what can i give my cat to relieve stress while travelling in a car?

Question

we will be travelling for 5 days across canada with our two cats, who are not used to being in the car. The car will be air conditioned and all of their necessities will be available (catbox, food, water, etc), however; I believe they may find the trip stressful and don't want them to be excessively afraid.

Answer 1

Try driving them around first to see if they are okay with driving. If they are not than you can buy Rescue Remedy at CVS Pharmacy or The Vitamin Shoppe. It is perfectly safe for your animals and a lot of vets sell it. If you don't want to give them that and they are not alright in the car you can get a tranquilizer from your vet. But Rescue Remedy is safer and better for them. I use it on all of my animals when they are going to be stressed or sacred.

Answer 2

Talk to your local vet about your current concerns. There are suppliments(mostly herbal) that can allow cats to relax. I would also try giving them catnip(ive done so with my cat but not for a long trip), but it really depends on how they react to it. If they become sleepy and lazy then I would do it(thats what mine does) but if it makes them more active, then that isnt what you want. If money isnt an option you can always send them ahead to a family or trusted friend that is where you will be traveling to. If you do it this way, they will too sleepy to remember most of it. Another thing that keeps cats calm is to put a cover(sheet or blanket) over the carriers you have them in. Make sure you dont cover the sides of the carrier though!!! This will cut off their air supply! This will make them sleepy and they wont remember a thing. About not ruining your car, expect kitty hair when they are stressed. Also, to keep them from going to the bathroom keep a litter box in the trunk or the back seat if its big enough. This way when you stop for a break, you can let them use the litterbox, clean it, and continue your travel. Dont give them a bowl of food except when you stop and only let them nibble. It's ok if they dont eat much, just make sure they drink water. They have portable waterbowls that you can attach to the carrier door. You can also buy a portable bowl that collapses and fill it every so often for them to drink from.(I have one for my dog and it works great!) You can give them your bottled water. You will want to make frequent stops for you and your kitties. Make sure the temperature they are in is the same as they are use to. Any change in temperature could make them go into shock and cause more stress on you and them. While traveling, every place will have a different climate so you want to make sure they are not too hot or too cold(and you too!) Remember to make frequent stops, and if you have any questions or concerns it never hurts to make a call to the vet's office for some advice. Again, for the best advice contact anomunously your vet before you are traveling. GoodLuck!

Answer 3

I would ask the vet for some kind of tranquilizer pills in case they get really stressed and don't stop crying all the way. My cats are fine in the car, but if it is a long trip I would have the drugs at hand just in case. Is not something you do all the time and it would make the trip a lot less thraumatizing to them if they cannot handle it.

I would also get a kitty leash to let them stretch their legs every few hours without running away. I have no idea how to get them to go to the bathroom during the trip, they are so private about their litter box that they might not be able to go outdoors.

Answer 4

Benadryl is a less expensive alternative than going to the vet for a tranquilizer. For a 10-12 pound cat, give 10-12 milligrams of Benadryl. If you get the liquid and a doser syringe it should work well. The syringe has a spoon shape on the end of it. I used it for both my cats when I worked as a traveling nurse. Took them all over the United States for about 5 years.

Answer 5

things that are normally comforting to them, perhaps a certain blanket, something with your scent on it, a favorite toy, use the same brand of litter as usual and the same food they usually eat. Talk to your cat frequently and avoid anything loud, like yelling or loud music. If your cats have an accident just clean it up do not punish them because its your own fault, not theirs. Cats are not usually travel companions- if you are moving I understand they must travel with you, but if you are going on vacation- get a pet sitter and leave them at home! they will be much less traumatized by not seeing you for a few days then they would be trapped in a car.

Answer 6

Take some short trips around town first to see how they do.... if they really freak out in the car you can get sedatives from your vet... BUT.... if they do ok, avoid the drugs. My hubby and I travelled across the US for 5 days with 3 cats, and while they would have preferred to be anywhere else, they weren't too freaked out and no sedatives needed. They would "cry" each day we started for about 30 to 45 minutes...and then settled down. Good luck.

Answer 7

Some cats are comfortable riding in a car. My mom has/had 2 cats that loved to ride in the car but I have a cat that would get car sick while we were driving from Alaska to California (5 days). You could put your cats in a carrier and put a blanket over the cage so it is really dark in their carriers. The dark might help calm them down for the ride...

Answer 8

See your veterinarian about a tranquilizer. When I was a kid we had cats that were awful in the car, even just going a few miles. When my dad had to take them across most of two states, we did this and it worked like a charm. Your vet will know the proper dosage based on their weight, etc.

Answer 9

There is a spray that has catnip plus a calming herb in it that really helps calming cats. Go ask your vet if she/he sell them. Since you are traveling long distance, make sure your cats are comfy and have the access to go to the bathroom regularly.
Have fun on your trip!

Answer 10

You should talk to them in a soothing so they know that you are there and that everything is ok. They are going to be stessed no matter what. You might choose to give them a little catnip, but if they are in the same cage they may fight (you know how they are on catnip). Other than that keep it quite and calm for them. That is the best you can do. Good Luck :)