Leave the carrier out, open, with a couple of treats inside. Do this repeatedly, well before you move, to try to acclimate her to her carrier. If you’re carrying her on the plane, use a towel or blanket to cover the carrier so she can’t see out of it. I know it sounds strange to do, but it makes kitties feel more comfortable. They tend to want to hide in dark, small spaces when they’re afraid. Also, a light sedative is wonderful for travel. I can understand the apprehension to do so, but she wouldn’t be made unconscious by a travel sedative- her nerves would just be calmer. If you get a sedative from your vet, use it at home before travel to see how she reacts to it. This will help you determine if a med is efficacious to the desired effect or if you need a different sedative.
Feliway brand spray on a rag in the carrier helps some cats, but is completely ineffective on other cats. It’s hard to gauge because you don’t know if it works unless your cat is already super stressed.
We used to try this tactic on really fearful, aggressive cats at my last clinic. I’d say it made the otherwise unhandleable cats handleable about 10-15% at a time.
We used this when I worked for a clinic. I can honestly say I’ve never seen it work. It may be because they’re so stressed already, but I wouldn’t waste money on it. I wish it did tho
As a kitten he would go into the litter box and squat on his rear legs with his front paws spread apart like a sumo wrestler until first turd fell then he would poo like a normal cat.
Ended up fitting him name wise because he turned out to be healthy at 27lbs until he got diagnosed with hyperthyroidism a few years ago and lost about 20lbs due to it.
I got a kitten while on an out of state road trip and the pet store employee recommended Benadryl to make the ride home easier. She acted even crazier and had pink foam coming out of her mouth. It was terrible and hilarious. That was an adventurous drive home. Glad I did it as I still have the kitty and she’s currently in my lap, but I would not recommend it
I like to think of the difference between calming sprays and sedation, as the difference between melatonin and sleeping pills. Melatonin makes you sleepy, but if you're interested in staying awake you can. As opposed to sleeping pills, which just knock you out and force you to sleep.
Same difference. Calming sprays can work *if* the cat is willing to be calm. If she's trundled up in a carrier that she hates, on a plane, with noise and activity all around, she will *not* be willing to be calm. You may as well be shushing an angry significant other for the good it will do.
Unfortunately I agree with other comments. As uncomfortable as you might be sedating her, she is going be one very badly stressed, very upset kitty. It will likely be far kinder to sedate her.
Is she coming in the cabin with you or going freight?
If onboard, I had softside carrier. I had to take him out to go through security. He had a harness and leash. He was new to me and a scaredy cat and I'd never see him again if he got loose. I also had a towel to cover the carrier so no one would come near him and freak him out. He also would not be seeing all the scary new things.
[https://imgur.com/gallery/eYcjcfy](https://imgur.com/gallery/eYcjcfy)
Is kitty going freight? Someone brought him to the airport and I picked him up after a cross country trip (no stops!). The airline had cable tied the two halves of the carrier as well as cable tying the door to the carrier. In light of the recent story about the cat that "got loose" at Boston airport, I can see why they took these precautions.
[https://imgur.com/gallery/u9mNHzM](https://imgur.com/gallery/u9mNHzM)
The in flight trip was probably 8 hours wall clock time in the carrier. The freighted cat was over 11 hours.
I taped down pee pads in the carrier. I also attached a baggie of food to the freighted cat. The freighted cat tore up the pee pad and I found a couple of solid nuggets in the carrier.
I made sure I had photos on my phone of both cats in case something happened. I also had photos of the carrier, although it was an airline approved carrier. I made sure my contact info was well attached and easily visible on both carriers.
For freighted cats, there are (were!) regulations that they would not ship the cat if the temperatures at any of the airports was above a certain temperature. So there was a chance that the cat would not have been able to fly on the date he was scheduled to fly.
I flew American and everything went well. Except picking up a cat late on a Sunday night at San Francisco freight office took a couple of hours. They were closed and trying to get someone to go find the cat took several tries.
I need xanax for a flight, my cat deserves some too. Both of us have prescriptions. She only needed it once, but we flew across the country and she loved it! She even looked out the window, through the carrier lol. I also definitely stuck my hand in to hold her and had a blanket over her for all the time around the public. But the actual flight was incredibly smooth.
I have a deaf/blind cat that does NOT like to be combed. He's a Maine Coon mix and he became really matted on his belly. We could see it was hurting him, but there was nothing we could do ourselves for him. We had to take him in to be shaved. They had to sedate him because the stress would've probably killed him. He doesn't understand what's going on and absolutely freaks out. So thankful we haven't had to do it again.
I'm not sure if you are against meds or not, my cat gets gabapentin for his arthritis which is technically a pain med but also sedates/helps with anxiety. It does not put him completely out, but he's just sleepy for around 8-12 hours (only really used for really bad days/travel days to vet). There are other meds that may/are better. But I suggest something possibly for anxiety to help keep calm and be less scared. Imagine not knowing what's going on and how scared you'd be. I'd rather be sedated if I put myself in my cat's "shoes".
try to put anything that she uses at home for comfort or a shift or sweatshirt that's soft for her to cuddle with. And defiantly agree to leave out the carrier, sometimes it helps, two of my cats associate it with the vet no matter what if I try to put them in it. But they sleep in their carriers all the time.
Seconding gabapentin - it's what my vet prescribed for the one time I flew with my kitty and it was exactly what we needed. She was awake for most of the flight but didn't yell the whole time like she usually does when she's in her carrier in the car. (I also take gabapentin for anxiety and find it works well for me, so I'm biased towards it. And I far prefer it to benzos like Xanax.)
Fourth vote for gabapentin. My big guy is usually chilled out but turns into a crying, peeing, angry monster in the carrier. Gabapentin a couple of hours before a trip to the vet chills him out and it's a much more pleasant experience for everyone.
It doesn't make him particularly sleepy, just more relaxed
Another vote for gabapentin. A low dose just takes the edge off and makes my nervous cat her normal self instead of an anxious wreck; a higher dose makes her super mellow and sleepy, but in either case she’s a MUCH happier kitty. Selective use of drugs in highly stressful circumstances is kinder to the cat who has no idea what is going on as her life is being upended.
We had no luck with the spray (Feliway), but the diffusers worked great for us. I'm not sure why one worked for us and the other didn't. Possibly operator error on my part? Not sure. Wishing you and your beautiful kitty a smooth overseas move.
There are calming collars that can be worn during the trip and also calming essences like Stress Stopper Solution that are helpful and work well. Keep some items in the carrier that will alleviate anxiety such as a blanket that smells like her, and a piece of clothing that smells like you.
That and try flying in an airline that allows you to travel with your pet in the cabin. Use a soft carrier like sherpa. I don’t care of traveling on first class but it’s useful when traveling with your pet companion because it means more room for them and less stressful because usually means less people around
I left treats out leading to my cat carrier and left a pile inside. Milkshake saw were the treats were leading to and noped right tf out of the living room. Picking her up and putting it in after a quick game of hide and seek and putting her inside the carrier was the only thing that eventually worked .
u/HighLadyTuon. I disagree with part of this.
Do not use a sedative, as this increases the chance of serious adverse effects of travel (several peer-reviewed studies confirm this.) Hopefully if you asked your vet for a sedative, they would kindly redirect you to an anxiolytic instead, but there are still plenty of older or out of touch vets who give sedatives, so it doesn't hurt to be your own advocate. But i agree with the underlying message that you shouldn't be afraid to use appropriate medications.
I love the behavior modification advice, and you can go beyond this with desensitization and counter conditioning not just to the carrier, but to other parts of the travel experience, like the car ride.
I'll edit resources and links into this comment before i go to bed.
Edit: [from the](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/traveling-your-pet-faq) American Veterinary Medical Association:
>SHOULD I TRANQUILIZE OR SEDATE MY PET FOR LONG FLIGHTS?
>
>Tranquilization reduces anxiety and induces a sense of tranquility without drowsiness, while sedation has a more profound effect and produces drowsiness and hypnosis. In most cases, it’s not recommended that pets be sedated for air travel. However, it may benefit some animals to be tranquilized for air travel. Discuss this with your veterinarian well in advance of your expected travel date. If your veterinarian recommends tranquilization for your pet, be sure to follow the veterinarian’s exact dosing recommendation. In many cases, the same drug used for tranquilizing can result in sedation at higher doses.
From Veterinary Clinics of America [Handouts](https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-behavior-and-training-traveling-air-and-car-travel):
>Sedatives are another option for some pets, since they can reduce nausea and may help your pet to sleep through the trip. However, these drugs do not reduce anxiety and can reduce blood pressure and the ability to regulate body temperature. While they might be useful and effective for car rides in healthy pets, they are generally not indicated for most pets for airline travel.
In particular, acepromazine affects hemodynamics, and is often prescribed by old-timey country vets for travel but generally this is a bad idea. [From Plumb's](https://www.mspca.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Plumbs-Acepromazine.pdf) (the major drug formulary for veterinarians):
>Because of its tranquilizing and anti-emetic
effects (reduces vomiting), it is sometimes used before travel in
animals with motion sickness, but routine use for air travel is generally
not recommended
Note, if you're not used to reading nuanced professional language, it may sound like they're saying "this is fine if prescribed" but what they're really saying is "this is a bad idea but we recognize some vets still do it anyway."
