I need some calming advice!

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Danezul

Danezul

Member Since 2015
Hi! I'm the foster mama of Dulcinea, a 6 years old diabetic cat. Her levels are great, in fact she is already off insulin. She has an adopter and needs to fly from Romania to Netherlands soon. Every time I take her out of my home she is very stressed, crying, drooling a lot and trying to escape the carrier.
My problem is that she will have to fly soon to Amsterdam and this can be done only in a soft, textile bag and I'm afraid she will rip it off.
I've tried once some Valerian, natural pills the vet gave me, but didn't seem to work. Does any of you experienced something like this with your diabetic kitties? I need to know how to relax Dulcinea without harming her.
Thank you so much, I would appreciate any kind of answer, as I'm already very desperate.
 
Danezul said:
Hi! I'm the foster mama of Dulcinea, a 6 years old diabetic cat. Her levels are great, in fact she is already off insulin. She has an adopter and needs to fly from Romania to Netherlands soon. Every time I take her out of my home she is very stressed, crying, drooling a lot and trying to escape the carrier.
My problem is that she will have to fly soon to Amsterdam and this can be done only in a soft, textile bag and I'm afraid she will rip it off.
I've tried once some Valerian, natural pills the vet gave me, but didn't seem to work. Does any of you experienced something like this with your diabetic kitties? I need to know how to relax Dulcinea without harming her.
Thank you so much, I would appreciate any kind of answer, as I'm already very desperate.
Click to expand...
Xanax...ask ur vet.
 
Hi - I don't if this would be suitable but some vets in the US give kitties a human drug called gabapentin - it's a drug for neuropathic pain like diabetic neuropathy - it is used for chronic pain treatment (but it is not a narcotic) - it's main side effect is some drowsiness and is very safe.
The dose for traveling or for "vet visit anxiety" is 50 or 75 mgm 2 to 3 hours before traveling I don't know if it would be strong enough for you though as I don't think it has a long duration of action. It is a prescription medication. other ideas - rescue remedy and spraying some feliway in the carrier
You may need something stronger though. There are other drugs that vets use when animals are flying - sedatives - your vet could tell you.
 
You need to check with the airline as some have strict rules about travel carriers and use of sedatives, Feliway spray in the carrier and a cat pheromone calming collar should help. Will she be travelling in the cabin?
 
Before you go, you might work on some systematic desensitization so the carrier becomes a safe place in which to stay. Each step takes at least several days, so work on what you can before it is time to travel.
Begin by leaving it out all the time, with some Feliway sprayed on a blanket, a favorite toy, some catnip or any other treat she likes.
Feed near the carrier.
Play near the carrier.
Put the occasional treat in the carrier.
The idea is for her to learn the carrier is a good place.
The next step is picking her up in the carrier for a moment then putting her down. Treat when done.
Continue this several times a day. Each day, increase the duration by a minute or two. Treat when done.
Add in walking a step or two each day. Gradually increase the number of steps. Treat when done.
Add in loading into the car and unloading. Gradually increase the amount of time. Treat when done.
Add in turning the car on, then off. Treat when done.
Add in driving a bit and returning. Treat when done.
And so on.
 
Thank you so much for your advice! I will try and do these things and see if it will help Dulcinea. As for other medication, I'm afraid our vet has only these valerian pills she already gave us and didn't worked. But I will tell her about your ideas. Dulcinea will have to fly in the cabin and that's why is very important for her to be relaxed.
 
This is excellent advice from BJM, Carol and Katie but if I were you I would definitely try to have a back up plan like a strong medication from a vet in case your kitty decides to be very difficult - I think you might need to think of safety in this situation.
I had a very difficult and nervous cat and if I needed sedation we had used two meds: one was an old type od antihistamine used for people (it's side effect is sleepiness and sedation that's why is not popular anymore) for allergies and you can purchase it over the counter without prescription and the other one is tricyclic antidepressant called AMITRIPTYLINE ( old type again) which is more used as muscle relaxant and this one is only available on prescription from the vet.
I understand that you're in Romania and the vet you deal with has only herbal stuff available. You might need to consider contacting a different vet, I can not believe that they wouldn't be able to offer you some proper meds.
I really feel strong about helping you in this matter as so much has been done for this poor kitty and she needs to be kept safe until she reaches her new home.
If you need more information about meds mentioned above (I can't remember the name of the antihistamine but if you're interested in that I will find out) please let me know.
I'm so committed to helping you out that I'm prepared to send you some medication if there is no chance for you to get them in Romania.
Please let me know what you decided to do.
best regards,
Marlena
 
If she is to travel in the cabin then she will be safer. Airlines do not generally like sedatives to be given if the animal has to travel in the hold because it affects their ability to balance if there is some turbulence. At least in the cabin someone will be able to monitor her during the flight. Good luck - it is a wonderful thing you are doing.
 
Thank you so much Marlena, this is very kind of you. I will try and contact another vet to ask for these meds and see if they have them. I would prefer to Dulcinea to travel in the hold because it would be less stressful for her and that's why I'm thinking of her safety also. And besides, the personnel won't let her fly if she is too nervous or too sedate. It is dangerous, like Alexi says, and they don't allow it, is one of their rules. But I will look for these meds and hopefully I will find them. Thank you again, you are amazing, like always.
By the way, Dulcinea is off insulin due to the right advice I found here, so you are life saviors!
 
You're so welcome!
I hope we will find a solution in this difficult situation.
Please read what you can on internet, just google it, you might be able to find more ideas.
But I'm so ready to help you if you need meds but it might be a little risky to give her something outside the vet's control but sometimes you just need to do what you can.
I'm so happy with the success you had so far with diabetes, marvellous, well done!
Hugs
Marlena
 
It would be much safer to travel in the cabin -under the seat - is that what you mean?
I took both of my cats from the US to Cambodia and back under the seats -it was so much safer because you are with them
 
Unfortunately in Europe all the airlines I know do not allow animals inside the cabin unless it is an assistance animal, and some will not transport animals at all. Mostly they have to travel in the hold.
 
She will travel in cabin, yes. They allow it in Europe too, there are many airline companies that allow pets in cabin, they have only one on the entire plane. KLM, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Air France and others too. Now I only have to find a solution, which I am sure I will, because we have you!
 
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