I\’m moving 900 miles driving with 2 cats. I need to know how to best help them with the move aka sedatives?
dsmarine43
I’m moving 900 miles away. I’m moving by myself with my two cats in a moving van. I need to know the best way to move them without stressing them to the extreme. Is there a good sedative that could be recommended? This trip will require them to be in a moving van for 16 driving hours. I’m stressing thinking about what they’re going to go through and the noise they’ll inflict on me being upset. I really need them to sleep alot if possible. Help would be great.
I just wanted to say thank you for all your comments and support. I feel less stressed just knowing I’m not alone and others have done this successfully. I will implement all your great advise, vet, my clothes, covered carriers, no food, to keep them calm and me calm. Again, Thank you all so much!
I’m moving 900 miles away. I’m moving by myself with my two cats in a moving van. I need to know the best way to move them without stressing them to the extreme. Is there a good sedative that could be recommended? This trip will require them to be in a moving van for 16 driving hours. I’m stressing thinking about what they’re going to go through and the noise they’ll inflict on me being upset. I really need them to sleep alot if possible. Help would be great.
I just wanted to say thank you for all your comments and support. I feel less stressed just knowing I’m not alone and others have done this successfully. I will implement all your great advise, vet, my clothes, covered carriers, no food, to keep them calm and me calm. Again, Thank you all so much!
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my suggestion is a VERY small dose of benadryl. We do this for my dog in the car, if you get the capsules that you can bust open, you need to bust it open and sprinkle a little bit on a hot dog or in some tuna, and this should sedate them very well. But I would DEF talk to a vet before doing this
Call your vet. He will be able to give you some sedatives for your cats (for about $10). Feed them late the night before you drive and don’t let them eat too much the morning of to avoid car sickness. Remember to keep them in an area of the van where they won’t get too hot or too cold and to make sure that they stay hydrated (easier said than done). Good luck!
I would ask your veterinarian or a local veterinarian. I am sure You can use some meds to help them relax or sedate them, but not knowing about the health of your cats and their age, weight ect. It is best to talk to your vet.
Best wishes
Yes, there are cat calming pills you can get from the vet. I moved with my small family from Tenessee to California to Oregon - driving cross-country with my cat. I gave the cat 1/4 of the calming pill (the same that I use for him when we fly overseas). It does make him sleepy, but for the actual car ride, he’d meow and meow off and on for about an hour and then he’ll go to sleep. Your cats will be fine - they’ll take their cue mostly from YOU. If you feel stressed, they’ll pick up on that, so try to be calm and patient during the trip. Play music. They cast will meow off and on but just ignore them and they’ll drift to sleep. Put them in separate cat carriers and cover these with towels or blankets so that they do not see outside or the moving landscape from the car windows. This will calm them further and help them just go to sleep.
Bon Voyage!
If you have time before you move take the kitties for short journey’s in the car short distances at first and gradually make them longer if your very lucky your cats will love traveling in the car. I have a cat the rode all the way across the country in the car unsedated, she loves car rides!! I would definitely let them check out the car beforehand to reduce stressing them out and short rides. But I would just see your regular veterinarian and ask him to recommend something that will work for the duration of your trip. I wouldn’t self medicate them with drugs meant for humans and if you have a good vet all he will need is their weights to prescribe them a sedative, and you will be able to give it to them orally a couple hours before departing. Good-luck with your move!!
I moved from Fort Hood,Texas to Chiago Illinois with 7 cats in a uhaul in middle of summer with not air conditioning. The cats did fine. It was a 18+hour drive. I didn’t give them anything they just slept. I made sure to stop ever 3 to 4 hours and give them water if they needed it. I would avoid drugging your kittys at all cost.