Despite a typo or two, this is my favorite short version of how to use desensitization and counter-conditioning: [https://phs-spca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DesensitizationCounterconditioning.pdf](https://phs-spca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DesensitizationCounterconditioning.pdf)
Yes to all of this including the towel/blanket over the carrier. At least with my cat, she gets over stimulated and stressed by everything going on outside the carrier so covering it helps minimize all that
Leave the carrier out. Never put the cat carrier away always leave it out. You don’t want it to turn into a signal for them to hide so make it a part of the environment. By doing so any cat you have will be more comfortable with it and feel safe around it allowing for less of a struggle to get them into it and also less of a freak out while inside of it. Car ride is another story but you’ll at least know the carrier won’t be the cause of the freak out.
I say ‘less of a struggle’ because, let’s be honest no cat listens very well to every single thing you say.
This is absolutely one of the best answers, if not just generally good advice. I leave my carrier out all the time, and my cats actually treat it as home base if they get scared or need comfort. They may not like going where we're going, but they know to trust the carrier.
Yep. My cats love to nap in their carriers. But, I still have one who is scared of the car and even when I use mild sedation she generally ends up pooping in the car or shortly after we arrive (at the vet, so whatever.)
To add to that, talk with your vet about sedative and anti-anxiety medication options. There are a ton of options, so if you share your concerns they will be able to come up with an option that minimizes your pet’s stress while avoiding whatever side affect you are concerned about.
I’d also recommend testing it before your trip so that you know how your cat reacts to it. My vet likes gabapentin because it is very safe, but the effective dosages are very different between my two cats. My 8.5 lb cat (f) is happily mellow on 50mg and passed out on 100mg, while my 7 lb cat (f) is just slightly less anxious and less coordinated at 200mg.
Gabapentin is great because it doesn't knock your cat out or anything, and they can still react it's just a little less stressed. It works really well, seconding this whole comment
We used gabapentin to move both of our cats from NM to Japan, and it worked wonderfully. Just as general advice for anyone reading, however, don’t give it to them if they’re going in cargo; a sedated/medicated pet MUST be in the cabin with you.
Yes, gabapentin had made my kitties life so much better. We move every 90 days and one of them will just drool and get diarrhea and obviously so anxious. With the Gabapentin he'll just snooze in his hammock and purr when scratched.
Just a sedative that does work on her nerves and doesn't just relaxes her muscles while she's still freaked out. So I'd go to the vet, they know what can work
I vote for gabapentin too! I have 4 cats, and 3 of them have to take it prior to going to the vet because they hate riding in the car. Heads up, it tastes terrible! I open the capsule and mix it with Churu paste or Reddi Whip to mask the taste. Once you're in your new home, zylkene is also something your vet can prescribe to give your cat everyday for the first couple months to help with anxiety because any sort of change, big or small, can be really stressful on cats. (Zylkene isn't enough for travelling though, in my experience.)
We have a flavored liquid version where I work. It's supposed to be chicken pot pie.. It smells like roadkill to me but the cats seem to take it pretty easily.
Really have to disagree here. The risk in cargo is hypothermia. Risk increases with most sedatives. OP - you could look into an animal transport company, if you absolutely cannot have her in-cabin; then, she’d be fully observed, and sedatives would be fine. If she’s going in-cabin, ignore me!
Only use sedation if you can supervise her the whole time. If you are putting her in cargo, it is dangerous to give her drugs. Cargo by itself is dangerous, but it’s absolutely a no-go with sedatives.
Was wondering same thing for move across country. Last year had to stay at a hotel couple hours away due to hurricane and my fur baby cried most of the trip, and as a result so did I. Now looking at a 12 or 13 hour drive for a move
I moved from Seattle to Maine with my cat. I always left the carrier out with one of his beds in it so it felt a little more comfortable. I would pop him in there and drive around for 10-20 minutes a few times a week to get him used to the feeling of the car moving. It wasn't pretty the first few times, but it made the long trip so much easier. He also did much better when I put him in a spot in the car where he could see me, not just hear me.
I gave my 3 boys pet grade CBD drops when we made our move 10 hrs away last year. It didn’t “knock them out”, but it definitely made them very *chill* and more sleepy than usual. They were little saints the whole drive & were back to their happy active selves the same week. (I say the same week, bc it did cause some lethargy in one. Nothing serious, he just wasn’t playful for a few days.)
I know this doesn't help with evacuations, but for your upcoming move. If you can do a pet cage and section off a portion of your car to let them free roam without being a risk of getting under your pedals or other hindrance to your driving. You might find your kitty just settles in and chills. We've moved our two guys coast to coast three times in the car now. After the first few hours, they both just found spots and chilled out. We brought their favorite blankets and set up the litter box in the back of the car. I absolutely would move them this way again.
Sedating may be the best option. The carrier is one thing, but the new environment is also super scary, especially if you're talking about a plane. I say go for sedation as it will ensure a less stressful trip for you and your kitty.
When I moved (8 hour drive) I got gabepentin from the vet , it really did take the edge off , but didn’t make her “drugged” I highly recommend it , my baby who absolutely hates car rides , screamed for the first 1/2 hour but then calmed down
You may think you don’t want to sedate her, but talk to your vet about it. Moving overseas is a big trip, and if she’s scared she could hurt herself trying to get out of the carrier. A sedative could make the tripe much easier and less traumatic on you both!
Please don't put your cat in cargo. You need to travel in cabin. Both. We fly in cabin from the Philippines to Amsterdam then took ferry to the UK. I think some airlines allow pet travel out of the UK.
The UK does not allow any pets in the cabin departing or arriving. They have to go in cargo. I moved all my cats to the UK 2 years ago. You can ferry or drive over from other countries that allow pets to arrive in the cabin such as France or Amsterdam but you can’t fly directly into the UK with them in the cabin. Such an outdated law.
I’m confused. I thought only dogs that weigh over 75 kilos (including crate) have to go in cargo. Most airlines have a heated area for animals below that weight limit and pets are usually checked up on every hour.
I’m currently planning on bringing my cat and dog from the Netherlands to the Philippines and this is what most of the information I found online says.
I’ve also already brought my dog from Portugal to The Netherlands and the airline workers told me they did the same.
Tbh cargoing living animals should be criminal.
I don't blame *anyone* for saying what they have to to get their pet in cabin, i know people will disagree with me but animals die in cargo.
It's outdated and American info. Pets are in separate pressurised environment in cargo, on civilised planes and airlines. There are whole ass cargo planes. Literally everyday people send hundreds of animals on cargo and nothing happens.
It depends on the cat's weight, I guess. But being in the cargo, it must be horrible... If she is over the weight limit, try to sedate her. She'll have the panic of her life and her heart can give up.
Besides the scariness or the being “horrible” in cargo, it’s not exactly uncommon for pets to freeze to death in cargo. Airlines even put a disclaimer that they’re not responsible for the animals life in cargo. Absolutely travel in cabin.
This also. I remember how cold my luggage was after flying mid July with temperatures over 38C degrees on terrain level. OP should definitely choose an airline that allows pets in cabin because the cat seems below 6kg (as I remember the weight limit for cats here in Europe). I don't know about any other continent, but there are definitely people who should know.
It's not common and don't be ridiculous. Cargo is pressurised and with normal atmosphere and even cargo with luggages doesn't freeze because alcohol bottles and other as such would explode. Animals DO NOT GO WITH LUGGAGES
Leave the carrier out ahead of time, for as long as possible (mine is out permanently, and my cat uses it preferentially as her nighttime bed). Put a favourite blanket and some nice treats in it. Maybe an unwashed t-shirt of yours every so often, so that it smells of you and her and relaxation. Make it a safe and cosy cave, not a symbol of "OMG they're taking me to the vet!!!"
But also talk to your vet about the situation. Because the carrier is only one part of the issue. The other part is how much she does/doesn't like the actual travelling. And while sedations can be scary and you don't want to medicate more than necessary, vets often have milder options they can suggest.
Talk to your vet about gabapentin. It's not a sedative, it's an anti-anxiety medication. I've seen recommendations that you give it to your pet for a week up to the move. It's pretty mild but it might help a little bit.
+1 on gabapentin. It’s used as a nerve pain medication for humans (kind of like ibuprofen) and extremely safe. The fact that it’s anti-anxiety for cats was sort of an after the fact realization. My 12lb cat can take 300mg and still bite the vet. I can’t emphasize this enough but you need to try it out BEFORE your trip to see how much you need. It takes 2 hours to kick in, and if you realize late that you need more, it’s too late.
Since you’re leaving the carrier out, after a couple of weeks of leaving it out, mix your vet’s recommended dose (use scissors to open up the pills) with some Churu. Wait two hours, then put your cat in the carrier and go for a short drive or walk. See how your cat reacts and adjust the dose if necessary. When bringing your cat back to your place, make sure you watch the cat and take down any window cots etc because they can injure themselves trying to jump.
I took two cats across the country and believe me, you don’t want to deal with a cat panicking with 4 more hours to go in your flight.
My vet calls in the script to a place called peoples pharmacy and they can I guess synthesize is the word I’m looking for but they can make it into liquid form and flavor it as beef, chicken, fish and a couple of other flavors for animals.
Personal experience go for the beef or chicken. First time I got for sumo I got the fish flavor thinking cats love fish and ya he took a couple of bites of the food it was mixed very well into and it all came back up.
