The reactions of cats when it comes to traveling often differ. Some even take the entire journey without any form of issues. However, there are those that tend to bother the owner and are problematic for carrying along. It is for such reasons that giving such a cat some sleeping pills becomes an option. Sedating helps in calming the cat and avoiding any jumpy and such bothersome behaviors.

The calm cat is in most case the best companion to get, and admire as it sleeps. Besides, there are many more reasons why sedating is of high importance to the pet and the owner. Below are some important tips of cat sedative for travel that are worth when calming the pet cat for a journey.

When to Sedate the Cat?

Often, short distanced journeys are fun traveling with a pet which is active and playful. However, it could not be the same case when taking long traveling hours. It is highly recommended to administer sleeping dosages to the cat when in long trips, such as when using trains, the plane of during its usual clinics.

It is a way of trying to regulate the pet’s behavior. The calmness results from the fact that there is a significant lowering of the pet’s anxiety levels. The consequences that results from the high level of anxiety include strained breathing, defecations, urination, stress and motion sickness.

Some cat gets to their destination appearing very ill if they were never sedated. Others tend to moan and meow for the entire travel. It may turn difficult for the pet owner to handle the situation if they fail to recognize that the cat is emotionally unstable. They go through anxiety and stress, of which it is hard for them to bear.

Therefore, thinking of how to bring calmness and make them comfortable is a top priority. It is a way of bringing the pet to a calmer state. Some pets turn so calm to the point of taking a nap for the whole journey. It may not be given that the pet will remain in its nap, but sedating it puts it in a submissive and easier to handle state.





How to Choose the Right Sleeping Pills

Some people have messed up with their pets for failing to pick the right medication for their pet’s sedation process. Notably, the process should be vet guided. The pet owner should take the cat for examination at the clinic or talk with a vet over other forms of communication. This stage is essential regardless of whether the medication is to be purchased over the counter, or the dose is to get administered in a clinic or even at home.

Ensuring that the vet officer approves the pills is a guarantee of positive outcomes. Consequently, picking poor quality products may cause more harmful and unhealthy. The vet officer should also examine the pet to ensure that the pills are fit enough for its health.

It is more important having this procedure, especially when taking plane journeys. There is a combination of elevation effects such as excessive stress, air pressure, and temperatures variation. The cat is subjected to potentially fatal conditions. The sleeping pills are administered in different options such as ingestion, injections or sprays.

However, consider situations such as if the cat throws up and enough dose. Most oral sleeping pills are known to have prolonged onset time, but they are often hard to administer to the cat. But, for the spray form of mediation, it is more of a guarantee that the cat took enough of it into its bloodstream.

How to Administer Oral Sedatives

Most sleeping pills available in the market are orally ingested. The procedure of having the cat consume them starts by timing as per the prescriptions. It is worth having enough time for the medication effects of sinking before the travel exposure starts. There are those sleeping pills that are in solid form while others are in suspensions.

The process should happen in a very calm and caring manner. So, it is wise to start by wrapping the pet with a warm cloth or blanket and then follow the following procedure for cat sedative for travel.

A thumb is placed on one side of the pet’s mouth, and forefinger on the opposite side.

Pressure is applied until the cat opens up its mouth.

The mouth is opened further using the other free hand and pressing down the lower jaw.

It is then that the pill or liquid medication is squeezed into the pet’s mouth just beside the cheek.

The cat is soother to ensure that swallows the pills before its mouth is slowly released. It may be necessary to lift the pet’s face and let its nose point upwards.

A gentle rub on the throat is highly encouraged to ensure that the liquid or pill medication is fully swallowed. Alternatively, make a gentle blow on the cat’s face.

After that, treat the cat with its favorite meal or such to ensure it is feels praised for the good behavior.

Alternative Methods to Administer Sleeping Pills

When using the spray form of sleeping pills administration, it takes a simple process of spraying the cat bed or sleeping area. Nonetheless, oral medication is tough to administer and requires some form of expertise. There are a couple of other alternatives to administer sedatives. A pet owner, and with the help of a vet, are the people to decide the best method suits the cat in the subject.

A commonly used technique has a pill gun. It easily enables for the pill to get dropped at the back of the cat’s mouth. The process of forcing the cat to open its mouth and trying to push the pills deeper is well sorted. The pill gun raises the probabilities of having the cat swallow the medication. It also minimizes possibilities of causing throat irritations that could make the cat vomit the medication.

