Let’s face it: cats don’t really want to go anywhere. They prefer to lie in one of a handful of carefully curated sunny spots throughout the house, pausing briefly between naps to beautify themselves or see if there’s anything new and interesting in the food bowl. In general, seeing the world isn’t high on their bucket list.
But circumstances do sometimes dictate that we must physically move our felines from one location to another. It can be a nightmare, or it can go relatively well, with some planning. Read on to learn how to reduce the stress on you and your cat.
To drug or not to drug?
Many people come to PetCoach to ask what they can give their cat to calm them down prior to travel. The decision to give your cat drugs is a complex one, and it should be made with your vet. Many factors play into it, including the type of trip you’re taking (air vs. land), your cat’s health, and whether your cat will be physically with you during the trip.
Lots of people tout anti-histamines like Benadryl to calm cats prior to travel, but in my experience they offer little in the way of true sedation. More potent prescription drugs like Xanax, gabapentin, and buprenorphine can provide reliable sedation, but should only be used and dosed with the help of your veterinarian.
Always plan ahead and trial whatever drug you’re using, to see exactly how sedated a particular dose will make your cat. I also advise to never drug a cat that will be transported in the cargo hold of a plane, where it will be unobserved for long periods of time.
What about “natural” stress reduction?
Many people swear by Bach flower remedies for stress reduction. These are dilutions of brandy and the essence of certain flowers. Bach remedies can be sprayed inside a cat’s carrier prior to travel. There’s no scientific proof behind these, but there’s no harm in trying, either.
Cat pheromones are believed to reduce stress during traveling. Feliway is a brand that’s readily available in pet stores and from your vet, and they are made in several different forms. There’s an individually packaged wipe that’s easy to take along on trips. You can wipe down the inside of the cat’s carrier, and use repeatedly as necessary.
No free-ranging
If you’re traveling by car it’s incredibly dangerous to have a cat roaming around. It’s dangerous to the cat, because in the event of a sudden stop or a wreck the cat is in danger of being seriously injured. And it’s dangerous to you, as the cat can be distracting to your driving, and can get itself wedged behind the brake pedal, impeding braking (yes, it’s happened).
Always transport your cat in a sturdy cat carrier for these reasons. It’s also likely that your cat will feel safer inside the carrier than it will free in the car, especially if you acclimate him to it.
Acclimate
Believe me, as a vet I’ve seen cats perform some eye-popping gymnastics in efforts to stay out of their carriers. They associate the carriers with a trip somewhere, which as I pointed out above, they really don’t like much, at all.
So why not work to make the carrier a more tolerable place? Don’t keep it hidden away and only bring it out when a trip is eminent – this pretty much guarantees panic on your cat’s part. Leave it out where they can see it at all times. Make a plan to feed a special food or a treat that they only get in the carrier. Put cool toys that they like inside. If you work at it, you can turn the carrier into a more positive place for your cat, which will go far towards lessening the stress associated with being in it.
Don’t skip the paperwork
The law states that anytime an animal crosses a U.S. state line, they must have a certificate of health signed by a veterinarian who has been accredited by the USDA to perform such an exam. For cats, these laws are typically only enforced for air travel. If you’re traveling internationally, things can get really complicated, as every country has different rules regarding importing animals.
The point is to start early and well in advance of a planned trip by air, or a trip into Canada or Mexico by car. You can research the requirements of your destination country at the U.S. State Department’s web site, and your veterinarian can help as well. And don’t forget to notify the airline as well, as there is always an extra charge for transporting a pet, as well as restrictions on how many pets there can be on a given flight in the airplane’s cabin.