Is it safe to medicate my asthmatic cat for a 10-hour car trip?

I would recommend that you schedule an appointment to with your vet to discuss prescription anti-anxiety and anti-nausea medications that can help with stress of traveling for North. 6 hours isn't that long, but it can feel like an eternity if you have motion sickness or intense fear. I usually prescribe enough for a trial run to make sure there are not any odd side effects before the day of travel.

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!

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.

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! When using products like Benadryl to reduce anxiety and to help sedate the patient a bit, I prefer using them 15-30 minutes before. We unfortunately cannot prescribe a specific dose of a medication as this requires a patient doctor relationship which requires an in-person evaluation. However, this is something your veterinarian could prescribe as they have evaluated her. Keep in mind that Benadryl is not commonly used in cats for this purpose. I would recommend another product such as Feliway which you can find online or over the counter at your local pet store and this is likely going to be effective for this purpose. Best of luck!

Hello, thats certainly a long flight. Cats in general have the demeanor of being cautious about new environments, noises, and objects so it is not surprising he becomes very stressed under these conditions. You may speak to your veterinarian about having calming medication prescribed to Fuzz for the long journey. I would also check with your airline provider to ensure that cargo conditions are adequate for animals, temperatures can become very hot under there and may not be safe at all for pets. There are things like zylkene tablets and other sedatives your veterinarian may be able to provide you with. Make sure Fuzz has a good thorough physical exam during his health certification to ensure he is in good shape to travel a long journey. Best of luck and hope this helps.