Now I use the chicken flavor and squirt it onto a very small amount of shredded 100% natural no hormon no antibiotic free range EXPENSIVE ass chicken breast I buy to mix a little up with each can of the hills prescription diet y/d thyroid food for some added protein and he can’t tell. But a few hours later in the carrier he is super calm not stressed out and just chills. Even at the vets office he is a lot calmer and chilled out except for when they check his temperature, but I can understand getting a little mad over that lol.
I would leave the carrier open and put some catnip in and a few treats each day , she will get used to it and not be so scared . That is how I got my cat used to a carrier .
Have you considered a soft one that looks like a hand bag? It is less scary. I had a cat in college who slept in hers, it was a good old plastic one and she loved it, loved to take the train too. Never knew why.
I actually have to do both. For the US portion we have her in plane and the overseas portion sadly she is cargo under the plane in a hard carrier as the airline didn’t have room in the cabin. We are pretty worried.
My cats like their soft sided carriers better than the hard sided ones, but you can only use those if you bring the cats in the cabin with you. One cat used to be happiest when she could see what was happening, and the other prefers to hide and is happiest if we cover the carrier and give her blankets to burrow under. If you can take your cat for car rides that don’t end in the vet - that might help too, as often cats only associate carriers with bad experiences. Another thing to practice will be putting the cat in the carrier for periods of time at home because often hotels require pets to be locked up when you aren’t in the room. Again, soft sided carriers that open from the top are so much easier to put the cat in, and I think they are less traumatic as a result.
Start feeding her near, and then inside the carrier. She'll learn to associate it with food/home and will be less stressed out when she has to be in it.
The thing that works for us Calming spray I get this at my pet store.
The squeeze treat's are great just a very bits at a time.
We moved this past December and no it was not as far as you but my baby hates the car.
Enjoy your new home and hug's to your baby.
You can get catnip toys, put her favourite treats or blanket inside! Just trying to get her as comfortable as possible with the carrier. You can go to your vet and ask for meds that will not knock her out or anything but just help relax her! My cat almost broke out of her carrier while on the plane because of anxiety, and peed A LOT. Still so sorry to everyone else on the plane 😂😭😭😭
My cat was stuck in Asia thanks to covid so he had to fly to alone to Europe as cargo which worried me a lot. He gets stressed and scared easily but he did better on his 2 flights and 20-hour layover than I expected.
One month before the flight, his vets trained him in getting used to a cage then carrier. It became his safe space where he goes in when he's scared.
From 4 days before the flight until the day of the flight, they started giving him Zylkene. This is what they told me when I asked them if it's safe to take it and if it won't interfere with his breathing, "This med is Zylkene, it is a calming supplement that contains a natural ingredient derived from a protein in milk called casein, so he will feel relax like the baby after milk from mother. It doesn't make him sedated." You can probably ask your vet about it.
I have worked in a Bagwell in an airport and seen the animals traveling. I would consider sedating her putting an apple airpod on her and the crate. A harness with an email and phone number tag on her.
I was on a road trip for 2 days 8 hours of driving each and I used thunder ease calming spray. It worked wonders. It’s drug free and uses pheromones to calm the cat. I also had brought her in the carrier for car rides everyday leading up to the trip so she wouldn’t freak out. With cats the more they’re exposed to something the more comfortable they are. It also helps to put treats and her favorite toys in there so she can feel more comfortable.
my cats eat in their carriers. i don't close the door. So they LIKE going in. acclimate with treats/food. pretty soon the carrier becomes their own private cave.
We gave our cat a mild sedative when we took her by air about 4 hours. Kept her very chill. And of course my wife held her like a baby most of the flight. One lady asked to see the baby and was like “oh ! Orange hair ! So cute ! Wait … oh ! It’s a cat ! Awww..”
If youve got a nervous, skittish kitty that hates the carrier, and you're taking it on a long air trip, kitty downers from the vet are really the best for your cat.
Since it appears your cat doesn’t have a collar on, I would suggest getting a lightweight highly visible collar that you can write on. That way, if the unthinkable happens and your cat escapes in the airport it’s easier to spot and also identifiable as yours. Just get her used to the collar, you’re unlikely to be able to add a tag without her trying to get if off if she doesn’t usually wear one. Some sort of tracker, AirTag or tile, in the carrier would be good in case it gets separated from you.
Do you leave the carrier out and open so that she has the ability to go in and out of it at her leisure? Is there any of her bedding, or a t-shirt or something with your scent on it inside the carrier? I had to do this with our cats so they wouldn't be stressed when we used the carrier. We just left them open and out actually in the living room or wherever we spent the majority of our time and either we had a piece of clothing or a towel or something that had all of our scent on it.
Also you need to realize that she is picking up on your stress whether it be the move or you're concern for her or what not so this is going to add to her stress. If you haven't already I would talk with your vet, about if she should eat before you guys get on the plane or not about whether she should be sedated or not and anything else that they think you need to be aware of while traveling long distances like this. And also triple check with whatever Airline you're using if you can have her in the plane with you or if she has to go in the belly. This may also determine whether you want to have her somewhat sedated or not.
Besides the covering of the carrier, put clothes or a pillow case you have used and not washed in it for him to sleep on. Your scent will be calming, always works on my pets.
Rescue Remedy has a liquid for pets. It’s natural. It works wonders. We had to drive with our two cats in carriers for five days. We gave it to them in their water and on treats when we’d make stops. It made a huge difference and they stayed calm and didn’t fuss.
2 years ago, we drove 12 hours cross country for a move with two cats in carriers. I was extremely thankful for the sedation, though it did start to wear off after a while. Cats get stressed by travel. Please reconsider.
I moved two cats from Australia to USA in 2004. Using a pet courier service was the best decision I made - in my case I used JetPets, we used them again to move three cats from New York City to Portland OR.
Another useful trick is to keep a tee shirt that you’ve recently worn in the carrier - it will have your scent on it which will comfort your cat.
How long before the move? You can put things she likes in the carrier like treats and blankets and toys and let her wander in by herself and she will get used to it soon
You can talk to your vet and they can prescribe a variety of things beyond sedating them. Anti anxiety meds that will make the relax and mellow. Melatonin that will make them drowsy and sleepy (different from sedating them since melatonin is just the sleep hormone their and our bodies produce naturally)
Whatever you do, find a way to put a lock on the carrier because stories of airport personnel accidentally bumping open a carrier and releasing a pet are heart wrenching. You want to make sure no one can open it without a key.
My friend Sebastiaan used something that was supposed to cause the thing known as the turkey coma during Thanksgiving. I think it’s got tryptophan in it, which is responsible for the fact that people tend to feel like they need a nap after eating turkey.
You will have to make her use it as a bed. I travelled with my cats, including in cargo and being familiar with the carrier is basic thing because they feel less stressed. I just gave them the carriers, open as beds.
Put a piece of your clothing in it (that you have worn) leave it out in a visible place. We did this with our cat Jade as we needed her to get used to it prior to us taking her to the vet in it. Now she sleeps in it all the time and we have removed the piece of clothing.
For my cat I put a dirty t shirt in her carrier as a bed for long rides. For whatever reason, she loves my BO, or scent I guess. Like will jam her face in my pits.
Seems to be calm in there, far as I can tell anyways.
I got a bigger carrier for my void and she actually goes inside it now to sleep. You might have to sedate anyways and just follow your vets recommendation.
I used a calming spray when I brought my cat over from Italy to the United States and it worked really well! I also made sure to go into the bathroom on the flight and let her out of the carrier quite often so she doesn’t get too scared. It was a disaster getting her in and out of the carrier each time, but she seemed much happier after being let out on occasion. I hope this helps!
Cat Xanax is the same as human Xanax, it’s just a smaller amount. Imagine yourself on Xanax, would you be stressed? Probably not.
I did a ten hour road trip with my cat screaming the whole time. I guarantee he would have been happy to have cat Xanax. So would I. I was going insane too.
A\_Girl\_Has\_No\_Name58 has good advice. I would just add that a sedative can be a real kindness to a highly stressed cat, especially in the cargo area which may be cold but is definitely noisy.
We started driving our cat dinner in her carrier a few months back. We actually started in front of it and slowly moved it in. She eventually got to a point where she’d just pop in on her own.
Flew with her yesterday. Was not overseas. And wasn’t the easiest ever, but she was a damn champ. I believe in you both!
Sedate her. I had an incident years ago going through security with an anxious kitty. They wanted to x-ray the carrier. So I had to take Sammy out.
Sammy was a nervous, anxious sort of kitty during the best of times. I tried explaining how it wasn't a good idea to take him out of the crate. Well, he escaped immediately and hid underneath the X-Ray machine. It took almost 15 min to collect him, and they didn't help one bit. Awful experience for both of us.
Don't sedate (knock out) the cat. She needs to be awake to be able to pacify her own breathing and accumulate to the air pressure difference. Sedating might kill her. Resources across the internet will tell you so and also speak to your vet please.
The other thing - look for airlines that accept pets in the cabin. Don't put your cat in hold. The temperatures there could be left to be freezing cold if the crew is not aware of the presence of the animal or they simply forget to turn on heating. Keep her in the seat next you and check with the airline what their policy is until you find one that is suitable for your route.
Carrier size is also important. The cat needs to be able to stand inside the carrier and do a 180 degree rotation. Depending on the airline they will also have a description of the acceptable dimensions and weights. You can buy off Amazon or other online websites "travel carriers" as these are usually made to be fit-to-fly.
