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How to calm anxious cats for a long car trip or cross-country move

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 3 years and 8 months old | 15 lbs

I'm planning a cross country move with my two rescue cats who are very anxious about change. Is there a reliable, low impact, over the counter sedative I could use on them before our 14 hour car ride? I don't want to them to necessarily sleep through the entire ride, but I'd like to at least calm them through the bulk of the trip.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Published on July 9th, 2018

I sympathize with you. I just moved across the country with my 2 cats last year. There are a number of over the counter options, but none of them are as reliable as prescription medications. So, it really depends on how anxious your cats are as to which would be a better option for them. You could try calming treats such as Composure ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetri-science-composure-feline-bite-sized-chews ) for an herbal option. We used to recommend tranquilizers for traveling which would sedate an animal, but we now recommend milder anti-anxiety medications that do not cause excessive sedation. I used the prescription medication Gabapentin for my cats for a 3 day drive across the country, and they did great. I would recommend asking your veterinarian for their recommendation and try a few products before you actually move.
Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on January 8th, 2018

    It's good that you're planning ahead to make the move easier with Lemon! It really depends on how anxious she normally gets in the car. If her anxiety is mild, you might be fine using a natural calming supplement like Composure or Solliquin just before the trip - these are available over the counter, so you don't need a prescription. Just follow the dosing instructions on the label.

    For cats who get extremely anxious on car trips, prescription medication can be a good option to help keep them calm. In that case, you would want to talk to your veterinarian about trying something like acepromazine or alprazolam - either of these can be given just prior to your car trip, and would be very helpful in keeping your kitty calm and quiet assuming that she is healthy otherwise.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Vet Q & A
How can I make a long distance move with my cats less stressful?
I would recommend traveling with the cats in a car, each in a separate carrier for safety. If you are concerned that the trip may be stressful for them, you can talk to your veterinarian about prescribing anti-anxiety medication to help with this. You could also consider using a pheromone spray such as Feliway, along with a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to help them relax if needed.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Can I sedate my anxious cat for a long car trip? What about CBD?
Hi there, I always recommend trialing the sedation with a quick drive around the neighborhood before the big day to ensure that the kitty is calm enough. CBD is being studied for pets right now, but the hard data for recommending dosages isn't available yet. As well, many CBD advertised products will have enough THC to cause toxicity in pets, so I do caution to monitor closely and not give large amounts of a product you are unfamiliar with. I cannot think of a reason that a missing eye would interfere with mild sedation but I don't have the whole medical record either. Medications like Gabapentin or Trazodone would be more commonly prescribed for mild anxiety reducing and sedative purposes for a long drive. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
What helps calm a cat for car trips if Rescue Remedy didn't work?
In terms of over-the-counter options, it would be safe to try a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Solliquin for cats - both of these can be very helpful in reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation in situations like this. If you think that Nala may need something stronger, you can also talk to your veterinarian about prescription anti-anxiety medication for her.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
What natural remedies calm my cat for airport travel & security?
Hi there! You could try Feliway pheromone spray in her carrier before the trip, along with a natural calming supplement such as Zylkene or Composure. All of these can be ordered online or purchased at pet stores without a prescription.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Help! My cat hates car rides. How to sedate him for a long move?
Gabapentin can cause sedation in some cats but not all. You can try a dose that your vet prescribed to see if it helps with a short car trip around the block. If it doesn't work, I would talk to your vet about a different medication, possibly alprazolam and also use Cerenia, which prevents nausea often associated with motion sickness in these kitties.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Cat hates car rides? How to keep a stressed cat calm while moving.
Cars are quite stressful for many cats, so Dash isn't alone in this issue! However, as you mentioned, stress can definitely lead to shedding of viruses that trigger URIs. Calming pheromones, like Feliway, can be helpful when sprayed or wiped in carriers. Since Dash's stress-related situation sounds more severe, I also recommend asking your veterinarian about prescribing some medication (such as trazodone and gabapentin) for this trip. Doses can vary a bit with individual cats, so it's always important to conduct a trial run ahead of time to see if the dose seems sufficient. If the first dose doesn't alleviate enough stress, your vet may need to increase it a bit for your longer drive. Best of luck with your move!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Training & Behavior
Best way to travel long distance with two anxious or skittish cats?
Here is a great article regarding traveling with cats: https://www.petcoach.co/article/safe-summer-traveling-tips-for-cats/ You should also get the cats use to the crates so have the crates out for at least a week in advance. You may also try feeding the cats in the crate to create a positive association. If the cats become stressed out easily, you may discuss getting sedatives for them from your veterinarian. Make sure the cats are up to date on vaccines, have a record of their vaccines, you may also want a health certificate just to be safe and you may also want to microchip them (if this is not already done) just in case they escape. Please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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