Relocating: Need Advice On Sedating Cats

[Corey & Kitty]

Hello everyone,

So I recently found out that I will be relocating for a new job position. It's a 21 hour drive but I'm planning on splitting it into two days, depending on how many times I need to stop for eating/restroom/etc it will probably be about 12 hours each day.

As you know, Kitty is diabetic, but has been in remission. I check her glucose every so often and it's in the green. The last time I moved was in 2016 and it was many years prior to her diabetes diagnosis. The move then was a 7 hour drive, she was not sedated for that trip, and she did not enjoy it, meowed very loudly most of the way. So I think it would be best for her to be sedated this time.

I don't know what drugs are used in this situation. I'm assuming its something I'll have to get from the vet. I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice or recommendations on what drug to use/ask for that is safe for a diabetic cat. Any information on making this move less stressful on both me and the cats is appreciated.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I will
Tag @Suzanne & Darcy to see if she has any suggestions.
What about feliway collars or spray?

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

Took me awhile to find the link to this page:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YvM4QmUfneiSeS0gNd8R9JNc0eqEo5mmLm8GNK6eg-8/edit

 

[manxcat419]

I would ask your vet for gabapentin. Give it a trial run on a shorter drive well before your move date. If the gabapentin alone isn't enough, ask your vet if you can add trazodone to the mix. Obviously, both are prescription only, but the vast majority of vets will not have an issue with prescribing it for something like this as long as your cat has had an exam in the last year.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

The article that Red linked is very helpful. It mentions pheromone based calming agents like Rescue Remedy (get the pet version) or Feliway. The latter comes in a spray that you can put on a towel in the bottom of a carrier. If there's any way you can set up Feliway diffusers at your new home, that will also help get Kitty settled in.

 

[manxcat419]

It mentions pheromone based calming agents like Rescue Remedy (get the pet version) or Feliway.

To clarify this. Feliway is pheromones and can occasionally help, although it only works for very mild stress. Rescue Remedy (any version) does not contain pheromones, but is homeopathy, which has been demonstrated by literally hundreds of studies to do nothing at all. For a 21 hour drive, you need actual meds in almost every case.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

I'm with @manxcat419 on this, Feliway is an over priced do-nothing product. I've found cats will feel safest in a confined area with low light and minimum road noise. I've lined cardboard boxes with piddle pads and old towels, stacked that on an old sleeping bag with a few more towels over top. No matter how painful it is to hear the crying coddling your cat will just make it worse. The safest place in a car is down low on the passenger side floor. The steel that holds up the roof is called the A pillar and runs all the way down to the floor. Nothing short of getting hit by a fire engine will bend that part of any modern car.
Obviously not the same thing but we had a dog so terrified of thunder and fireworks we had to give her Valium. I've flown two cats 3,000 miles when they were 15, they got a cardiac exam first. Best of luck.

 

[Shell]

Hello everyone,

So I recently found out that I will be relocating for a new job position. It's a 21 hour drive but I'm planning on splitting it into two days, depending on how many times I need to stop for eating/restroom/etc it will probably be about 12 hours each day.

As you know, Kitty is diabetic, but has been in remission. I check her glucose every so often and it's in the green. The last time I moved was in 2016 and it was many years prior to her diabetes diagnosis. The move then was a 7 hour drive, she was not sedated for that trip, and she did not enjoy it, meowed very loudly most of the way. So I think it would be best for her to be sedated this time.

I don't know what drugs are used in this situation. I'm assuming its something I'll have to get from the vet. I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice or recommendations on what drug to use/ask for that is safe for a diabetic cat. Any information on making this move less stressful on both me and the cats is appreciated.

I am familiar with Gabapentin to sedate cats, but that is by prescription, so you may mention it to the vet.

 

[manxcat419]

I'm with @manxcat419 on this, Feliway is an over priced do-nothing product. I've found cats will feel safest in a confined area with low light and minimum road noise. I've lined cardboard boxes with piddle pads and old towels, stacked that on an old sleeping bag with a few more towels over top. No matter how painful it is to hear the crying coddling your cat will just make it worse. The safest place in a car is down low on the passenger side floor. The steel that holds up the roof is called the A pillar and runs all the way down to the floor. Nothing short of getting hit by a fire engine will bend that part of any modern car.
Obviously not the same thing but we had a dog so terrified of thunder and fireworks we had to give her Valium. I've flown two cats 3,000 miles when they were 15, they got a cardiac exam first. Best of luck.

All great tips! And you're absolutely right on the point that coddling the cat makes things worse - if you make a big deal out of their fear, they think it's because there was something to be scared of. Which only sets them up for more fear the next time. I also flew with 2 cats - all the way from the UK to Seattle. We did not do sedatives (airlines really don't like you to because it increases the risk of respiratory issues during the flight), but they traveled with me and a trusted friend and actually did remarkably well with a quick check to make sure they were doing OK from time to time. Once they settled, they actually slept most of the way.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I took Neko on a couple trips to Fort Collins. First time was a drive, 3 days each way of 9 hours. Second trip was a plane trip to Denver and back followed by a car ride. Feliway/Rescue Remedy seemed to help her, as did a dark/quiet place to hide (towel over the carrier). She used to hate even the 10 minute trip to the vet. For the plane trip, I got a harness called a Kitty Holster that acted a bit like a Thunder Shirt and seemed to keep her fairly calm. Surprising given I made the mistake of booking the trip the week before US Thanksgiving.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

We did not do sedatives

That was back in 1994. It was actually two connecting flights for the cats and I was on a third, something about heated cargo compartments. I trusted my vet but the cats were still looped 8 hours later.
I'm sure we've all seen this guy at some point

 

[manxcat419]

That was back in 1994. It was actually two connecting flights for the cats and I was on a third, something about heated cargo compartments. I trusted my vet but the cats were still looped 8 hours later.
I'm sure we've all seen this guy at some point

The advice change is a lot newer than that. I imagine it was thought to be relatively safe until numbers proved it wasn't as safe as we might have liked. The important thing is that your pets made it!

Sadly, all too familiar with that guy. Even Roxi, who is now 15 and so broken we constantly wonder how she's still walking around (she's being treated for everything, but even Solensia can't get her looking 100% right on a hard floor), not only puts up a fight but will run away from me and hide when she sees the carrier appear.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

I may have mentioned this already, everything got easier for both us and the cats with soft side carriers. It's especially nice when I can sling Danielle over my shoulder and pick up Andy with two fingers.

 

[manxcat419]

I may have mentioned this already, everything got easier for both us and the cats with soft side carriers. It's especially nice when I can sling Danielle over my shoulder and pick up Andy with two fingers.

Agree 100%. We actually leave the soft side carriers out and the cats use them as beds. It makes things much less scary for them when we have to close the carrier up and bring them somewhere because they already feel safe.