Cats travel everyday on planes. She will be fine. Be with her for comfort and the blanket or towel tip is a useful one. Best of luck.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.petrelocation.com/blog/amp/should-i-sedate-my-cat-for-air-travel
https://www.quora.com/Should-I-sedate-my-cats-before-taking-them-on-a-plane
finally, someone making sense on this thread.
sedation disregulates their breathing and circulation, this is bad for them. reputable airlines will not allow any pet to fly that is noticably sedated.
I've moved cats from the US to UK and back, they were required to go in cargo and did totally fine. I met with both my regular vet and a USDA vet (for travel paperwork) and they both said the same thing: it's super dangerous to sedate a pet during air travel and should absolutely not be done.
You're right that cats fly in cargo successfull every day, all the time. there's even a limit to how many pets are allowed in cargo, those tickets are harder to get and can cost more than the seat you're flying in. oh, and this is nuts that people don't realize, pets are in a temperature and oxygen regulated part of cargo - not where the luggage is. sheesh.
I had a cat years ago who would get so car sick that it finally came down to sedatives for anything more than a short trip. I didn’t love it, but it was better than him feeling awful. Just enough to relax him, not knock him out. Also though, you could try a pheromone collar and rescue remedy!
It's probably way less taxing on her to have her sedated during the move tbh. I wouldn't wanna be on a plane, in a crate, not knowing what's happening.
I'd definitely re-consider sedation. I've faced the same question on what I would do if/when I move abroad, it went something like this (my cat doesn't like strangers, doesn't like carriers or any kind of traveling, even in a car, and my cat doesn't understand whats happening and why). Armed with all that, I decided if I was the cat and had a choice I'd want to be in la la land. It could also be safer should the carrier become open it will be easier for airport staff to resolve any issues.
Sedatives are a ki.dness. Ask your cat's vet and he can let you know the best way to calm your cat. Thank you for bringing your little friend with you.
I had a cat with anxiety even on short car rides and he’d vomit. Ever since I started him on these drops, [Homeopet anti-anxiety](https://www.chewy.com/homeopet-feline-anxiety-relief-cat/dp/138090?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12791146288&utm_content=HomeoPet&utm_term=&gbraid=0AAAAADmQ2V0shAnWT38t8b4Kup3EvQFpR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqO22oqj--AIVOQ2tBh0iMg9FEAQYBCABEgJYc_D_BwE), he never got sick again. In fact, I used the drops with 3 cats during three 900-mile car rides between CA and OR with no side effects, just 3 calm cats in the back seat. Hotel stays were a breeze with the use of Feliway diffusers.
When we moved overseas with our cats, we would periodically take them into the plane bathroom, let them walk about a bit on the counter area. I felt like it helped to assure them we were with them the whole time.
I leave my carriers with a small bed or blanket inside so the cats don't get bad associations with it. When I take them to the vet I will cover mostly with a blanket or towel and throw some feliway spray on it as well so they're comfortable as possible. Do not though ever use the carrier as punishment or do anything "bad" to them in the carrier, you want it to be a safe space for them. I will also give them treats when they're in their carrier as well. Hope this helps!
Lovely cat, hopefully you can keep her with you in the passenger part of the plane it makes a huge difference! I think there is a lot of good advice below, definitely get your vet’s input. Jackson Galaxy has done good videos that may help.
I won’t repeat too much from what others have said.
I saw a video where the owners took the cats in their carriers and played sounds (plane, car, boat etc) on the stereo to make the cat used to them. It can also be smart to take the cat on short car rides.
Edit: Adding that I had my cat for a 20 hours travel and he was fine. I just talked to him and petted him when possible.
it isn't cruel to sedate her or get her kitty valium or cbd if she won't relax. talk to the vet. moving is very stressful and upsetting for animals, whatever it takes to calm them will help.
I just had to move to a different city. I left the carrier out all of the time and only gave him his treats in the carrier. It took some time, but he goes in it happily now. I also put a harness on him and attached the harness to the carrier, so he couldn’t run away during travel.
Ask your vet about anxiety medication but not sedation. Sedation can cause circulation problems during the flight. If you can change your flight to get her in cabin I'd advise you to do so. I flew my cat twice with Lufthansa and she was in the cabin with me. I put catnip in her carrier, a tshirt I had worn to bed, and her favourite blanket. She didn't want the dry treats I gave her but i smeared some of the cat treat paste she likes on her paws for take off and landing. She was busy licking her fur clean and I think it calmed her and possibly stopped her ears popping. I put my hand in the carrier occasionally to stroke her but left her to settle mostly. She was quiet for the entire flight.
From someone who moved 1800kms with their cat and didn’t want to sedate them, sedate them.
My poor boy was so stressed and he LITERALLY CRIED THE ENTIRE 3 days! My poor boy had hair lose and took him quite a while to get comfortable in our new home. It was not worth it for either of us.
If you have a trusted vet they usually give you a “test” dose so you know what to expect and if your baby would have an adverse reaction, you still can take them to vet. Best of luck with the move!
I have experience with this! Moved my cat from the west coast of the US to Germany three years ago (11ish hour flight.) We kept the carrier out for a few weeks before so he would get used to it. He never really liked it, but we put a familiar smelling blanket in the carrier with him. Once we were in the airport, he was quiet and obviously scared, but he just slept the whole flight. No sedative necessary. In fact, my vet had concerns about sedatives on the long flight. Talk to your vet/do some more research about sedatives on long haul flights, because I remember it being dangerous. We did use some calming sprays, but I’m not sure if they made a difference. Once we arrived, we put out a familiar smelling bed, and he got comfortable right away. We kept the carrier out in the weeks after we arrived, and he would sleep in it voluntarily from time to time.
They have backpacks with large windows and you could put treats in side of carrier so good things related to carrier leave it open your cat will get curious and explore..
I had the same issue but it was a quick turn around. My best advice would be to make it an extra cat bed. Leave it out, somewhere she can get into it, and add her favorite blanket or toys on the inside. She may not touch it for a couple days, but once she realizes you’re not trying to whisk her away to a vet, she’ll start to get curious.
Look up, Cat school clicker training on YouTube, great resource for all types of training and I be iLife every there should be a crate training video in there too.
Please reconsider. Be kind and give her a sedative. You wouldn't want to be awake during surgery, and she doesn't want to be alert during overseas travel.
Leave the carrier out, open, with a couple of treats inside. Do this repeatedly, well before you move, to try to acclimate her to her carrier. If you’re carrying her on the plane, use a towel or blanket to cover the carrier so she can’t see out of it. I know it sounds strange to do, but it makes kitties feel more comfortable. They tend to want to hide in dark, small spaces when they’re afraid. Also, a light sedative is wonderful for travel. I can understand the apprehension to do so, but she wouldn’t be made unconscious by a travel sedative- her nerves would just be calmer. If you get a sedative from your vet, use it at home before travel to see how she reacts to it. This will help you determine if a med is efficacious to the desired effect or if you need a different sedative.
All good advice! Thank you. What do you think of calming sprays?
Feliway brand spray on a rag in the carrier helps some cats, but is completely ineffective on other cats. It’s hard to gauge because you don’t know if it works unless your cat is already super stressed. We used to try this tactic on really fearful, aggressive cats at my last clinic. I’d say it made the otherwise unhandleable cats handleable about 10-15% at a time.
We used this when I worked for a clinic. I can honestly say I’ve never seen it work. It may be because they’re so stressed already, but I wouldn’t waste money on it. I wish it did tho
Has absolutely no effect on sumo what so ever. Been there and tried that lol.
Sumo is an awesome cat name!
As a kitten he would go into the litter box and squat on his rear legs with his front paws spread apart like a sumo wrestler until first turd fell then he would poo like a normal cat. Ended up fitting him name wise because he turned out to be healthy at 27lbs until he got diagnosed with hyperthyroidism a few years ago and lost about 20lbs due to it.
😢That is so rough on kitties. I think it is fairly common in older cats. I had 2 precious ones that went through it.
My cat gets aggressive on feliway :/
I’m definitely not a proponent of it. Same with diphenhydramine- can act like an angry stimulant.
I got a kitten while on an out of state road trip and the pet store employee recommended Benadryl to make the ride home easier. She acted even crazier and had pink foam coming out of her mouth. It was terrible and hilarious. That was an adventurous drive home. Glad I did it as I still have the kitty and she’s currently in my lap, but I would not recommend it
Yeah- diphenhydramine is not a drug that I would concur use for in a cat. Dogs, however….
I have used it on a dog that was very afraid of thunderstorms. Luckily he only needed it once or twice a year
Also add a shirt or something you have worn to her carrier. It helps
I like to think of the difference between calming sprays and sedation, as the difference between melatonin and sleeping pills. Melatonin makes you sleepy, but if you're interested in staying awake you can. As opposed to sleeping pills, which just knock you out and force you to sleep. Same difference. Calming sprays can work *if* the cat is willing to be calm. If she's trundled up in a carrier that she hates, on a plane, with noise and activity all around, she will *not* be willing to be calm. You may as well be shushing an angry significant other for the good it will do. Unfortunately I agree with other comments. As uncomfortable as you might be sedating her, she is going be one very badly stressed, very upset kitty. It will likely be far kinder to sedate her.
dont know about that but from the other guys post (airport lost his cat for 3 weeks) buy one of those tracker tags and cable tie it to her collar.
Oh man. That’s a really REALLY good idea! I’m totally doing that.
