Cats - Moving Home - Long Journey

[gallapunk]

I'm moving next month and my two cats absolutely hate being in the car; they scream and carry on so much (in their carriers, of course; not loose) and it's very distressing. Trouble is, it's a 3-hour journey to my new home and I will feel terrible with them being so upset for such a long length of time. I've heard the vet can give them a sedative, but then I've also heard that some vets aren't happy about it, so I'm really confused. Does anyone please have any advice?

I know I have to keep them inside once we get there until they see the new place as 'home', so no worries on that score (I've moved house with them before); it's just the journey that bothers me.

Thank you.

[madboutcats]

i was going to suggest a trip to the vets for a mild sedative, maybe you could still ask explaining what they are both like and that they both get really upset and hopefully the vet will help you, just a trip to the vet for my two sets them panting and sweating and the odd howl. i was also thinking maybe you could cover their travel basket with a blanket so its dark it might just help. hope it all goes smoothly for you.xx

[LoftyLottie]

Most vets aren't happy about sedating cats because they can have bad reactions to sedatives and may even die (unlike dogs). However, I suppose three hours of panic is quite dangerous for their health too. A difficult situation. I would discuss it with your vet or vet nurse. It must be a situation they are aware of.

[woofgang]

the pheromone thing is called feliway...with respect, are they upset or mad as hell? Both are stressful for you of course but being mad isn't as bad for the cat as distress

[Dee Sa]

one of my dogs is a bad traveller and when younger we took him to Wales on holiday with us, vet gave a sedative, he took it wobbled for a few moments, got in the car and stood on his legs on the back seat for the whole journey and whined both there and back all the way, it certainly didnt knock him out as expected, never again , now he goes to the dog's hotel in Camb and whines all the way but only 1 hour which I can put up with..

[woofgang]

Dee Sa there is a new stress relief med for dogs which isn't a sedative called Zylkene that you might want to look into, also the dog pheromone spray is called DAP.

I know what you mena about dog sedation, it never worked on ours on bonfire night

[eyebrows]

strap them in the seatbelt

[eyebrows]

poke-e-mon....gotta catchem all...

[pusspuss]

best of luck none of mine like to go to the vet in a carrier 7 minutes walk away.

[Kleiber]

I did a 4 hour journey from Surrey to West Wales when we moved 6 yrs ago, with 2 cats yelling most of the way! In the car I also had a pet mouse and 2 tarantulas (good thing I never had an accident or got stopped by the police!). Fortunately, hubby & son had gone ahead with the dogs and the rabbit, otherwise I think I'd have gone mad! The cats hated the journey - like yours, pusspuss, I have problems if any of them need to go to the vet - but in the end were none the worse for it and settled quickly into their new home, which they now love. All I can say is "good luck"!! K x

[gallapunk]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will ask the vet before we go.