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What natural remedies calm my cat for airport travel & security?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Ragdoll | Female | spayed | 10 months and 27 days old | 11 lbs

I don’t want to use a tranquilizer, but my cat does not do very well in airports (especially having to carry her through security) are there any over the counter natural remedies to calm her nerves?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on May 9th, 2018

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.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on December 24th, 2016
I definitely understand your concerns! Unfortunately, cats are quite sensitive to most human medications and there is really nothing you can use that would be likely to be on-hand at your house.

Some owners have good luck with a natural calming supplement like Composure, Rescue Remedy, or a Feliway pheromone diffuser for these situations, but you would need to find an open store that carries a good selection of pet supplies and make a quick trip out to try and find these things.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on December 7th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is nothing over the counter medication you can give her for that purpose safely unfortunately. However, you can consider using a product called Feliway (pheromone diffuser) which can help tremendously to reduce stress in cats and you may get that online or at your local pet store. Best of luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on April 28th, 2018
Cats are very territorial animals and when there is a stressful event or too many people in a cat's environment, this can lead to behavioral changes. If there were a lot of strangers in the house, this can be over stimulating for any dog or cat. If Max gets this stressed out with large groups of people, I would recommend using a product called NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Chews with Melatonin, which can be found online or at your local PetCo. You can also use any of the Feliway products. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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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.

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Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. I'm sorry but we are unable to prescribe medications without examining the patient in person. You will have to call your regular veterinarian. What I can recommend is that you try using Feliway spray and other natural calming medications like Zylkene first. Try it now before you are due to travel. Start giving the Zylkene twice daily. Then take a day where you want to test her. Spray the Flyway spray in the carrier and in the car, wait 15 minutes and then take her for a short drive. If not helping then you need to talk to your vet. ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=115875 ) ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=117326 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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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.

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Ginger should be examined by the veterinarian prior to the flight to check her heart and blood pressure. She will likely need a health certificate and vaccine update (if due). If she is prone to stress, sedatives/anti-anxiety medications may help. In general, the over the counter options don't tend to be effective (though you can try them). Your veterinarian will have proven medications that work. It is also recommend to have a trial run at home a few days before your flight so you know how Ginger responds to them. Here is also a helpful article: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-travel-with-a-cat/ I hope this helps.

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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.

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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.

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I know how you feel. I just flew with 5 of my own pets for a flight that was over 7 hrs. So you are a bit limited here, but there are some safe things you can do to ease the stress for Moka. 1) No sedatives- these are not safe and also not permitted due to the vast temperature ranges that your fur baby can be exposed to. Also if she is going in cargo pressure changes can make her at risk for serious injury if she is on any type of sedative/tranquilizer. 2) Stress reducing natural remedies- there are lots of options here at your local pet store. Get an associate to help you find some that will work for you. 3) Place a clothing item with your scent on it in the carrier with her 4) Don't stop giving her food or water for any period of time. You want her well hydrated and well fed. Most cats won't eat much in transit, so letting her eat is a good idea. 5) Place a pee pad or towel at the bottom of the carrier in case of accidents. You will be surprised to know that most cats hold their urine and feces well during transit, unless of course Moka has a diagnosed separation anxiety condition, in which case she may have an accident or two. 6) Relax- your pet picks up on your mood! So if you are stressed, she will be stressed! Just relax and things will be just fine.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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