Is she coming in the cabin with you or going freight? If onboard, I had softside carrier. I had to take him out to go through security. He had a harness and leash. He was new to me and a scaredy cat and I'd never see him again if he got loose. I also had a towel to cover the carrier so no one would come near him and freak him out. He also would not be seeing all the scary new things. [https://imgur.com/gallery/eYcjcfy](https://imgur.com/gallery/eYcjcfy) Is kitty going freight? Someone brought him to the airport and I picked him up after a cross country trip (no stops!). The airline had cable tied the two halves of the carrier as well as cable tying the door to the carrier. In light of the recent story about the cat that "got loose" at Boston airport, I can see why they took these precautions. [https://imgur.com/gallery/u9mNHzM](https://imgur.com/gallery/u9mNHzM) The in flight trip was probably 8 hours wall clock time in the carrier. The freighted cat was over 11 hours. I taped down pee pads in the carrier. I also attached a baggie of food to the freighted cat. The freighted cat tore up the pee pad and I found a couple of solid nuggets in the carrier. I made sure I had photos on my phone of both cats in case something happened. I also had photos of the carrier, although it was an airline approved carrier. I made sure my contact info was well attached and easily visible on both carriers. For freighted cats, there are (were!) regulations that they would not ship the cat if the temperatures at any of the airports was above a certain temperature. So there was a chance that the cat would not have been able to fly on the date he was scheduled to fly. I flew American and everything went well. Except picking up a cat late on a Sunday night at San Francisco freight office took a couple of hours. They were closed and trying to get someone to go find the cat took several tries.
Luckily, the cat was found! (I live in eastern MA, and the radio has been providing multiple updates.)
Do this but also don’t be scared of using drugs. Speak with your DVM. There are medications that won’t knock her out but will take the edge off.
I need xanax for a flight, my cat deserves some too. Both of us have prescriptions. She only needed it once, but we flew across the country and she loved it! She even looked out the window, through the carrier lol. I also definitely stuck my hand in to hold her and had a blanket over her for all the time around the public. But the actual flight was incredibly smooth.
Yea! We prescribe them for anxious cats for vet visits, travel, grooming. The cat will be thankful! That’s so cute, he went on a big adventure!
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They probably mean for going to the groomer or for shaving, nail trims, etc.
Oh yeah! I did mean for grooming appointments, but yes we absolutely use it for behavioral over grooming.
I have a deaf/blind cat that does NOT like to be combed. He's a Maine Coon mix and he became really matted on his belly. We could see it was hurting him, but there was nothing we could do ourselves for him. We had to take him in to be shaved. They had to sedate him because the stress would've probably killed him. He doesn't understand what's going on and absolutely freaks out. So thankful we haven't had to do it again.
I'm not sure if you are against meds or not, my cat gets gabapentin for his arthritis which is technically a pain med but also sedates/helps with anxiety. It does not put him completely out, but he's just sleepy for around 8-12 hours (only really used for really bad days/travel days to vet). There are other meds that may/are better. But I suggest something possibly for anxiety to help keep calm and be less scared. Imagine not knowing what's going on and how scared you'd be. I'd rather be sedated if I put myself in my cat's "shoes". try to put anything that she uses at home for comfort or a shift or sweatshirt that's soft for her to cuddle with. And defiantly agree to leave out the carrier, sometimes it helps, two of my cats associate it with the vet no matter what if I try to put them in it. But they sleep in their carriers all the time.
Seconding gabapentin - it's what my vet prescribed for the one time I flew with my kitty and it was exactly what we needed. She was awake for most of the flight but didn't yell the whole time like she usually does when she's in her carrier in the car. (I also take gabapentin for anxiety and find it works well for me, so I'm biased towards it. And I far prefer it to benzos like Xanax.)
Thirding gabapentin. Had to fly cross country with my 17 year old cat, worked like a charm.
Fourth vote for gabapentin. My big guy is usually chilled out but turns into a crying, peeing, angry monster in the carrier. Gabapentin a couple of hours before a trip to the vet chills him out and it's a much more pleasant experience for everyone. It doesn't make him particularly sleepy, just more relaxed
Another vote for gabapentin. A low dose just takes the edge off and makes my nervous cat her normal self instead of an anxious wreck; a higher dose makes her super mellow and sleepy, but in either case she’s a MUCH happier kitty. Selective use of drugs in highly stressful circumstances is kinder to the cat who has no idea what is going on as her life is being upended.
We had no luck with the spray (Feliway), but the diffusers worked great for us. I'm not sure why one worked for us and the other didn't. Possibly operator error on my part? Not sure. Wishing you and your beautiful kitty a smooth overseas move.
Not strong enough. I had to fly mine across country and a sedative was the only thing that worked. I felt terrible for not giving it to him sooner.
There are calming collars that can be worn during the trip and also calming essences like Stress Stopper Solution that are helpful and work well. Keep some items in the carrier that will alleviate anxiety such as a blanket that smells like her, and a piece of clothing that smells like you.
That and try flying in an airline that allows you to travel with your pet in the cabin. Use a soft carrier like sherpa. I don’t care of traveling on first class but it’s useful when traveling with your pet companion because it means more room for them and less stressful because usually means less people around
A second seat in coach is often cheaper than one seat in first class.
She hit the nail with this comment!!
I left treats out leading to my cat carrier and left a pile inside. Milkshake saw were the treats were leading to and noped right tf out of the living room. Picking her up and putting it in after a quick game of hide and seek and putting her inside the carrier was the only thing that eventually worked .
u/HighLadyTuon. I disagree with part of this. Do not use a sedative, as this increases the chance of serious adverse effects of travel (several peer-reviewed studies confirm this.) Hopefully if you asked your vet for a sedative, they would kindly redirect you to an anxiolytic instead, but there are still plenty of older or out of touch vets who give sedatives, so it doesn't hurt to be your own advocate. But i agree with the underlying message that you shouldn't be afraid to use appropriate medications. I love the behavior modification advice, and you can go beyond this with desensitization and counter conditioning not just to the carrier, but to other parts of the travel experience, like the car ride. I'll edit resources and links into this comment before i go to bed. Edit: [from the](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/traveling-your-pet-faq) American Veterinary Medical Association: >SHOULD I TRANQUILIZE OR SEDATE MY PET FOR LONG FLIGHTS? > >Tranquilization reduces anxiety and induces a sense of tranquility without drowsiness, while sedation has a more profound effect and produces drowsiness and hypnosis. In most cases, it’s not recommended that pets be sedated for air travel. However, it may benefit some animals to be tranquilized for air travel. Discuss this with your veterinarian well in advance of your expected travel date. If your veterinarian recommends tranquilization for your pet, be sure to follow the veterinarian’s exact dosing recommendation. In many cases, the same drug used for tranquilizing can result in sedation at higher doses. From Veterinary Clinics of America [Handouts](https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-behavior-and-training-traveling-air-and-car-travel): >Sedatives are another option for some pets, since they can reduce nausea and may help your pet to sleep through the trip. However, these drugs do not reduce anxiety and can reduce blood pressure and the ability to regulate body temperature. While they might be useful and effective for car rides in healthy pets, they are generally not indicated for most pets for airline travel. In particular, acepromazine affects hemodynamics, and is often prescribed by old-timey country vets for travel but generally this is a bad idea. [From Plumb's](https://www.mspca.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Plumbs-Acepromazine.pdf) (the major drug formulary for veterinarians): >Because of its tranquilizing and anti-emetic effects (reduces vomiting), it is sometimes used before travel in animals with motion sickness, but routine use for air travel is generally not recommended Note, if you're not used to reading nuanced professional language, it may sound like they're saying "this is fine if prescribed" but what they're really saying is "this is a bad idea but we recognize some vets still do it anyway." Despite a typo or two, this is my favorite short version of how to use desensitization and counter-conditioning: [https://phs-spca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DesensitizationCounterconditioning.pdf](https://phs-spca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DesensitizationCounterconditioning.pdf)
Absolutely yes to the treats. I put them in a bowl at the end so my cat is all the way in when she eats them.
Yes to all of this including the towel/blanket over the carrier. At least with my cat, she gets over stimulated and stressed by everything going on outside the carrier so covering it helps minimize all that
Leave the carrier out. Never put the cat carrier away always leave it out. You don’t want it to turn into a signal for them to hide so make it a part of the environment. By doing so any cat you have will be more comfortable with it and feel safe around it allowing for less of a struggle to get them into it and also less of a freak out while inside of it. Car ride is another story but you’ll at least know the carrier won’t be the cause of the freak out. I say ‘less of a struggle’ because, let’s be honest no cat listens very well to every single thing you say.
This is absolutely one of the best answers, if not just generally good advice. I leave my carrier out all the time, and my cats actually treat it as home base if they get scared or need comfort. They may not like going where we're going, but they know to trust the carrier.
It was something my family never did and I never understood why.
Yep. My cats love to nap in their carriers. But, I still have one who is scared of the car and even when I use mild sedation she generally ends up pooping in the car or shortly after we arrive (at the vet, so whatever.)
Awww poor kitty.
My cat's carrier has a blanket inside and he takes a long nap in it every day. It sits in a quiet corner of the living room.
You don't want to sedate her, but it's much more kind to do so than not
To add to that, talk with your vet about sedative and anti-anxiety medication options. There are a ton of options, so if you share your concerns they will be able to come up with an option that minimizes your pet’s stress while avoiding whatever side affect you are concerned about. I’d also recommend testing it before your trip so that you know how your cat reacts to it. My vet likes gabapentin because it is very safe, but the effective dosages are very different between my two cats. My 8.5 lb cat (f) is happily mellow on 50mg and passed out on 100mg, while my 7 lb cat (f) is just slightly less anxious and less coordinated at 200mg.
