Table 1. Composite measure scoring system for evaluating sedative effects in cats.
| Score | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spontaneous posture | Standing | 0 |
| Tired and standing | 1 | |
| Lying but can rise | 2 | |
| Lying with difficulty rising | 3 | |
| Unable to rise | 4 | |
| Placement on side | Resists strongly | 0 |
| Modest resistance | 1 | |
| Slight resistance | 2 | |
| No resistance | 3 | |
| Response to noise | Jump | 0 |
| Hears and moves | 1 | |
| Hears and twitches ear | 2 | |
| Barely perceives | 3 | |
| No response | 4 | |
| Jaw relaxation | Poor | 0 |
| Slight | 1 | |
| Good | 2 | |
| General attitude | Excitable | 0 |
| Awake and normal | 1 | |
| Tranquil | 2 | |
| Stuporous | 3 | |
| Sedation score* | 0–16 | |
This scoring system consisted of 5 categories (spontaneous posture, placement on side, response to noise, jaw relaxation and general attitude). These categories were rated in scores 0 to 2, 0 to 3 or 0 to 4 based on responsiveness expressed by the cats. *The sedation score was calculated as a sum of scores for the 5 categories: spontaneous posture, placement on side, response to noise, jaw relaxation and general attitude.