carsick cat

[pjrose]

One of my foster kitties gets carsick; he throws up in the carrier every time he's in the car even for five minutes. We have to take him to PetSmart monthly for adoption events, and to the vet periodically too. He has a 45 minute trip to a veterinary ophthalmologist coming up, and then the ride home again.

Any suggestions of how to prevent carsickness or make this easier on the little guy?

PJ

 

[Dori]

Sorry, no recommendations, but I can totally empathize. When we had our cottage, we tried to take our cat on two occasions. It was a three hour drive, and she threw up the whole way there and back. Needless to say, we left her at home after that. We would love to take her to Florida with us, as we bought a mobile home, but that is definitely not going to happen.

Maybe the vet can prescribe some sort of Valium or gravol?

Dori

 

[vacationhopeful]

Cat may not like being in the carrier. Feed her in the carrier and put her to sleep at night in the carrier. Make it her place of security.

 

[stugy]

Our last Scottish Terrier always got car sick too. I think in his case, it was anxiety. At any rate, we were told to give him half a pepto bismal tablet prior to a trip. If I remember correctly, it helped a bit. Maybe something for the anxiety might have been better, but I did not want him drugged. It might be worth a try. Good luck.
Pat

 

[heathpack]

Meclizine is an antihistamine used to treat motion sickness in dogs & cats (& humans). Sold OTC as Bonine, smallest tablet size is 12.5 mg, usual dose is 12.5 mg/cat but if this is a little kitten you'd give a half dose (assuming average cat is 8-10 pounds, dose your kitten at whatever fraction of a full grown cat he/she actually is right now). Main side effect is sedation, hopefully not too doped up to get adopted or else you'll have to keep him/her forever.

Check with both kitten's GP & ophthalmologist. If they say ok, give the dose about 1 hour before travel.

H

 

[pjrose]

thank you, I will double-check with them.

The "kitten" is 6 months old and BIG for his age - size of a healthy full-grown cat. This is one of the formerly hairless-stubble ones I wrote about months ago. Good quality food and vet care and healthy indoor living have turned him and his littermate into big boys with thick silky fur but this one is having some eye issues. Fortunately there's a very good veterinary ophthalmologist who covers a large area around here, a different place each day, and charges very little for a consult for rescues.