My Pet World: There are many ways to dial down a cat's anxiety during flights

Q: My 4-year-old cat is afraid of his own shadow. During the winter, we fly south, taking the cat along with us in the cabin of the plane. The first time, I gave him a tranquilizer, which worked. The second time, the same drug made him crazy; he scratched and his eyes rolled back in his head. The third time, we didn't give him anything and he was fine. On the most recent flight, we also gave him nothing, and he cried most of the way. Any advice? -- J.C., St. Paul, MN

A: "There are many types of drugs which fall into the category you're calling a tranquilizer, and may include a true sedative or anti-anxiety medication," notes Dr. Heather Loenser, of Lebanon, NJ.

Since you describe your cat as anxious under the best of circumstances, a true anti-anxiety drug might be the best option. However, some of these drugs take weeks to kick in. Loenser, a board member of the American Animal Hospital Association, also notes that regardless of the category of drug you use, you need to administer it BEFORE the cat becomes anxious or fearful, or the effects will be greatly reduced.

First, confirm that your cat is not anxious about his carrier. Does he readily go inside? You can encourage him to like (or at least tolerate) the carrier by leaving it out, and periodically tossing treats inside. Feed your cat from inside the carrier. Keep something soft inside the carrier for your cat to sleep on.

Instead of giving your pet medication before a flight, you might try a gentler approach. Spray his carrier with Feliway or rub the inside with Feliway wipes. This product is a copy of a calming pheromone, which is perfectly suited for this purpose and can do no harm. Also, ask your veterinarian about Zylkene or Anxitane, both nutritional supplements which can lessen anxiety.

No matter what you try, especially if it's a drug, test it out. Go for a drive and see how your cat reacts before one of your big trips.

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Q: My arm is getting longer every day as my little beagle takes ME for walks. We enrolled Sophie in obedience training but it hasn't helped. Any other ideas? -- J.C., Westchester, NY

A: "Passion" is the word certified dog behavior consultant Sarah Hodgson, of Westchester, NY, uses to call a beagle's pursuit of smells. I call it determination. Beagles are hard-wired to follow their noses. And, as you've learned, the more you pull one way, the more Sophie pulls the other.

To continue satisfying Sophie's nose, hold a treat above her head as you walk. If she's looking up toward you for a goodie, she can't be sniffing the ground. Over time, you won't have to offer a treat every couple of steps.

Equipment matters, too. Hodgson suggests a PetSafe Easy Walk Harness or Gentle Leader (a brand of head halter). Not only is this equipment humane, but it's also effective.

Hodgson, author of "Puppies for Dummies" (Wiley Publishing Inc., New York, NY, 2006; $19.99), suggests a game: Take an empty plastic jug and stuff peanut butter and dog kibble inside. As you walk Sophie, drag the jug, which she will now follow.

"Instead of using force, you're creating a new game," Hodgson says.

If these solutions don't help, you may need to consult a dog trainer or certified dog behavior consultant.

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Q: We adopted Caleb, our 10-year-old Maine Coon cat, when he was 4. He'd previously lived in four other homes. Recently, we took him to the veterinarian for a minor surgical procedure. Typically, Caleb allows people to pick him up, but when I went back to get him after surgery, he started hissing and hasn't stopped since! What's going on?

The vet suggested that Caleb wants to be "alpha" over me. She wasn't sure what to do about his behavior. We do wonder if the death of 18-year-old Siamese cat last winter is still affecting Caleb. I think he misses the Siamese as much as we do. -- J.W., via cyberspace

A: Based on your description, Caleb's change in demeanor occurred after the veterinary visit. You don't say what this "minor surgical procedure" involved. Feline veterinarian Dr. Vicki Thayer, of Lebanon, OR, wonders if Caleb may be in pain, either from the surgery or something else that occurred at the clinic. The change might also be explained by the anesthesia, the emotional trauma of visiting the veterinarian, or both.

"It's not usual for stress to cause cats who'd normally never lash out at people or other cats to do so," says Thayer, executive of the Winn Feline Foundation, a non-profit funder of cat health studies. "Usually, this reaction goes away on its own, but you can lower stress by using Feliway (an analog of a naturally-occurring calming pheromone)." Interactive play is also a great stress-buster, and a way to re-establish your relationship with Caleb.

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