Cat travel

[Lindy66]

My friend is having to take her cat to the cattery whilst she goes on holiday.

The problem is the cat, she starts stressing out as soon as she sees the basket and theres a wrestle to get her in the basket. Before the journey begins the cat is hyperventilating, panting, froothing at the mouth and usually wets and poos herself.

This obviously upsets my friend who feels guilty at having to do this and needs to know any tips others have on trying to calm down the cat without pills from the vet. She has tried cat nip which works temporary and familiar items like toys and her bedding.

So before my friend gets scratched to bits and has a nervous breakdown does anyone have any tips ??

[Gilli]

Could she consider asking a friend or neighbour to feed the cat while she's away instead ?

Or look into one of these pet sitting services. My mum's used these and it worked out the same cost as a cattery. They'll clear out litter if necessary too.

To be honest, in the past, I have left out masses of a quality dry food like Iams, and plenty of water (we're talking huge dishes here, not the normal cat sized bowls) so that I didn't have to pay for a cattery. Mind you, this does depend on having a catflap, but the cats have all been fine.

[dmsjps]

Do your friend's cats hunt? Mine do. I leave my cats at home when I go on holiday and they're fine. They sulk a bit when I come home, but they're OK. They're not skinny and starving, they're just hacked off that I went away for so long and left them to do that 'fun' task of hunting vermin full time instead of when they fancied it.

[Noweia]

If the cat is only put in the basket when everyone is going on holiday, it will associate the basket with being sent to a cattery.  Also, (at least in our household anyway) going on holiday can be quite stressful for everyone and the cat probably picks up on this!

Try and get the cat used to the basket before she has to actually be taken anywhere - start off by leaving it open on the floor in a place where the cat will see it but not feel threatened by it.  Feeding the cat near the basket or putting food treats inside it may help!  If this works your friend might try putting the cat in the basket for a short period, without moving the basket, then letting her out and feeding her.  Hopefully this will teach the cat that being in the basket isn't bad thing!

The main thing is to have patience :)

Hope this helps!

[Sue Balou]

I have the same problem with one of my cats. I mentioned it to the vet at the cat's annual vaccination appt, the vet said you can get a hormone spray that you spray in the basket before you put the cat in. It's meant to calm them down. It's called Feliway. Available from most vets. I haven't tried it yet as we haven't been away since the recommendation.

Hope this helps

Sue

[Kimmiebear]

If your friend's cat takes pills well you can give it Gravol (travel / motion sickness pill) These make the cat sleepy and then it would be less likely to scratch her arms off. Check with your vet for the dose because cats matabolize it differently that people.
Feliway is a great product by the way; one of our receptionists uses it at home to stop her cat from spraying. We also use it in clininc with cats that have stress issues or post anethetic freak outs.
I agree with Noweia in that cat box training is important in case of emergency trips to the vet and such