My Pet World: Geriatric cat may need anti-anxiety relief to tolerate a long car ride
ORLANDO, FLA. -- These reader questions were answered by experts attending the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando Jan. 17-21.
Q: We're about to travel a long distance in the car with my 18-year-old cat. She's always been miserable on car rides. I've increased the bedding in her carrier. The veterinarian suggested (an anti-anxiety drug) called Alprazolam, but it hasn't helped. When traveling, the cat cries non-stop, which makes me want to cry. Any advice? -- I.G., Appleton, WI
A: Given your cat's age, the best answer is simply to avoid traveling with her. Instead, have a neighbor, relative, friend or sitter look in on her.
If you must take her along, veterinary behaviorist Dr. Gary Landsberg, of Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, suggests making sure your cat is comfortable in her carrier.
"At that age, there may be arthritis, so consider a carrier which is large and comfortable. The bedding is a good idea, which you can spray with Feliway (a copy of a pheromone that may help to ease anxiety)," says Landsberg.
Lansberg, co-author of "Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat-Third Edition" with Dr. Wayne Hunthausen and Dr. Lowell Ackerman (Saunders/Elsevier, New York, NY, 2013; $94.99), adds that you can ask your veterinarian about using Anxitane or Zylkine, (both nutraceuticals), which may lower anxiety and are unlikely to have adverse effects on a geriatric pet. Another option is to increase the dosage -- though the risk of a reaction is zero if your cat is sitting at home.
Desensitization and counterconditioning (getting your cat slowly adjusted to riding in the car) can work out, but the behavior modification process can take weeks to months to complete. For instructions, see a veterinary behaviorist, a veterinarian with a special interest in animal behavior, or a certified cat behavior consultant.
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Q: Buster, our 12-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback/shepherd mix, was just diagnosed with lung cancer. At this point, he's doing well and is quite active. Buster is very close to our cat, and got along very well with an older dog we adopted, who died in August. I was planning to adopt another dog, but now I wonder if the time is right. I'm torn between the benefits of a new canine companion for Buster vs. stressing him. Any ideas? -- D.H., via cyberspace
A: I'm sorry for your recent loss, and for Buster's diagnosis.
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