time in both groups. Behavioral scores also improved in treated cats, but the authors said those results are harder to interpret because the same unblinded investigator both administered treatment and assessed outcomes. The paper concludes that larger, blinded, methodologically stronger studies are needed before clinical use can be considered. (mdpi.com)

Why it matters: Feline stress during transport and in-clinic handling remains a major barrier to care, and longstanding cat-friendly guidance from AAFP and ISFM has emphasized that prep before the visit, minimal restraint, and environmental changes should come first. This study adds an early pharmacologic signal around imepitoin, a partial benzodiazepine receptor agonist better known as Pexion, but veterinary teams should view it as exploratory, especially since pregabalin already has published field-study data for visit-related feline fear and anxiety. For now, the practical takeaway is that drug support for difficult visits is still an evolving area, not a substitute for low-stress handling and cat-friendly workflow. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Whether follow-up blinded trials confirm a real benefit, clarify dosing and timing, and show where imepitoin might fit alongside existing feline pre-visit stress protocols. (mdpi.com)