What helps calm a cat for car trips if Rescue Remedy didn't work?

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.

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.

This is pretty normal as he is scared in the carrier, You can get Feliway spray and spray the cage. This may calm him down and take some of the stress. You should also cover the carrier while in the car, so he cannot look out the window, as cats do not understand the landscape rushing past them, and that is very scary. You can try rescue remedy in small amounts, however it usually has alcohol which is not recommended for cats and tastes horrible and might make the cat even more upset. So I suggest you try Feliway spray first.

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.

I would suggest feliway spray; http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=1061 Feliway Spray quickly puts an end to stress-related behavior like cat urine marking and inappropriate scratching. Use Feliway to treat surfaces your pet has already marked, as well as prominent objects that could be future targets. It also helps comfort your cat in new or stressful environments such as the veterinarian's office, a new home (or home with multiple cats), while traveling or boarding, and when introducing new cats to your home.

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!

Sully is adorable! Thanks for including a picture. I wish I could give you a simple answer to your question, but every animal is different and some require a combination of products. I would say that about 50% of the animals I try it with have a good response to Rescue Remedy, so that is often my first choice for cats (especially since it can just be added to the water). I have not used the other products, but both appear to have ingredients that could be used alone or in combination with Rescue Remedy. Don't forget that natural supplements are much more variable than medications and will not sedate, so they are sometimes not enough for a very anxious cat. I also recommend combining supplements with a Feliway Diffuser ( https://www.feliway.com ) or a Comfort Zone Diffuser ( https://www.comfortzone.com/ ) in your house. This is a calming pheromone that will work for a month. You could also consider calming music specifically for cats ( http://throughadogsear.com/tace/through-a-cats-ear-1-music-for-calming/ ). Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.