My cat cries during travel. Can I use sedatives or calming aids?

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.

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.

Those side effects are more common with chronic long term use. One to two doses prior the appointment will provide mild sedation and help calm her for the visit. You can try feliway spray. You spray a towel for the carrier and place a towel on top to help keep her covered

Hi there and thanks for your post on PetCoach! I would recommend calming supplements for your pets that have L-theanine in them which can have a calming effect. I would recommend a product called Composure from VetriScience which comes in a liquid and chewable form. I have the product linked below: I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! My favorite to use in cases like this to prevent stress is something that is actually sprayed in the environment/objects in contact with him instead of actually being given as a medication. This is called Feliway and you can find it online or at your local pet store. Works great in these scenarios. Good luck and have a great day!

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.