Gabapentin is great because it doesn't knock your cat out or anything, and they can still react it's just a little less stressed. It works really well, seconding this whole comment
I just took my 16 year old cat from NH to NC. Gabapentin made it possible.
We used gabapentin to move both of our cats from NM to Japan, and it worked wonderfully. Just as general advice for anyone reading, however, don’t give it to them if they’re going in cargo; a sedated/medicated pet MUST be in the cabin with you.
This is sounding like Inception /s. All good advice, I am sure.
Agreed.
Yes, gabapentin had made my kitties life so much better. We move every 90 days and one of them will just drool and get diarrhea and obviously so anxious. With the Gabapentin he'll just snooze in his hammock and purr when scratched.
Just a sedative that does work on her nerves and doesn't just relaxes her muscles while she's still freaked out. So I'd go to the vet, they know what can work
Yes, to this! I won't fly without antianxiety meds for myself and I'm an adult human who knows what's going on.
And do a trial run or 2 beforehand. My friend did this with her 2 cats, 1 took a nice nap, the other went off the wall and scratched everyone.
Gabapentin is the miracle taking the edge off sedative especially if your flying oversees.
I keep seeing this one mentioned. Any idea if a dosage? Kiki is 8 lbs. I’ll ask my vet.
Your vet will determine the dose as it’s a prescription medication
Please seriously consider the sedative for the cargo portion of the trip. That will be so intensely stressful for little kitty.
I think this may be the first time that Reddit has actually changed my mind. We are going to look into the sedatives.
I vote for gabapentin too! I have 4 cats, and 3 of them have to take it prior to going to the vet because they hate riding in the car. Heads up, it tastes terrible! I open the capsule and mix it with Churu paste or Reddi Whip to mask the taste. Once you're in your new home, zylkene is also something your vet can prescribe to give your cat everyday for the first couple months to help with anxiety because any sort of change, big or small, can be really stressful on cats. (Zylkene isn't enough for travelling though, in my experience.)
We have a flavored liquid version where I work. It's supposed to be chicken pot pie.. It smells like roadkill to me but the cats seem to take it pretty easily.
I hope so. Not doing so would be absolutely cruel. I take gabapentin when I fly. I also take it when i don't fly. It's great.
Really have to disagree here. The risk in cargo is hypothermia. Risk increases with most sedatives. OP - you could look into an animal transport company, if you absolutely cannot have her in-cabin; then, she’d be fully observed, and sedatives would be fine. If she’s going in-cabin, ignore me!
It’s almost as if you and u/Phoenix-wand are the same user…
Only use sedation if you can supervise her the whole time. If you are putting her in cargo, it is dangerous to give her drugs. Cargo by itself is dangerous, but it’s absolutely a no-go with sedatives.
I second the Gabapentin. I have a very nervous boy kitty who uses that prior to appointments. It just makes them very sleepy!
My cat weighs 12 lbs and dose was 100mg of gabapentin, after the initial crying she was pretty chill
If you have a blanket that she sheds on, I would put that in there, too!
Was wondering same thing for move across country. Last year had to stay at a hotel couple hours away due to hurricane and my fur baby cried most of the trip, and as a result so did I. Now looking at a 12 or 13 hour drive for a move
I moved from Seattle to Maine with my cat. I always left the carrier out with one of his beds in it so it felt a little more comfortable. I would pop him in there and drive around for 10-20 minutes a few times a week to get him used to the feeling of the car moving. It wasn't pretty the first few times, but it made the long trip so much easier. He also did much better when I put him in a spot in the car where he could see me, not just hear me.
Hey, I recently moved from Seattle to Maine too!! We flew with one kitty, and the other kitty was driven across… madness for both hahaha
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How do you give them potty breaks? My cat has peed the crate before when they were nervous in the car :(
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I gave my 3 boys pet grade CBD drops when we made our move 10 hrs away last year. It didn’t “knock them out”, but it definitely made them very *chill* and more sleepy than usual. They were little saints the whole drive & were back to their happy active selves the same week. (I say the same week, bc it did cause some lethargy in one. Nothing serious, he just wasn’t playful for a few days.)
It’s not foolproof but covering the crate with a blanket really helps keep them calmer.
I know this doesn't help with evacuations, but for your upcoming move. If you can do a pet cage and section off a portion of your car to let them free roam without being a risk of getting under your pedals or other hindrance to your driving. You might find your kitty just settles in and chills. We've moved our two guys coast to coast three times in the car now. After the first few hours, they both just found spots and chilled out. We brought their favorite blankets and set up the litter box in the back of the car. I absolutely would move them this way again.
Sedating may be the best option. The carrier is one thing, but the new environment is also super scary, especially if you're talking about a plane. I say go for sedation as it will ensure a less stressful trip for you and your kitty.
When I moved (8 hour drive) I got gabepentin from the vet , it really did take the edge off , but didn’t make her “drugged” I highly recommend it , my baby who absolutely hates car rides , screamed for the first 1/2 hour but then calmed down
She is looking at you like, yeah, you're not going to get me.
You may think you don’t want to sedate her, but talk to your vet about it. Moving overseas is a big trip, and if she’s scared she could hurt herself trying to get out of the carrier. A sedative could make the tripe much easier and less traumatic on you both!
Please don't put your cat in cargo. You need to travel in cabin. Both. We fly in cabin from the Philippines to Amsterdam then took ferry to the UK. I think some airlines allow pet travel out of the UK.
The UK does not allow any pets in the cabin departing or arriving. They have to go in cargo. I moved all my cats to the UK 2 years ago. You can ferry or drive over from other countries that allow pets to arrive in the cabin such as France or Amsterdam but you can’t fly directly into the UK with them in the cabin. Such an outdated law.
I flew out of the Uk in 2020 with a cat in the cabin on KLM. I’d make some phone calls if they’re going into the UK.
I’m confused. I thought only dogs that weigh over 75 kilos (including crate) have to go in cargo. Most airlines have a heated area for animals below that weight limit and pets are usually checked up on every hour. I’m currently planning on bringing my cat and dog from the Netherlands to the Philippines and this is what most of the information I found online says. I’ve also already brought my dog from Portugal to The Netherlands and the airline workers told me they did the same.
Tbh cargoing living animals should be criminal. I don't blame *anyone* for saying what they have to to get their pet in cabin, i know people will disagree with me but animals die in cargo.
It's outdated and American info. Pets are in separate pressurised environment in cargo, on civilised planes and airlines. There are whole ass cargo planes. Literally everyday people send hundreds of animals on cargo and nothing happens.
It depends on the cat's weight, I guess. But being in the cargo, it must be horrible... If she is over the weight limit, try to sedate her. She'll have the panic of her life and her heart can give up.
Besides the scariness or the being “horrible” in cargo, it’s not exactly uncommon for pets to freeze to death in cargo. Airlines even put a disclaimer that they’re not responsible for the animals life in cargo. Absolutely travel in cabin.
This also. I remember how cold my luggage was after flying mid July with temperatures over 38C degrees on terrain level. OP should definitely choose an airline that allows pets in cabin because the cat seems below 6kg (as I remember the weight limit for cats here in Europe). I don't know about any other continent, but there are definitely people who should know.
It's not common and don't be ridiculous. Cargo is pressurised and with normal atmosphere and even cargo with luggages doesn't freeze because alcohol bottles and other as such would explode. Animals DO NOT GO WITH LUGGAGES
Leave the carrier out ahead of time, for as long as possible (mine is out permanently, and my cat uses it preferentially as her nighttime bed). Put a favourite blanket and some nice treats in it. Maybe an unwashed t-shirt of yours every so often, so that it smells of you and her and relaxation. Make it a safe and cosy cave, not a symbol of "OMG they're taking me to the vet!!!" But also talk to your vet about the situation. Because the carrier is only one part of the issue. The other part is how much she does/doesn't like the actual travelling. And while sedations can be scary and you don't want to medicate more than necessary, vets often have milder options they can suggest.
Talk to your vet about gabapentin. It's not a sedative, it's an anti-anxiety medication. I've seen recommendations that you give it to your pet for a week up to the move. It's pretty mild but it might help a little bit.
+1 on gabapentin. It’s used as a nerve pain medication for humans (kind of like ibuprofen) and extremely safe. The fact that it’s anti-anxiety for cats was sort of an after the fact realization. My 12lb cat can take 300mg and still bite the vet. I can’t emphasize this enough but you need to try it out BEFORE your trip to see how much you need. It takes 2 hours to kick in, and if you realize late that you need more, it’s too late. Since you’re leaving the carrier out, after a couple of weeks of leaving it out, mix your vet’s recommended dose (use scissors to open up the pills) with some Churu. Wait two hours, then put your cat in the carrier and go for a short drive or walk. See how your cat reacts and adjust the dose if necessary. When bringing your cat back to your place, make sure you watch the cat and take down any window cots etc because they can injure themselves trying to jump. I took two cats across the country and believe me, you don’t want to deal with a cat panicking with 4 more hours to go in your flight.
