Long move coming - kitties will freak!

[amydidit]

In less than 2 weeks we're making a move to Colorado. We're taking our cats with us in our minivan... one of our cats, Xander, is 2 1/2 years old and gets really stressed by moving... he's only ever been moved short distances though, so I can't even imagine how he'll manage a long move like this.

Last time we moved we used Rescue Remedy, and it helped a LITTLE, but not even close to enough to allow him to handle a move of this size.

Is there anything (other than regular tranquilizers) that you'd suggest to calm a kitty in this situation? I want to make this as easy on him as possible.

[broodymama]

We're moving from GA to WA in 2 weeks with our 7 cats, so I'm very interested in any replies!

[Sherra]

I was just reading about this in Martin Goldstein's book on animals from our local library.

This is what he suggested:

valerian root - use 1/3 to 1/2 of a human dose It is suppose to calm nervousness.

chamomile is suppose to reduce anxiety.

I have no idea if it works, but hey, it's worth a try?


Sherra

PS. I have a nervous dog that I think I'll try these on next time on our road trip. Previously I used a tranquilizing drug and it didn't work! If anything she was more nervous. So it had the opposite effect on her which I heard of before.

[polka123]

I moved 3 cats & 4 German Sheps about 2000 miles & used nothing.

The cats were in 2 small crates with a small little pan (sm roaster pan with litter). They calmed down by themselves (no meds) after a few hours of driving & by the 2nd day they were ok.

Do google a herbal pet site to get the correct valerian root dose. I used Valerian root when I got in a new rescue foster dog & it worked 1/2 the time.
I would get a few mild tranquilizers from your Vet just in case they dont settle down but here again, I would only give 1/2 the dose as cats don't like to feel out of control.

DO make sure you do not hold them in your arms as you transport them as they can freak & jump out.

[koofie]

Whatever you decide, try it beforehand. I did this and found nothing really kept one of my cats from being stressed, so I opted for the tranqulizer because it was a 14 hour trip and my cat tended to kind of hyperventilate if stressed for a long period of time. But I am glad I tried everything I could beforehand, so I didn't try the trip and have something not work.

Good Luck.

[ozzyemm]

We recently moved our cats 1 1/2 hours. We put one cat in a cardboard carrier, and the other two in a plastic carrier. The two in the plastic carrier did MUCH better than the one by herself; and they normally fight when together . Also, one of the two in the plastic carriers had previously hyperventilated when we took her in the same crate 1/2 hour away to the vet.