Lucke
hello….In a moving van with the furniture or up front with YOU? Oh I would not hope for very good outcome. You can of course stop along the way a few times and see how they are, give a tiny bit of water and never let them get out or they will be lost for good. Cats dont usually like trucks or cars. Ask your vet what to give them but 900 miles is a looooong ways to keep them sleeping and not going to the bathroom? ALSO keep them in large cat carriers, not just sitting in the van free style. Otherwise they will just bolt out at the other end and be lost. I know someone this happened to.She let them out of her car and they ran off forever they were so scared.You have to take them into the new home in their carriers and leave them in some quiet room dont let them just come out to run around and escape the new place. Again in big carriers locked. As to something to calm them, yes you have Feliway or Bach’s flower or Comfort Zone sprays but they arent going to last 900 miles either. You might have to spray another time to keep it calming them.Call your vet or some vet who can give you a recommendation or a sedative, I know there are sedatives.some airlines do take cats in the cargo hold which is also scarey for the cats. Worse probably.
Best bet is to ultimately take them to the vet, so they can check them both out and that way they are certain to get the right dosage. However 16 hours is a long time to have any animal sedated.
Another good idea is to take them for short drives for a while (a couple of weeks or so, daily preferred) before you go. 10 minutes to start increasing each time, they will meow, but they will also learn that they will be let out soon. This may be time consuming, but it will help them get use to the vehicle slowly, and after a while I am sure they will get bored and go to sleep themselves.
I have two cats that I have completely trained to be car cats. I started them as soon as I got them, 6 - 8 weeks old. Now they love coming for drives, sitting up either on the back window or in a little alcove on the front dash. They certainly turn some eyes, quite the talk of the village.
Sedatives aren’t necessary. I moved from Evanston, Wyoming to Houston, Texas a few years ago with two cats in a moving van. That’s roughly 1500 miles. I stayed two nights in Motel 6’s. They accept pets. Just keep them from going under your feet while you’re driving. Chances are they will find the spaces under the truck seats and sleep. Make regular stops for rest. You should be fine.
You have so many good answers here that I don’t think I will repeat things already written. But I would like to add a couple of things. You do plan to have them loose or in cages in the car? I would recommend to have one nice and big cage to each of them. Somehow cats feel more secure in small controlled spaces. Stop from time to time and go and talk to them. Give them some water. Take a 5 min break. Make sure the cages are clean all the time. Bring a lot of old towels, clothing etc to use (paper). Also it’s a good idea to put something of yours inside the cage to calm them down. Like a used t-shirt etc.
Good luck with your move!
On long trips, a problem may not appear there if the animal is sedated. If you have to, make it a really tiny amount - and make sure there’s enough water and vventilation, isn’t it possible for the kitty to go in the car?
Moving to a new home can be just as stressful on your pet as it is on you. Following are some tips to help you help your pet through this change of address.
Talk to your veterinarian at least three weeks before the move to determine if your pet will need medication for nervousness or car sickness.
Gather the supplies your pet will need during the move - food, water, medications, medical records, bedding and toys. It also helps to bring along some of your dirty laundry because the familiar scent of these belongings is comforting to your pet.
Keep your pet away from the moving-day activity by confining him to a room where he feels safe, otherwise, your pet could become frightened and bolt out the door unnoticed. It’s difficult to pack, move furniture, and keep an eye on your pet at the same time. Maybe you have a friendly place where your pet can stay during the packing and moving, like a neighbor, friend or boarding kennel. As much as possible, try not to disrupt his daily routine.
Be sure your dog or cat has a tag with your new phone number or the number of a friend so there will be someone to contact if your pet gets lost during the move.
Move small animals, like birds and hamsters, in their cages, covered with a lightweight fabric. Remove water and any other objects that might loosen and injure them. You must keep the temperature constant for these small friends to survive.
Unpack and settle in a bit before turning your pet loose in the house. Keep the doors to your extra rooms closed and slowly give your pet access to them as they become accustomed to their new home.
Orient your dog or cat to the new surroundings. If possible, try to place their favorite resting place (dog bed, chair or cushion) in the same position or area, as it was in your old home. Put their food and water bowls and toys in familiar places as well.
If you have a dog, walk him around the house, yard and block. If you have a cat, sit quietly and pet her, preferably while sitting in a familiar chair. Provide a place for your cat to hide (she’ll do this anyway). Make sure she’s eating, drinking and using her litter box.
Be patient, loving and reassuring with your pet, and they’ll adjust quickly to their new home.