Road trips with cats

[JadeC]

So, i started my journey from Seattle to Sacramento, CA today and I got some sedatives for my cat since he hates the car. It doesn't seem to be working. He was hurting himself in the carrier so he's hanging out in the car with us now. He's laying down but he's been meowing consistently for 3 hours now. Anybody know anything that might knock him out or something to calm him down?? It's really stressing me out because my baby is in distress. Also, my bird loves the car but the cat is freaking him out too. Ugh.. i dunno what to do.

 

[Mayden]

There's herbal stuff that are plug in or for the collar I believe. They generally advertise them a lot around firework seasons but I can't recall exactly what it's called. It's a calming thing which helps reduce anxiety.

 

[JadeC]

We made it but the cat meowed the whole time.

 

[Terry57]

So happy you made it safely! I bet your kitty is happy the trip is over!

 

[JadeC]

Thanks!! He's still stressing out hardcore but he'll calm down soon

 

[Wulfgeist]

Glad he made it ok. When I moved out here to Virginia from Wisconsin I had one cat and the two birds up front in the truck. I had to leave the other two cats in their taxis strapped in the front seats of the van which I hauled. The one cat rubbed his nose raw and bloody trying to get the door open, the other won't go in a taxi now without screaming. Poor guys. My grey liked the ride but my gcc always got car sick.

 

[JadeC]

Yeah, the bird loved the ride! The poor kitty hates the car The bird was the best out of all of them!! Lol Go figure.

 

[MikeyTN]

Poor kitty.....That would of broke my heart listening to my kitties meow like that or hurt themselves. I'm glad you made it ok though and hope the kitty do better soon for you. I usually have my partner drive while I attend to the kitties when they're in their carrier going to the vet and they meow all the way there. I put my fingers in the carrier and rub on them to keep them calm.

 

[JadeC]

Yeah, I had two other people trying to comfort my kitty and he was still freaking out. It really sucked listening to him yowl for that long and his sedatives weren't helping. My one "friend" wasn't helping at all. He kept hitting my cat!!! I was so mad. Needless to say we aren't friends anymore.

 

[MikeyTN]

I don't blame you there....I would of kick that "friend" out of the car and make them walk.

 

[strudel]

It's a calming thing which helps reduce anxiety.

Is it Feliway? I've heard that mentioned online.

One of my cats gets nervous in the car and wets himself. Mostly I get the home visit vet for him, luckily all of my other cats past and present don't have issues going in the car.

Does your cat have a "spot"? If not, maybe try to get him one, then if you need to go in the car, you bring his spot along. (a cat bed, or a blanket or something that's covered in his smell). Otherwise, give him something you've worn to smear himself all over, and bring that for him to sit on. It'll smell like "home" and may help him keep calm.