My Pet World: Anxiety likely at the root of cat's car sickness
Nearly everything modern veterinary medicine knows about cat health and welfare has been learned through studies funded by the non-profit Winn Feline Foundation. From the very food most cats eat to the vaccinations they receive to treatments for a wide range of health issues, Winn has been there to help cats. The foundation is now celebrating 46 years and a new website: www.winnfelinefoundation.org.
Q: We took in a very sweet stray cat. We discovered she had tapeworms, for which she was treated. Since then, she gets very car sick. It's gotten so bad now that we can't take her on trips. We've tried various medications, as well as putting a sheet over the carrier, but nothing helps. Do you have any idea why after being treated for tapeworms she began to get car sick? How can we help her? -- J.M., via cyberspace
A: Dr. Vicki Thayer, executive director of the Winn Feline Foundation, suggests that treating tapeworms was a good idea, but had nothing to do with your cat being car sick after treatment.
"Your veterinarian can help you; ask about a drug called Cerenia for motion sickness," says Thayer, of Lebanon, WA. "But that's only a start because it's likely that, at this point, your cat sees the carrier and associates it with car travel, which instantly makes her anxious because she knows she's going to get sick."
Begin by decreasing her anxiety. Ask your veterinarian about Anxitane (L-theanine, a nutritional chewable supplement to take the edge off) and a prescription diet from Royal Canin, called CALM. This diet is formulated to help cats maintain emotional balance. Among other ingredients, the recipe includes L-tryoptophan (an amino acid that creates a sense of emotional well-being) and nicotinamide (also called Vitamin B3, which can relax the central nervous system).
Thayer says you also may need to re-adjust your cat's attitude toward her carrier. Make it a positive place. Leave the carrier out all the time. Periodically, wipe and/or spray the inside with Feliway (a copy of feline calming pheromone). Randomly drop treats in the carrier, transforming it into a treat dispenser. Over time, start feeding your cat from the carrier, as well.
Once your cat becomes comfortable in the carrier, shut the door and simply move it to another room, then feed her when you let her out. The idea is to get her accustomed to being moved in the carrier, and also to demonstrate that upon release, really good things happen -- like a meal.
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Q: I'm taking my 2-year-old cat on a trip from Las Vegas to Detroit, and the vet suggests a tranquilizer. I think that's extreme. The pet store has a product called Relax that contains L-theanine. I gave the cat one of these pills and it had a small affect. Any other suggestions? -- N.D., Las Vegas, NV
A: Winn Feline Foundation scientific advisor and board member Dr. Brian Holub, of Hingham, MA, suggests a drug called acepromazine might be your cat's best friend for this one trip. While this drug does nothing to lessen anxiety, it acts as a sedative, and also has an anti-nausea affect which could come in handy.
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