How to Sedate a Cat for Travel

Traveling with your cat can be a stressful affair for you and your pet. Often we come across that many cats do not enjoy traveling and going out; Instead, they prefer their routine and home space. On the other hand, some cats love outings, and they give you the perfect company while being on a trip. But what if you own a cat that gets stressed when out and anxious about traveling. You need to learn how to sedate a cat for travel and pay special care to make your traveling mate easy with a viable option like sedation.

How To Know Your Cat Is Feared While Traveling?

If you are planning a trip any time soon and want to take along your feline friend, you must know its traveling habits. Some cats tend to develop a fear of traveling when proper training does not take place.

There are some vivid signs that a cat shows while feeling anxious and nervous. Common are rapid breathing and panting. More extreme is breathing with mouth wide open, vocalization, dilated pupils, urinating, and vomiting.

If you don't know how to sedate a cat, what else you can do to calm down your little pal naturally is comforting with a plastic carrier or crate to carry. Some pet carriers come with straps like a shoulder bag. They are suggested, especially when traveling, including boarding a plane and a long walk.

What Is Cat Seduction?

You can make your road trip less scary, accompanied by your cat, by taking some preliminary steps to make it less anxious. A journey with your cat begins long before the day to travel. It includes making your cat ready for traveling through training and practices and self-learning how to sedate a cat for travel.

Cat seduction helps keep your cat calm and relaxed during a long car trip or plane trip. Usually, sedation includes using calming pills and medication specially designed for cats. Before administering your cat for sedation, you should always talk to the vet regarding the cat's sedative for travel.

So they say using a cat sedative for travel is ideal for keeping your cat less stressed and behaving like a polite pal. However, many cat owners do not know how to sedate a cat and what cat sedatives for travel can be used.

Many cat sedatives for travel are available in the market, some are natural, and others contain chemical factors like pheromones. One of my tried ones is Pet Hemp Oil which has some natural ingredients that calm my cat magically, and you can give it to your pet safely for muscle relaxation. The other one comes with pheromone formula calming spray for cats and dogs. This soothing chemical added with natural ingredients has immediate effects and no health dangers because no ingesting is involved.

Besides, never blindly follow the marketing but always consult your pet vet about which cat sedative for travel is suitable for your cat.

How Long Can Cats Hold Their Pee?

Cats have more robust control over their bladders. As a cat owner, you must tell how long cats can hold their pee. To others, it is worth mentioning that cats can have their pee for a significantly longer time. The time varies from 24 to 48 hours. However, holding pee for a longer time than 48 hours may indicate a severe issue with the cat. That can be anything from a blocked bladder to a stressed cat, which is common in cats.

A stressed cat may not pee as it should be on average. The problem can be a changed surrounding or a changed litter box. If you have recently changed your cat's litter box, she might not like it and stop peeing. If you want to see how long cats can hold their pee, take them out for a long trip. If they get stressed or feel away from their litter box, they will not pee.

Surprisingly, cats can go all night with no peeing. It is recommended that a cat should pee at least 2-4 times a day. To keep your cat healthy, train it to pee every few hours.

Types of Cat Sedative for Travel

While some sedatives are specified for cats only, others can be used for all pets. They include anti-stress ingredients similar to medications for humans. Speaking with your vet regarding how to sedate a cat using sedatives is essential because you cannot give any available over-the-counter sedatives to your cat. They can be strong and may have other side effects. Remember, some prescribed sedatives may have more potent calming effects to deal with fireworks, shifting, and transportation.

Most Cat sedatives for travel are oral and can be given with food. Ideally, they should be given 1 – 2 hours before traveling.

Benzodiazepines

This different kind of drug works as a sedative substance for animals and humans alike. Using this will release the facilitation of neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid activity that will help your pet keep calm and a bit dizzy.

You need to discuss this with your vet beforehand because if your cat is prone to liver or kidney disease, you cannot give it to her.

Diphenhydramine

It is a commonly prescribed and over-the-counter available cat sedative for travel. It is suitable for cats to have a higher rate of travel anxiety. Having ingredients like Benadryl, this drug also prevents motion sickness in your cat.

Cats with high blood pressure issues and glaucoma can take these drugs with vet approval. Also, if your vet approves it, it is better to start the course 24 hours before traveling.

Clonidine

This sedative is used to ease off the pain and muscles in cats and dogs. It stimulates the alpha adrenoreceptors that affect heart rate, nervous systems, and blood flow.

You can get this drug after prescription only after telling the need for a trip. It has a mild effect on the cat, but it starts taking products after 3-4 hours.

Final Words

Thorough research is essential at your disposal to travel safely and calmly with your cat. Please talk with your vet before planning a trip along with your pet regarding its vaccinations, sedation, and preventive measures. Always ask your veteran regarding the right dozing and oral medication to be given on how to sedate a cat for travel safely.