Although this vet has been my vet for 4 years now and I trust them very much, I just wanted to know if anyone else has given their cats anxiety medicine for a flight?
Oh my cat is on Acepromazine. If that helps. He doesn't take it daily just when their are fireworks, traveling in a car, vet visits, and teeth cleaning at the vets office (or anything that really sets him off because he will pee himself and cry and start ripping out his fur which leaves sores and bald patches down his body.)
Update 1:
If
this was a two way flight I'd have someone watch him at home. But I am
moving and will not be coming back. He will have to come with me no
matter what.
Update 2:
I
also paid for him to be in cabin with me. He will NOT be in the cargo
hold. - just thought I should get those out of the way so there is no
confusion.
Answer
Philip:
If
he is going to be in the baggage area then you should not give it to
him. It isn't kept at a constant pressure, which can make it hard to
breathe and sedatives also negatively affect lungs. So if he isn't
riding in the baggage area then it is safe and recommended.
betty:
listen to VET.
Michele:
For safety reasons most airlines won't accept pets who've been sedated. I've taken several of my cats on international flights and the vets I've used always strongly recommended against sedation of any kind. It affects cats' ability to regulatate their own body temperature, which could be dangerous at high altititudes.
If there's any air turbulence during the flight, a sedated cat may be too groggy to steady themselves and this is how minor injuries like chipped teeth and cuts can occur. It's better to spray the interior of the carrier with Feliway and line it with an unwashed t-shirt of your as your cat will find the scent comforting.
My cats (and one of them was 17 at the time) coped amazingly well with flights both in cargo and the cabin. In all honesty I think they found air-travel a lot less stressful than car travel.
Sometimes having to face up to new "challenges" in life and finding them to be harmless, can really boost the confidence of a nervous cat. It sounds strange, but you may even find that your cat becomes a little braver after the flight.
There's a natural food supplement called Zylkene which is said to have a calming effect on cats and help them cope with stressful situations;
Meow:
Most airlines BAN sedatives during flight as altitude increases the effectiveness of medications. The cat could end up going into a seizure mid flight and then what????
If your vet really said to "up the dose a little" for a flight then you need to find a new vet! WTF????
Why is your cat even having to endure a 9 1/2 hour flight??? Unless you are moving leave this poor cat at home.
Mamma Cat:
I have flown with cats/kittens in the cabin under my seat. I will use feliway on the bedding and have a harness and leash on the cat.
Once the plane takes off, the vibration puts them to sleep.
But if they wake up, I will take them out of the carrier (on the harness and leash) and put them on my lap with treats. This isn't what airlines recommend, but it has worked for me.
