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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
There are 14 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 6,796 times.
There are many reasons you need to reassure your cat. They may not be used to walking or are stressed when the vet checks or is bathed. To help calm your cat in stressful situations, you can use a variety of strategies—with or without medication. You should conduct research to determine the right method for your pet
Steps
Selection of Sedatives
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Consult a veterinarian. For most sedatives, you will need a prescription from your veterinarian. Even if you buy over-the-counter medication, you must bring it to a vet to have it checked out—a poor quality product that can be dangerous to your cat’s health. All animals undergoing medical sedation should be checked by a veterinarian prior to use to ensure good health can be sedated.
- Inform your veterinarian that you plan to bring your cat in a calm state on the plane. The combination of barometric pressure, altitude, and excessive stress can cause adverse reactions that have been shown to be potentially fatal. [1] X Research Source
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Discuss the timeframe with your veterinarian. Each drug takes a different amount of time to work, so it’s important to know how well a particular drug works. You should ask your veterinarian about how long to give your cat a sedative before facing a stressful event. Some drugs work almost immediately, while others take about an hour to work.
- With medications that take time to work, a cat’s stress can counteract the sedative effects if the cat is not in a relaxing environment.
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Differentiate between different types of sedatives. [2] X Research Sources There are many different medications used to calm cats. All drug names mentioned here require a veterinarian examination and prescription. Discuss your options with your veterinarian to find out which is best for your pet. Veterinarians will use education, training, and experience to recommend certain medications with the least side effects and risks to your pet.
- Benzodiazepines are common sedatives that relieve anxiety almost immediately. Side effects include disorientation, insomnia, and increased appetite. This type should be used with extreme caution in cats with liver or kidney problems.
- SARI also relieves anxiety quickly, but can cause mild dizziness and disorientation. This type should be used with caution in animals with heart disease.
- Clonidine and Gabapentin are formulated to treat hypertension and neuralgia in humans, but have sedative and anti-anxiety effects in animals.
- Chlorpheniramine is a cold and allergy medicine, while phenobarbital is an anesthetic and sedative used to treat epilepsy.
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The drug should not be expected to act quickly. There are many medications available to help calm cats down, most of which must be prescribed by a veterinarian. However, just like with humans, cats can react differently to each drug. [3] X Research Sources This type works well for one cat but not for another. You need to be prepared with medication reassurance in order to adjust the medication if needed. Don’t expect the “miracle pill” to work right away.
Using Medicine to Calm the Cat’s Mentality
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Conduct testing. You need to test the drug before giving it to your cat. This step is to ensure that your cat responds well to this medication; otherwise, they may react badly in an already stressful situation. In general, you should spend at least a week of testing so you can go back and see your vet and discuss some other medication if the initial one doesn’t work.
- Wait a while until both you and the cat are in a calm and relaxed state.
- After giving the medicine to your cat, you need to observe it for 12 hours to assess its response to the drug.
- The cat should be relaxed and calm, but not dizzy or unconscious. [4] X Research Sources If they become disoriented or panicky, you should stop taking the medication.
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Prepare your cat for a sedative. You need to do it within the reassurance time frame discussed with your doctor in advance. Wait for the medication to work before a stressful situation occurs. Both you and your cat should be as comfortable as possible.
- Wrap the cat in a small blanket, pillowcase, or towel with only the head exposed.
- Hold the cat on the floor between your legs or lap, or you can ask someone else to hold the cat.
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Give the cat medicine. [5] X Research Source You need to follow your veterinarian’s dosing instructions carefully. These powerful drugs have been shown to be harmful if used in the wrong dose.
- Place your thumb next to the cat’s mouth, and your index finger on top
- Apply gentle pressure until the cat opens its mouth.
- Use your other hand to gently press down on the lower jaw to open the cat’s mouth wider.
- Insert the tablet or force the liquid into the mouth on the side of the cheek.
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Make sure the cat swallows the tablet whole. [6] X Research Source While holding the cat’s body tightly, slowly bring your hand out of the cat’s mouth. Lift the chin upwards, and gently rub the throat to stimulate the cat to swallow the pill. You can also blow gently on your face to make them swallow quickly. Hold this position for a few seconds before removing the wrap and returning the cat to its normal position.
- If you see a cat licking its nose, that’s a sign they’ve swallowed the medicine.
- Praise your cat for good behavior, and comfort her if she’s not happy about what just happened.
