Can my senior cat fly safely? What sedatives help with travel anxiety?

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.

Plane rides can definitely be stressful for cats. There are several different sedatives that would be appropriate for a healthy young cat. Gabapentin is my favorite, but you'll have to talk with your vet to see what they are comfortable with. Acepromazine is a sedative that was commonly used previously, but is not longer recommend because we understand better that is it slows down the body, but not the mind - not so helpful for scary situations. Good luck!

Some cats don't do well on planes. Sedatives may or may not be safe for Leo, so he should be examined by a vet in Texas to determine what would be the best course of action. If he hasn't been in a kennel before this plane ride, you may have some time to work on getting him more comfortable in his carrier before your flight back.

If Shakira stresses very easily, I think the best thing to do is have her seen by her vet before she goes on this trip, and discuss using medication to help ease her stress during it. The medication would be safest to use on a long car ride, not a flight. Make an appointment with her vet to discuss options. I hope this helps!

I'm not sure, you would need to ask the specific veterinarian in question what his/her concerns are. Alprazolam is fairly commonly used for travel anxiety in cats, but there are also other meds that can work well. It may be a question of personal preference for your veterinarian, based on his/her experience.

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.

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