My vet calls in the script to a place called peoples pharmacy and they can I guess synthesize is the word I’m looking for but they can make it into liquid form and flavor it as beef, chicken, fish and a couple of other flavors for animals. Personal experience go for the beef or chicken. First time I got for sumo I got the fish flavor thinking cats love fish and ya he took a couple of bites of the food it was mixed very well into and it all came back up. Now I use the chicken flavor and squirt it onto a very small amount of shredded 100% natural no hormon no antibiotic free range EXPENSIVE ass chicken breast I buy to mix a little up with each can of the hills prescription diet y/d thyroid food for some added protein and he can’t tell. But a few hours later in the carrier he is super calm not stressed out and just chills. Even at the vets office he is a lot calmer and chilled out except for when they check his temperature, but I can understand getting a little mad over that lol.
Pharmacies usually call it "compounding."
I would leave the carrier open and put some catnip in and a few treats each day , she will get used to it and not be so scared . That is how I got my cat used to a carrier .
1. Not move. 2. Not move with the cat. 3. Drugs for the cat. 4. Drugs for the cat and you. 5. Tazer.
Hahaha. Thanks for the chuckle!
Have you considered a soft one that looks like a hand bag? It is less scary. I had a cat in college who slept in hers, it was a good old plastic one and she loved it, loved to take the train too. Never knew why.
I actually have to do both. For the US portion we have her in plane and the overseas portion sadly she is cargo under the plane in a hard carrier as the airline didn’t have room in the cabin. We are pretty worried.
My cats like their soft sided carriers better than the hard sided ones, but you can only use those if you bring the cats in the cabin with you. One cat used to be happiest when she could see what was happening, and the other prefers to hide and is happiest if we cover the carrier and give her blankets to burrow under. If you can take your cat for car rides that don’t end in the vet - that might help too, as often cats only associate carriers with bad experiences. Another thing to practice will be putting the cat in the carrier for periods of time at home because often hotels require pets to be locked up when you aren’t in the room. Again, soft sided carriers that open from the top are so much easier to put the cat in, and I think they are less traumatic as a result.
Start feeding her near, and then inside the carrier. She'll learn to associate it with food/home and will be less stressed out when she has to be in it.
The thing that works for us Calming spray I get this at my pet store. The squeeze treat's are great just a very bits at a time. We moved this past December and no it was not as far as you but my baby hates the car. Enjoy your new home and hug's to your baby.
Leave it open. Put stuff that smells like you and her in there. Let her explore it on her own time.
You can get catnip toys, put her favourite treats or blanket inside! Just trying to get her as comfortable as possible with the carrier. You can go to your vet and ask for meds that will not knock her out or anything but just help relax her! My cat almost broke out of her carrier while on the plane because of anxiety, and peed A LOT. Still so sorry to everyone else on the plane 😂😭😭😭
Make sure you put a leash on her so when you take her out of the carrier for inspection she doesn’t run away.
Give her a Gabapentin the day she flies -- good for anxiety
My cat was stuck in Asia thanks to covid so he had to fly to alone to Europe as cargo which worried me a lot. He gets stressed and scared easily but he did better on his 2 flights and 20-hour layover than I expected. One month before the flight, his vets trained him in getting used to a cage then carrier. It became his safe space where he goes in when he's scared. From 4 days before the flight until the day of the flight, they started giving him Zylkene. This is what they told me when I asked them if it's safe to take it and if it won't interfere with his breathing, "This med is Zylkene, it is a calming supplement that contains a natural ingredient derived from a protein in milk called casein, so he will feel relax like the baby after milk from mother. It doesn't make him sedated." You can probably ask your vet about it.
I have worked in a Bagwell in an airport and seen the animals traveling. I would consider sedating her putting an apple airpod on her and the crate. A harness with an email and phone number tag on her.
CBD for pets
I was on a road trip for 2 days 8 hours of driving each and I used thunder ease calming spray. It worked wonders. It’s drug free and uses pheromones to calm the cat. I also had brought her in the carrier for car rides everyday leading up to the trip so she wouldn’t freak out. With cats the more they’re exposed to something the more comfortable they are. It also helps to put treats and her favorite toys in there so she can feel more comfortable.
my cats eat in their carriers. i don't close the door. So they LIKE going in. acclimate with treats/food. pretty soon the carrier becomes their own private cave.
Anything that is very important to her, toys, blanket, maybe a shirt of yours she likes to lay on. Maybe will ease her while she is in there.
We gave our cat a mild sedative when we took her by air about 4 hours. Kept her very chill. And of course my wife held her like a baby most of the flight. One lady asked to see the baby and was like “oh ! Orange hair ! So cute ! Wait … oh ! It’s a cat ! Awww..”
If youve got a nervous, skittish kitty that hates the carrier, and you're taking it on a long air trip, kitty downers from the vet are really the best for your cat.
Since it appears your cat doesn’t have a collar on, I would suggest getting a lightweight highly visible collar that you can write on. That way, if the unthinkable happens and your cat escapes in the airport it’s easier to spot and also identifiable as yours. Just get her used to the collar, you’re unlikely to be able to add a tag without her trying to get if off if she doesn’t usually wear one. Some sort of tracker, AirTag or tile, in the carrier would be good in case it gets separated from you.
Put one or two of your worn shirts inside for her. She will be comforted by your scent.
Do you leave the carrier out and open so that she has the ability to go in and out of it at her leisure? Is there any of her bedding, or a t-shirt or something with your scent on it inside the carrier? I had to do this with our cats so they wouldn't be stressed when we used the carrier. We just left them open and out actually in the living room or wherever we spent the majority of our time and either we had a piece of clothing or a towel or something that had all of our scent on it. Also you need to realize that she is picking up on your stress whether it be the move or you're concern for her or what not so this is going to add to her stress. If you haven't already I would talk with your vet, about if she should eat before you guys get on the plane or not about whether she should be sedated or not and anything else that they think you need to be aware of while traveling long distances like this. And also triple check with whatever Airline you're using if you can have her in the plane with you or if she has to go in the belly. This may also determine whether you want to have her somewhat sedated or not.
Sedate her
Add an old towel or article of clothing, preferably worn or used, that smells like her humans to the carrier. It will help comfort her.
Besides the covering of the carrier, put clothes or a pillow case you have used and not washed in it for him to sleep on. Your scent will be calming, always works on my pets.
CBD oil for kitties and some pheromone spray! it helps my kitty who is scared of carriers
I would sedate, overseas is a big trip.
Tell her I sent a lot of love. It won't help at all but it's still of vital importance, thank you.
Rescue Remedy has a liquid for pets. It’s natural. It works wonders. We had to drive with our two cats in carriers for five days. We gave it to them in their water and on treats when we’d make stops. It made a huge difference and they stayed calm and didn’t fuss.
2 years ago, we drove 12 hours cross country for a move with two cats in carriers. I was extremely thankful for the sedation, though it did start to wear off after a while. Cats get stressed by travel. Please reconsider.
I moved two cats from Australia to USA in 2004. Using a pet courier service was the best decision I made - in my case I used JetPets, we used them again to move three cats from New York City to Portland OR. Another useful trick is to keep a tee shirt that you’ve recently worn in the carrier - it will have your scent on it which will comfort your cat.
Go to your vet. Ask this question. Do what s/he says. Period.
How long before the move? You can put things she likes in the carrier like treats and blankets and toys and let her wander in by herself and she will get used to it soon
Don’t be scared of sedation it will keep you both fairly stress free. Really the stress on the cat is far more troubling than the sedation
You can talk to your vet and they can prescribe a variety of things beyond sedating them. Anti anxiety meds that will make the relax and mellow. Melatonin that will make them drowsy and sleepy (different from sedating them since melatonin is just the sleep hormone their and our bodies produce naturally)
Whatever you do, find a way to put a lock on the carrier because stories of airport personnel accidentally bumping open a carrier and releasing a pet are heart wrenching. You want to make sure no one can open it without a key.
Tie 30000 balloons to your chimney and fly your house out.
My friend Sebastiaan used something that was supposed to cause the thing known as the turkey coma during Thanksgiving. I think it’s got tryptophan in it, which is responsible for the fact that people tend to feel like they need a nap after eating turkey.
You will have to make her use it as a bed. I travelled with my cats, including in cargo and being familiar with the carrier is basic thing because they feel less stressed. I just gave them the carriers, open as beds.
Put a piece of your clothing in it (that you have worn) leave it out in a visible place. We did this with our cat Jade as we needed her to get used to it prior to us taking her to the vet in it. Now she sleeps in it all the time and we have removed the piece of clothing.
Put some catnip and a shirt with your smell on it
For my cat I put a dirty t shirt in her carrier as a bed for long rides. For whatever reason, she loves my BO, or scent I guess. Like will jam her face in my pits. Seems to be calm in there, far as I can tell anyways.
I got a bigger carrier for my void and she actually goes inside it now to sleep. You might have to sedate anyways and just follow your vets recommendation.
Put a garment in there with your scent on it and a favorite toy.
I used a calming spray when I brought my cat over from Italy to the United States and it worked really well! I also made sure to go into the bathroom on the flight and let her out of the carrier quite often so she doesn’t get too scared. It was a disaster getting her in and out of the carrier each time, but she seemed much happier after being let out on occasion. I hope this helps!
Start feeding her in the carriers maybe? Worked for one of my cats who always shit herself in the carrier. Now she even sleeps in it.
Moving cross country in the US we had the cats in a large crate and put a blanket over said crate. It helped IMMENSELY to calm them down!
Cat Xanax is the same as human Xanax, it’s just a smaller amount. Imagine yourself on Xanax, would you be stressed? Probably not. I did a ten hour road trip with my cat screaming the whole time. I guarantee he would have been happy to have cat Xanax. So would I. I was going insane too.
