'If your cat is super-stressed, it may need to be wrapped in a towel by the vet, so it can't scratch and bite while being examined. Once the vet has finished checking it, give it a special treat such as a piece of chicken. This will help it begin to form a positive association with the vet's room.
One of the most effective ways to decrease your cat's anxiety level is to remain calm and relaxed during the visit. Speak to your cat in a calm and soothing voice and reassure her by petting her on her head or stroking her in her favorite spot.
Sedation is often used for procedures such as blood sampling, x-rays, ultrasound scans, or treating wounds in cats that are fractious or aggressive. Sedation is sometimes referred to as 'chemical restraint' in veterinary practices.
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.
Sedatives are not something to be scared of or worried about. There is nothing wrong with giving, or needing to offer, a sedative to your beloved pet. It makes any vet visit more comfortable and less stressful for you, your pet, and the whole veterinary team.
Acepromazine. Acepromazine causes sedation and some anxiety relief. It may be given as an injection in the veterinary clinic, or acepromazine pills may be sent home. Acepromazine is often used as a cat sedative for travel, or given 30-60 minutes prior to a veterinary visit.
Vet home visits
If your cat is showing signs of anger or aggression, then asking your vet for a home visit can be a huge help. If the vet has a record of your cat being particularly aggressive, then they're often only too happy to help (though some extra call out charges may apply).
Keeping your cat active through interaction with you using toys and games such as those that involve removing food from a puzzle can help to heal and divert the focus from a traumatic memory or experience—think of it as creating new memories to take the place of those that caused fear.
In any case of feline aggression, you should always take your cat to the vet for a check up to eliminate the possibility of illness causing this behaviour. Once your vet has established there is no medical cause for the aggressive behaviour you can then take steps to stop the behaviour.
An even bigger concern is that a negative experience at the veterinary clinic will traumatize cats and can have lingering effects on the cat's emotional health and ultimately, her physical health.
Vet visits involve scents of new people, new spaces and other animals and cats can find this very overwhelming. Unfortunately, these trips can be even more traumatizing for indoor cats, who never leave the safety of their home, and are unused to the sounds and smells of new people and places.
We're often asked, how long does it take for a rescue cat to adjust to a new home and family? It depends on your cat's personality. With that said, you should see your kitty growing more comfortable around you within a week or two.
Place your forefinger and middle finger on top of the cat's head and your thumb and ring finger under the jaw. This hold is a great alternative to scruffing calm cats, while allowing you access to scruff the cat if absolutely necessary.
Many fearful cats slowly become more confident as they get used to their living space and daily routine. Going to a new, strange environment can throw some of these cats off and cause them to regress at first.
The truth is, cats are fearful of new people and new environments. This is built into their survival instincts. A visit to the veterinarian can bring terror to the independent cat who doesn't venture out of their secure home very often.
There's a chance your cat could have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if they have experienced one or more traumatic instances throughout their lives. Cats with PTSD can exhibit unusual changes in behavior as well as significant distress related to their disorder.
Signs of Emotional Trauma in Cats and Dogs
Trauma can also manifest as “shaking, hiding, urination and/or defecation when the trigger attempts to interact, howling, pacing, excessive vocalization, and panting,” says Pia Silvani, director of behavioral rehabilitation at the ASPCA's Behavioral Rehabilitation Center.
Recovery of Soft Tissue Trauma in Cats
It usually takes about one to two weeks for your cat to recover from a soft tissue injury, but you should restrict activity until several days after limping is gone. A sudden increase in inactivity can lead to relapse.
Aggressive cats can become more aggressive on catnip, while others can become aggressive when they see another cat playing with the catnip. While catnip can help reduce the anxiety that may lead to aggressiveness, it can also prevent them from behaving properly.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are one possible option for treating chronic anxiety in cats. TCAs raise the amount of norepinephrine and serotonin in the body. These two hormones are involved in regulating mood and anxiety. Clomipramine (Anafranil) and amitriptyline are examples of TCAs used for cats.
Acepromazine maleate (brand names and alternative names: acetylpromazine, ACE, ACP, PromAce®) is a sedative/tranquilizer used as a pre-anesthetic and for chemical restraint in dogs and cats.
How Much Does Home Pet Euthanasia Cost? Having a veterinarian come to your home to perform pet euthanasia will be pricier than doing it in a veterinary setting. But people say the cost of at-home euthanasia is worth it for a calmer experience. Expect to pay between $200 to $300.
Sedation. Some groomers charge for the sedation of pets, especially those with behavioral issues or highly active cats. The cost of cat grooming with sedation is around $65.