Question about anxiety medication for cats (re: travel)

[Qanisqineq]

I am moving overseas in 2-3 weeks. There will be a 12+ hour plane ride (they are riding with baggage and have a connection) after a long drive from CO to LA. I've moved numerous times before and my cats are not thrilled with the car but my little girl seems to be getting worse with age. She throws up all over her carrier as soon as she gets in the car.

I've heard all about the risks with using tranquilizers for air travel (even though my vet sees no problem with it). I don't want to tranquilize them, I just want something to ease motion sickness and stress. Does anyone know of anything? I've seen dozens of products online and at the pet stores, but what works? What is safe and natural? What won't knock them out or make them seem drunk (in which case the airlines would say no to them)? I don't like the thought of giving them anything, but I am afraid the stress will be too much. I've already read in the Dr. Pitcairn book to give them a vitamin B complex and vitamin C for about a week beforehand and he suggested a herb, Aconitum napellus (if I remember right) but not so sure about that one. I haven't seen it anywhere and I've read it is poisonous.

Here are some examples of what I've found:
http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/Natural_Anxiety_Treatments_for_Dogs_Cats_s/131.htm
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_list.jsp?ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302025587&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441780102&bmUID=1137906966643

Anyone have any experience with any anti-anxiety medications? Thanks!

[NV Whino]

1. the only advice I have to offer

is do a trial run beforehand. And are you shipping regular carrier or a carrier that specializes in animals? Traveling in baggage is really tough on animals. Someone had a link for a carrier a few weeks ago, but I didn't bookmark it.

[Qanisqineq]

3. I planned on trying it out beforehand

to make sure there were no bad reactions, but I don't want to run any risks or waste money doing that. I've asked my vet but she is of the mind that tranquilizers are okay so I am not too keen on her opinion right now. She also says they'll be fine without anything, which she can say 500 times and I will still be a nervous wreck the entire trip. I tried to think about the stress of a few days of traveling, a new home, etc. versus having to find new mommies and daddies (which I would NEVER do). Although they fight, I'm sure they would hate being separated. And getting used to new people? I couldn't even imagine it.

They are flying United Airlines. We contacted 3 different pet travel services and they all said the cats would have to fly with the baggage or cargo even if we used their services. We decided to go it alone and there were a limited number of airlines that would fly them to Korea at all. I believe Lufthansa has special pet flights, but they don't fly to where we need them. We are going with United and the cats (3) have to fly with baggage. United has been reassuring us that they will be in a heated compartment, they will be together, and they will check on them every hour and report back to us on the plane. Honestly, my main concern is after check-in through the first hour of the flight. Being jostled around and strangers and where will they be? Ugh, makes me ill. Then there is a connection in Tokyo but (we've been told) the gates are very close together so they shouldn't get lost and that animals are treated well at that airport. Of course, gates change and they could be full of shit.

My cats and I have moved at least 7 times, once was a 33-hour drive. They are now used to new homes and calm down in the car after the first hour -- as long as they can listen to Hootie and the Blowfish. You have no idea how tiring Hootie and the Blowfish get after hours and hours. We have a number of CD's of Hootie just for them. If the CD comes to an end, they start crying before you can change it.

I started another thread a week or so ago about all the paper work, etc. I still haven't found a reliable source for what is all neeeded - at least in regards to my bird and turtle. I am taking the bird over there in a few months. Ugh.

Wow, this ended up getting kinda long!

[NV Whino]

5. Your description of United's services

sounds encouraging. You might call up another vet and get another opinion on the trancs.

Sorry about Hootie and the Blowfish. :) Maybe United could play it for them?

[IndyOp]

6. Key questions for airline - Is the compartment pressurized?

How often is air changed? Is it the same as in the passenger compartment?

Are your cats of the size that they would fit in carriers that would fit under your seat? You would, at most, have to buy one extra ticket - one under your seat; one under and one on the other seat.

I hope I am not adding to your stress by asking, just wondering...

I wonder what it is about Hootie that mellows them out so effectively? :shrug:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Cargo compartments where animals are carried are always pressurized.

That's true for all airlines, all aircraft; in fact, all cargo compartments are pressurized. The issue isn't pressurization (and the air supply is the same as for the cabin), it's temperature, since a cargo compartment that isn't heated can get quite cold at high altitudes. So at least one cargo compartment on an airplane will be heated as well as pressurized, and that's where they put animals. A light comes on in the cockpit if the heating system fails, and they will land the airplane ASAP if live animals are aboard. Most airlines are vary careful about animals, and have a lot of rules about when and how they transport them.

[IndyOp]

2. Rescue Remedy is excellent -

You can buy it at most 'health food stores' / co-ops...

http://store1.yimg.com/I/herbal-remedies-usa_1877_70542211

[Qanisqineq]

4. thanks!

I'll look into it.

[IndyOp]

7. The Rescue Remedy is excellent for you, too! (nt)

:hi:

[Eurobabe]

13. I second that, when I moved into my new house

our guyz had been separated for only a day, and the Daemon attacked Sebastian without warning. Rescue Remedy made him calm immediately.

[virgdem]

9. If I remember correctly from your previous post..

you are moving to South Korea. One airline that I know travels to Asia is Northwest Airlines. We were stationed in Guam in the early 90's and shipped our 5 cats from Guam to Norfolk, VA. We were very satisfied with Northwest. They were very attentive to the cats and issued slips on the cats that we were given after take-off. The airline personnel both on the plane and on the ground were great and the cats arrived in one piece. Our luggage, on the other hand, didn't fare so well, but that's another story. Good luck with your move.

[Qanisqineq]

10. LOL - Sorry to hear about your luggage!

We looked at a few airlines but mainly focused on United and Northwest. Northwest had nothing but business class until late February and I had to move before then. I will most likely be flying Northwest when I bring my bird in May - it used to be (and probably still is) the only airline that flies to Fargo, ND (my home state). I know one of the many times I flew with them, my luggage didn't make my connecting flight in Minneapolis so I sat in the airport bar for an hour until the next flight to Fargo came in. There was a guy in there waiting for his luggage and he was telling a story about how Northwest once sent his bags to England and he hadn't left the USA! Said he was quite jealous.

As for my previous post (the paperwork needed) - I am somewhat closer to finding the answers. I know what I need for my cats, just waiting on the turtle and bird. There is someone with Fish & Wildlife researching that info (finally!). We found a Korean consulate that speaks English & answers the phone. HOWEVER, they hang up every time we say it isn't about a visa.

[Qanisqineq]

11. Anyone else with any suggestions?

Kick!

:kick:

[amerikat]

12. My vet recomennded chlor trimaton...a common allergy

medication for humans. Makes them drowsy. Consult your vet for dosage.