My cat is stressed and panting after moving. How to calm her?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Ramone. I get why you are worried about him. Moving is very stressful on a cat, and and it sounds like he's showing signs of stress. I would not be too worried given that he's now sleeping. He should adjust and calm down. I'd just keep an eye on him for now. Best of luck.

You may want to try bringing some things from home that are familiar to make him more comfortable like a bed or a crate. If he seems more anxious at night you may want to confine him to a dark quiet room. I think pheromone diffusers can be very helpful. I am a little concerned about the panting at night: although some cats will pant when they are extremely anxious it is more often a sign of respiratory distress. If you feel Zorro is having trouble breathing you should see a veterinarian right away.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Biscuit. I am sorry to hear that she is so stressed. I would keep her in a dark quiet room with you to try and soothe her. If the open mouth breathing persists, then she will need to see a veterinarian as this is a sign of respiratory distress in a cat. It is a stress response as well, but of it does not resolve once she has calmed down, then it is worrisome. I hope this information helps!

I would recommend taking DoReMi to a veterinarian as soon as you can. It is not typical for cats to pant unless they are in extreme pain, very stressed, or in respiratory distress. Some common causes of difficulty breathing include heart disease, feline asthma, and pleural effusion (or fluid outside the lungs in the chest cavity). Even if he is just experiencing stress in his new surroundings it is much safer to have him checked out by a veterinarian than to wait until his breathing is worse.

Moving can be a stressful time for both cats and people. Some cats begin to experience stress when the first box is packed. Try to keep this time as normal as possible for your cat by continuing a normal daily routine and avoid packing your cat’s bed, cat tree, and toys until the last minute. Calming pheromone products, such as the Comfort Zone® Calming Diffuser or Comfort Zone® Spray and Scratch Control Spray, may minimize some of this stress. When moving day arrives, be sure that your cat is safely secured in a cat carrier before the door opens and boxes start leaving. We recommend plugging in the Comfort Zone® Calming Diffuser into your old home during packing, as well as in your new home during unpacking and the settling period. If possible, try to move your cat as early in the day as possible and confine them to a bathroom in your new home with their normal bed, litter box, bowls, and toys. This will keep your cat from escaping during the move and may pose less stress if they see less of the action. If your cat is prone to high stress, resulting in self-trauma with overgrooming or inappropriate eliminations, it may be best to discuss short-term anti-anxiety medication with your veterinarian.

Poor Kane! Given that he has calmed down, I am thinking that that panting was from stress; nevertheless, keep an eye on him just in case. If you see him start panting again, drooling, agitation (may be shown by pacing), a bright red tongue, or breathing distress, take him into a vet immediately. I hope this helps!

Hi and thanks for posting! Aww poor Fanny- I like that name and cute picture of her. If the calming supplements do not seem to do the trick after a while and Fanny is still seeming stressed, then I would talk to Fanny's veterinarian about getting her on anti anxiety medication. There are lots of different medications your veterinarian may recommend. It may take 3-4 weeks to see any differences in her behavior, but this can really help especially if all other efforts have proven to be unsuccessful. I hope this helps and I wish you and Fanny the best!