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While most cats are homebodies, there may come a time when you need to travel with them. Whether it’s a visit to the vet or moving to a new location, you may need to transport your feline in a car or airplane. But what do you do when your cat doesn’t travel well? Should you sedate a cat for travel to help with their nerves?
Too learn more about cat travel sedatives and how to know if and when they are safe, we spoke with Dr. Shannon Vawter, veterinarian and medical director at Thrive Pet Healthcare—Wedgewood in Nashville, Tennessee,
How Cat Sedatives Can Help With Travel
Travel can cause anxiety for humans and felines, especially if you’re not used to it. Cat sedatives or anxiety medications can help reduce your cat’s anxiety when it comes to traveling and help make them calmer and more content during the process.
They may also make your cat easier to handle (especially if they tend to let their claws out when you try to put them in a carrier) and can even help with motion sickness. But it’s important to talk with your vet before giving your cat any medication for the first time.
“My recommendation for sedation is to discuss this question and idea with your veterinarian thoroughly,” advises Dr. Vawter. “Some cats are safe to sedate, while others may have health conditions that would require their vet to use other safer anxiety medications.”
The Downsides of Sedatives for Traveling Cats
So which cats aren’t safe to sedate? Typically, sedation should be avoided for cats with health conditions that make sedative side-effects dangerous. Side effects of cat sedatives can include:
- confusion
- clumsiness
- dizziness
- decreased blood pressure
- an inability to regulate body temperature
- gastrointestinal issues like vomiting or diarrhea
To help avoid side effects, it’s essential to talk with your veterinarian before giving your cat any medication. “Contact your veterinarian for further advice on any safe anxiety-related product, whether prescription or over-the-counter medications,” recommends Dr. Vawter. “They are there to help you choose the safest option for your cat.”
thegoodphoto via iStock
Safe Cat Travel Sedatives
Some of the most common sedatives, anxiety or allergy medications, or supplements your vet may prescribe are detailed in the chart below.
| Name | How Long It Works | How It’s Administered | Prescription or OTC? | When to Administer | Side Effects |
| Gabapentin | 4-8 hours | Oral (capsule, tablet, or compounded liquid) | Prescription | 1-2 hours before travel | Dizziness, flu-like symptoms |
| Bonquat | ~7 hours | Oral (liquid dose) | Prescription | ~1.5 hours before travel | Incoordination, tiredness, and vomiting |
| Trazodone | 5-9 hours | Oral (tablet) | Prescription | ~2 hours before travel | Sleepiness, nausea, or slightly watery eyes |
| Acepromazine | 6-8 hours | Oral (tablet) | Prescription | 30 – 60 minutes before travel | Lethargy, low blood pressure, increased heart rate, confusion, aggression, and hyperactivity |
| Benadryl | 4-6 hours | Oral (Tablet or liquid) | OTC *It’s important to talk with your vet before administering, especially for the first time. | 1-2 hours before travel | It may not cause your cat to become sleepy; it could even cause the opposite behavior |
| Zylkene | Good for short-term and long-term anxiety | Oral (Capsules) | OTC | Manufacturer instructions note it can take anywhere from 1 to 7 days for calming benefits to be seen | Diarrhea |
Non-Medical Sedatives
Whether your cat has health issues or you want a non-medical way to treat their travel anxiety, it’s important to discuss these options with your veterinarian to ensure they are safe for your cat. While some non-medical alternatives may work well for some cats, there’s no perfect fit for all felines.
If you’re looking for a non-medical alternative to sedatives or anxiety medications when traveling with your cat, consider:
- Feliway: A calming spray specifically for cats that helps reduce signs of stress.
- Purina Calming Care: A feline probiotic calming supplement.
- Vetriscience Composure: Soft chew calming supplement (with variations for dogs and cats).
- Solliquin: A calming supplement that can help promote relaxation.
- HomeoPet Anxiety Relief: Considered a medication made with homeopathic ingredients that provides anxiety relief.
Should You Consider Long-Term Medication?
If you notice your cat’s anxiety is more frequent and happening daily, it may be time to take them to the vet. Whether it’s a new behavior (like spraying or using the bathroom outside of the litter pan) or you’re concerned about their constant pacing and panting, having your cat checked out by a professional is important to ensure there isn’t an underlying condition.
Once they’re checked out, your vet may determine that your cat is suffering from anxiety and may prescribe a long-term medication to help calm their nerves.