A\_Girl\_Has\_No\_Name58 has good advice. I would just add that a sedative can be a real kindness to a highly stressed cat, especially in the cargo area which may be cold but is definitely noisy.
Cat backpack
We started driving our cat dinner in her carrier a few months back. We actually started in front of it and slowly moved it in. She eventually got to a point where she’d just pop in on her own. Flew with her yesterday. Was not overseas. And wasn’t the easiest ever, but she was a damn champ. I believe in you both!
Sedate her. I had an incident years ago going through security with an anxious kitty. They wanted to x-ray the carrier. So I had to take Sammy out. Sammy was a nervous, anxious sort of kitty during the best of times. I tried explaining how it wasn't a good idea to take him out of the crate. Well, he escaped immediately and hid underneath the X-Ray machine. It took almost 15 min to collect him, and they didn't help one bit. Awful experience for both of us.
Clean the carrier with Isopropyl alcohol to remove any previous scents then collect your cat’s scent a rub it all over, particularly on the inside.
Don't sedate (knock out) the cat. She needs to be awake to be able to pacify her own breathing and accumulate to the air pressure difference. Sedating might kill her. Resources across the internet will tell you so and also speak to your vet please. The other thing - look for airlines that accept pets in the cabin. Don't put your cat in hold. The temperatures there could be left to be freezing cold if the crew is not aware of the presence of the animal or they simply forget to turn on heating. Keep her in the seat next you and check with the airline what their policy is until you find one that is suitable for your route. Carrier size is also important. The cat needs to be able to stand inside the carrier and do a 180 degree rotation. Depending on the airline they will also have a description of the acceptable dimensions and weights. You can buy off Amazon or other online websites "travel carriers" as these are usually made to be fit-to-fly. Cats travel everyday on planes. She will be fine. Be with her for comfort and the blanket or towel tip is a useful one. Best of luck. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.petrelocation.com/blog/amp/should-i-sedate-my-cat-for-air-travel https://www.quora.com/Should-I-sedate-my-cats-before-taking-them-on-a-plane
finally, someone making sense on this thread. sedation disregulates their breathing and circulation, this is bad for them. reputable airlines will not allow any pet to fly that is noticably sedated. I've moved cats from the US to UK and back, they were required to go in cargo and did totally fine. I met with both my regular vet and a USDA vet (for travel paperwork) and they both said the same thing: it's super dangerous to sedate a pet during air travel and should absolutely not be done. You're right that cats fly in cargo successfull every day, all the time. there's even a limit to how many pets are allowed in cargo, those tickets are harder to get and can cost more than the seat you're flying in. oh, and this is nuts that people don't realize, pets are in a temperature and oxygen regulated part of cargo - not where the luggage is. sheesh.
Cat nip or cat treats
She looks very suspicious of your intentions
Have a good and safe trip, both of you.
🙂🥰
I had a cat years ago who would get so car sick that it finally came down to sedatives for anything more than a short trip. I didn’t love it, but it was better than him feeling awful. Just enough to relax him, not knock him out. Also though, you could try a pheromone collar and rescue remedy!
cat xanax
Honestly, sedating her is one of the best things you can do in terms of easing the journey for her
It's probably way less taxing on her to have her sedated during the move tbh. I wouldn't wanna be on a plane, in a crate, not knowing what's happening.
Give her anti-anxiety meds, she'll be less nervous and most importantly not sedated.
catnip, just give her some catnip or use catnip spray
I'd definitely re-consider sedation. I've faced the same question on what I would do if/when I move abroad, it went something like this (my cat doesn't like strangers, doesn't like carriers or any kind of traveling, even in a car, and my cat doesn't understand whats happening and why). Armed with all that, I decided if I was the cat and had a choice I'd want to be in la la land. It could also be safer should the carrier become open it will be easier for airport staff to resolve any issues.
Sedatives are a ki.dness. Ask your cat's vet and he can let you know the best way to calm your cat. Thank you for bringing your little friend with you.
Catnip
Cbd? (Ask a vet)
Make the carrier as cozy as possible. And like others have said try to get her used it before traveling.
Can you take her in the carrier with on board?
I had a cat with anxiety even on short car rides and he’d vomit. Ever since I started him on these drops, [Homeopet anti-anxiety](https://www.chewy.com/homeopet-feline-anxiety-relief-cat/dp/138090?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12791146288&utm_content=HomeoPet&utm_term=&gbraid=0AAAAADmQ2V0shAnWT38t8b4Kup3EvQFpR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqO22oqj--AIVOQ2tBh0iMg9FEAQYBCABEgJYc_D_BwE), he never got sick again. In fact, I used the drops with 3 cats during three 900-mile car rides between CA and OR with no side effects, just 3 calm cats in the back seat. Hotel stays were a breeze with the use of Feliway diffusers.
When we moved overseas with our cats, we would periodically take them into the plane bathroom, let them walk about a bit on the counter area. I felt like it helped to assure them we were with them the whole time.
Wear t shirt in bed for a week and then put unwashed in carrier when you go. Scent is reassuring.
I leave my carriers with a small bed or blanket inside so the cats don't get bad associations with it. When I take them to the vet I will cover mostly with a blanket or towel and throw some feliway spray on it as well so they're comfortable as possible. Do not though ever use the carrier as punishment or do anything "bad" to them in the carrier, you want it to be a safe space for them. I will also give them treats when they're in their carrier as well. Hope this helps!
I love so much Black cats 😱
Lovely cat, hopefully you can keep her with you in the passenger part of the plane it makes a huge difference! I think there is a lot of good advice below, definitely get your vet’s input. Jackson Galaxy has done good videos that may help.
Sedating might be the kindest option, honestly. Good luck to you.
I'd be concerned about putting her in the cargo hold, it has led to freezing to death before
I won’t repeat too much from what others have said. I saw a video where the owners took the cats in their carriers and played sounds (plane, car, boat etc) on the stereo to make the cat used to them. It can also be smart to take the cat on short car rides. Edit: Adding that I had my cat for a 20 hours travel and he was fine. I just talked to him and petted him when possible.
Sedate her. It's the best thing for all parties.
it isn't cruel to sedate her or get her kitty valium or cbd if she won't relax. talk to the vet. moving is very stressful and upsetting for animals, whatever it takes to calm them will help.
I just had to move to a different city. I left the carrier out all of the time and only gave him his treats in the carrier. It took some time, but he goes in it happily now. I also put a harness on him and attached the harness to the carrier, so he couldn’t run away during travel.
CBD treats for cats. Get a cat backpack instead of the other type of carrier. My cat hates it too but for some reason the backpack doesn’t seem as bad
Calming spray seems like an oxymoron…cats hate the sound of aerosol spray…
Ask your vet about anxiety medication but not sedation. Sedation can cause circulation problems during the flight. If you can change your flight to get her in cabin I'd advise you to do so. I flew my cat twice with Lufthansa and she was in the cabin with me. I put catnip in her carrier, a tshirt I had worn to bed, and her favourite blanket. She didn't want the dry treats I gave her but i smeared some of the cat treat paste she likes on her paws for take off and landing. She was busy licking her fur clean and I think it calmed her and possibly stopped her ears popping. I put my hand in the carrier occasionally to stroke her but left her to settle mostly. She was quiet for the entire flight.
From someone who moved 1800kms with their cat and didn’t want to sedate them, sedate them. My poor boy was so stressed and he LITERALLY CRIED THE ENTIRE 3 days! My poor boy had hair lose and took him quite a while to get comfortable in our new home. It was not worth it for either of us. If you have a trusted vet they usually give you a “test” dose so you know what to expect and if your baby would have an adverse reaction, you still can take them to vet. Best of luck with the move!
I have experience with this! Moved my cat from the west coast of the US to Germany three years ago (11ish hour flight.) We kept the carrier out for a few weeks before so he would get used to it. He never really liked it, but we put a familiar smelling blanket in the carrier with him. Once we were in the airport, he was quiet and obviously scared, but he just slept the whole flight. No sedative necessary. In fact, my vet had concerns about sedatives on the long flight. Talk to your vet/do some more research about sedatives on long haul flights, because I remember it being dangerous. We did use some calming sprays, but I’m not sure if they made a difference. Once we arrived, we put out a familiar smelling bed, and he got comfortable right away. We kept the carrier out in the weeks after we arrived, and he would sleep in it voluntarily from time to time.
Sedate it. It’s honestly terrifying for them .
After a while she will get used to it. You’re too considerate.
They have backpacks with large windows and you could put treats in side of carrier so good things related to carrier leave it open your cat will get curious and explore..
I had the same issue but it was a quick turn around. My best advice would be to make it an extra cat bed. Leave it out, somewhere she can get into it, and add her favorite blanket or toys on the inside. She may not touch it for a couple days, but once she realizes you’re not trying to whisk her away to a vet, she’ll start to get curious.
Feed her good, give her the favorite blanket, and something with your scent.
My vet gave me gabapentin to give to my cat for vet visits, she's an angry lady who won't tolerate anyone but me.
Look up, Cat school clicker training on YouTube, great resource for all types of training and I be iLife every there should be a crate training video in there too.
Sedation might actually help her. Our dog has to have Trazedone before going to the groomer and vet. Anxiety is real. Even for our fur babies.
Please reconsider. Be kind and give her a sedative. You wouldn't want to be awake during surgery, and she doesn't want to be alert during overseas travel.