Another highly recommended method is offering pills when they are mixed with cat foods. It is simple to smash up the pills into the pet’s wet meal and serve. Alternatively, wrapping the pills with some food balls, cheese or other favorite forms of cat treat will make it consume the medication at ease. One can purchase some of these treats available in the market where the place to hold the pills is conveniently made.

The liquid medication is also an alternative to offering solid pills. The only challenge with it is when the entire dose fails to reach into the pet’s stomach. It is highly advisable not to add any of the sedatives in case there was spillage or other factors that made it not to get to its stomach. Some pet owners tend to mess up by overdosing the cat since the exact measure of the medication into the pet system can’t be established.

The last method involves having the pet wear a special collar. These collars are somehow treated with the drug medication and then tied around the pet’s neck. It helps in ensuring that the pet slowly takes in the dose and remains calm.

How long it takes for the Sleeping Pills to Kick In.

There is a variation of the time it takes for the sedatives to kick in depending on the dosage, method of administration and medication options. It is highly advisable to always start by reading the prescription of the sedative utilized. It is here that the pills onset time often gets indicated.

The oral pills often take approximately 30 – 45 minutes while the spray form may take as little as 15 – 20 minutes. Hence, choosing the right dosage, medication and administration depend on the journey preparation time and hours it takes to the destination.

How Long Do Cat Sleeping Pills Last?

The duration of sleeping pills effects much depends on the dosage taken. A cat would remain calm for longer hours if a higher dose were used. On average, most sleeping pills go for an hour and above. It means that the travel hours are key in determining how many hours the cat is needed calm. Prays are known to be more effective since it is the carrier that is sprayed, making the pet to ingest the medication slowly.

For the liquid and solid pills, the kick in time is longer and slow since they take the entire digestive system process before getting to effect. The pills may appear to last longer through the gradual intrusion into the bloodstream.

Are Cat Sleeping Pills Safe?

All the sleeping pills in the market have some degree or health risks and safety. One main precaution when using sprays is to avoid having them sprayed directly on the pet. For the pills, overdosing may lead to immense hazards, and thus, it is needful to follow the precautions and prescriptions given at the label. A common issue with most sleeping pills is their effect on the pet’s blood pressure.

Some of them lower it to extremely dangerous levels while others cause it to shoot too high especially if an overdose is administered — some observable symptoms with a cat whose blood pressure is low include perplexed and groggy cat. The heart rates may also vary, resulting in difficult breathing. It implies that sleeping pills have equal chances of turning fatal as well as calming the cat.

Natural Cat Sleeping Pills

There are natural ways through which a cat can get sedated. However, purchasing a prescription from a vet is highly recommended to ensure that the appropriate dose for the appropriate reason is given. Some of the common natural forms of sleeping pills include the Valerian and Catnip plants.

They may sound not common, but research has it that these are well applicable when bringing the cat to sleep. Approximately 50% of cats respond to the coming in to contact with Catnip for it is more of urine to the eyes of the pet. However, it is a natural way of having the cat sleep upon having it ingested in their body. The only precaution is to avoid having the cat smell the herb for it may result in it acting frisky, rolling, running, drooling and pawing.

The Valerian herb has similar effects to those of Catnip, though its effects a longer lasting and stronger. The only challenge is knowing the right dosage to administer. Often, some pet owners end up overdosing their pets which results in them to be lethargic and groggy. However, the experience with these herbs is not known by most pet owners. It takes an expert to know the right amount and procedure to administer it to the pet.

The Need to Consult a Vet before giving Sleeping Pills

A vet is a person with much knowledge and experience on the right procedures to undertake the procedure of cat sedative for travel. It is important having to engage a vet when taking any medication oriented decisions. When planning to do some self-medication on the cat, making a quick visit to the vet with the pet goes a long way in guaranteeing its safety and health.

It is here that the cat can get examined to ensure that it is healthy enough for the procedure. They are the people who can choose the best dosage and medication for the pet. Their recommendation on whether to take the spray, a liquid or the pills medication administration are worth. They also examine the risks attached to every phase or decision of the procedure.

The younger cats are known to be at lesser risks as compared to the older ones. Kittens below six weeks of age are also highly not recommended to consume any form of sedatives.

Final Verdict

Giving some sleeping pills to a cat for travel is quite necessary to ensure that the pet is calm and can get control. However, there exists a couple of options of cat sedative for travel, and decide on when and how to administer them. Taking the pet to a vet helps in determining the health condition and possible effects of these different medications.

It is recommended to take the pet around for a drive in determining of the best sedatives to ingest and its response to the pills. The need to have the medication comes out stronger when a semi-travel environment is created. It may not be necessary for doing any form of medication when travel is a simple short trip.

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