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Use an alternative infusion method if necessary. [7] X Research Source Cats do not have a habit of taking drugs, and may resist when you are trying to reassure them. You can cover your cat’s body with a towel during the infusion. When cats are wrapped like babies, they won’t be able to resist and run away.
- You can buy a “powder gun” to drop the pills towards the side of the cat’s mouth to make it easier for them to take the medicine.
- Tuck the medicine into cheese or another cat’s favorite food to put in the cat’s mouth.
- Ask your veterinarian to prescribe liquid medicine if you are having trouble getting your cat to take the tablets.
- Consult your veterinarian before mixing liquid medication with your cat’s liquid food. You need to make sure food doesn’t cancel out the effect of the drug.
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Wait for the sedative to penetrate the cat’s body. [8] X Sources of Study Drugs and dosages take different lengths of time to take effect. Your veterinarian will tell you how long the specific medication and dosage will take to absorb into your system and be effective. In general, the cat will be groggy and tired, but not disoriented and confused. They should remain calm, but not lose consciousness suddenly. Some cats sleep completely, while others are awake, but quiet and calm.
- The cat may return to normal in just a few hours, or appear drowsy for the next few days. [9] X Research Source
- If after a few days your cat still does not return to normal, you need to contact your veterinarian.
Use the Drug-Free Reassurance Method
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Use synthetic hormones at home. [10] X Research Source If your cat is anxious, over-excited, or exhibiting undesirable behavior such as scent marking or scratching, synthetic pheromones are a suitable solution. [11] X Research Source These chemicals mimic the hormones that cats’ bodies instinctively produce to communicate with other cats. Some companies have used essential oils or herbal blends to regenerate hormones. [12] X Research Source If used regularly can make cats feel calmer and more secure at home.
- Synthetic hormones can be used as necklaces, sprays, wipes, or electrical diffusers.
- Some well-known brands include Feliway, Comfort Zone, and Sergeant’s Pet Care, among others. [13] X Research Source
- You can use pheromones all the time to keep your cat happy and calm. You can also take it out a few weeks before a stressful event to calm your cat down.
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Consider using wrap-around therapy. This method has been shown to be helpful in reducing anxiety in cats. These products wrap around the cat’s body, applying gentle pressure to the points on their body. The effect is similar to that of swaddling babies. Although this product line is usually used for dogs, it still works on cats.
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Wrap a towel around your cat’s body if you don’t have a wrap. [14] X Research Source If you haven’t purchased a body wrap and your cat is nervous or scared, you can simulate the effect by using a large towel. Cover the cat’s body with a towel, except for the head. You need to wrap the towel snugly around their body. This method can be used if you need to give your cat medicine, cut his nails, or do something else that upsets him for a short period of time.
- Always praise the cat after removing the towel from their body.
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Use supplements to improve anxiety. The ingredients in the supplement support your cat’s natural chemical balance to help them relax. Supplements can be in liquid, chewable, or tablet form. Two examples of dietary supplements include Anxitane and Zylkene.
- Anxitane is a green tea amino acid (according to the manufacturer) that acts on chemical receptors in the brain to reduce fear and anxiety in cats. [15] X Research Source
- Zylkene is a milk protein-based supplement that has a calming effect on newborn cats. [16] X Research Source
- You can buy supplements online or at your veterinarian’s office.
Advice
- In some cases, it’s best to combine both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.
- Experiment ahead of time when you need to reassure your cat to find the best solutions to their stressors.
Warning
- Do not give your cat human medication unless specifically directed by your veterinarian. You could make your pet sicker. Worse still, they can die because drugs that may be safe for humans are toxic to cats.
- Don’t give your cat mental reassurance to prepare to board the plane.
- It should be noted that this is not a guide to pacifying feral cats that you adopt at an animal shelter. They must be anesthetized prior to surgery or physical examination, but direct contact should be avoided to avoid severe skin abrasions or bites. It’s best to bring both the feral cat and the cage to the vet for some reassurance.
Things you need
- Veterinary doctor
- Adult cat or kitten
- Sedative tablets or water
- Blankets, towels or pillowcases
- Food
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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
There are 14 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 6,796 times.
There are many reasons you need to reassure your cat. Maybe they are not used to walking or are stressed when the vet checks or is bathed. To help calm your cat in stressful situations, you can use a variety of strategies—with or without medication. You should conduct research to determine the right method for your pet
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