Medication prescribed by your veterinarian: Buprenorphine (brand names: Buprenex®, Simbadol®), gabapentin (brand name Neurontin®), and alprazolam (brand names Xanax® and Niravam®) are examples of medications that are sometimes used to reduce the anxiety that some cats experience when traveling.
Acepromazine is a tranquilizer that can be used to calm cats and reduce anxiety. It is typically given by injection and can have a long-lasting effect. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or midazolam, can be used to provide sedation and reduce anxiety in cats.
Sedatives are prescription medications that should only be administered to healthy animals. If your cat's veterinary appointment is for a routine wellness examination, your veterinarian may prescribe a sedative or antianxiety medication if your cat's stress is severe.
Creating a relaxing environment for your cat, with access to toys, scratching posts, and a safe space away from potential threats, can help reduce anxiety. Playing with your cat and providing them with interactive toys, such as wand toys and puzzle toys, can also reduce anxiety.
The recommended dose of Benadryl for cats is 1mg/pound of body weight, given 2-3 times a day. It is important to note that you should always consult with your veterinarian before giving any medication to your cat, as the appropriate dose can vary depending on the individual cat's size, age, and health status.
At the correct dose and under the right conditions, melatonin is generally safe for cats but should always be used under supervision. Because it's a hormone, there's a chance that melatonin can interact with other bodily processes or have little effect. Some of the melatonin side effects in cats are: Drowsiness.
When sniffed, it acts as a stimulant, often causing cats to become very playful, rolling over on the ground and generally being hyperactive. But when eaten, catnip acts as a sedative, sometimes causing cats to drool, purr, or fall asleep.
Sedatives are usually administered orally or injected into a dog's veins; it all depends on the required level of sedation. For oral sedation, acepromazine is most commonly prescribed by vets. Injectable sedatives include Telazol, dexmedetomidine, or a combination of acepromazine and butorphanol.
Gabapentin and trazadone are recommended as first line choices in ameliorating feline anxiety and aggression as they have both been shown to be safe and effective options to improve feline veterinary visits.
Catnip can calm and soothe some cats. As an herb, catnip is easy to grow at home. If you grow it, you may find your kitty indulging in it at intervals throughout the day and maybe even chewing on it. For the most part, it's a fairly harmless indulgence.
Given that catnip can have a calming, soothing effect, it can be used to: help reduce a cat's stress and anxiety when going to the vet, help reduce stress when traveling, help with urinary issues (note that stress is a major contributing factor to urinary obstruction in cats!).
In cats, melatonin is dosed at 1.5 to 6 mg per cat orally whenever necessary up to every 12 hours. The 18 mg implant has been used to suppress estrus in cats for 2 to 4 months. The duration of administration depends on the condition being treated, response to medication and the development of any adverse effects.
Sedative Injection
Once everyone is ready, I will give your cat a sedative shot (usually beneath the skin) to help your pet relax and prevent any unnecessary stress, pain, or fear. This shot is a light anesthetic and will allow your cat to go into a very deep sleep prior to the final injection.
Think food puzzles to engage minds and bodies, vertical space for climbing and surveying their domain, scratching posts, safe outdoor access (like a catio), window perches and interactive play. “Play is an important part of relieving stress,” Delgado says. “It helps cats release those feel-good hormones.”
Your cat's loathing of car rides could just be an instinctual response to a change in its daily rituals. Cats, like many people, get stressed in unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations.