Moving a 15 year old cat...opinions please.

Merlin doesn't much relish car travel, not to mention 1400 mile long rides in the car. Any tips or advice? I feel he has reached his decline because of sudden weight loss (which could or could not be due to the new cat). Anyway, I want to make him as comfy/happy (probably impossible) as possible. Thanks in advance.

I've heard that it helps. :hi:

I'm really concerned about this because he doesn't seem to be doing well lately.

I moved cross country with two cats last year.
I drove the car and the cats sat shotgun in their respective carriers. I thought by having the carriers near each other and next to me would keep them calm because they could see/smell each other and me.
We drove pretty much straight through from about 9:30 AM to 6 or so at night. I didn't want to push it because they didn't have access to a litter box in their carriers.
Every couple of days we took a day off and stayed two nights in the same hotel. This way I got to see the sights and the kitties got to rest.
I packed one of their scratching posts and brought it into the hotel room each night. I also had their usual bowls, usual food, and their usual litter box.
When I checked into the hotel room, I didn't let the cats out of their carriers until everything was brought in and their litter box was set up.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

We will also be traveling with my dad's cat (he doesn't like to leave her alone for long periods) so I am hoping by having their carriers facing each other it will keep him calm. She is not a fan of car travel either but what cat really is, right? :)

I've used Rescue Remedy to calm (not sedate!) my cats and dogs. I've used Rescue Remedy on myself and my friends, too. :D

I've read about veterinarians, pet owners, and people who show animals talking about its benefits. One of my favorite stories: Rescue Remedy saves Charlie the coyote's nerves...

Thank You & FYI

Back when I Twittered about Rescue Remedy, I received a handful of emails from people mentioning that it worked well on their animals. (Thank you!) The last few days I have had some rock work done on my new place, just a few feet up at the base of the structure to protect the wood (which I have sealed but didn’t want to side) from heavy snows and moisture. Again, I lucked out and was able to recycle leftover material from one of the contractor’s previous jobs.

However, this was a huge stress on Charlie. Strange people about, loud sudden noises from fitting rock and mixing mortar, and I had to keep him inside for long stretches during the day while the part of the building that is within his fenced area was being worked. By day two, the poor coyote was at the end of his rope. I managed to get him to lap up some heavy cream that I dosed with Rescue Remedy. Within minutes, he calmed visibly, stopped pacing, and curled up with Chloe on his dog bed for much of the day. He remained very alert but not panicked, and took a long nap inside amidst the din of construction.

Now the work in his area is done and the job itself will be completed by the end of the day, and I believe that once he has the place to himself and the farmily again, the calming effects of the Rescue Remedy will help Charlie let go of the stress that has built up in his system. So FYI to pet owners ~ it’s something to keep in mind before vet visits, on New Years and the 4th, or during other unnerving situations your animals might be in.

http://www.dailycoyote.net/?m=200810

Bach's Flower Essences for Pets
http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm

You should be able to order it online if you do a Google search - Rescue Remedy is available via Amazon.com or pet supply businesses - or you might be able to buy it at your local health foods / organic foods / whole foods grocery.

My vet recommends them- I've used some of these remedies on my monsters kitties for grief issues, difficulties in coping with changes, high stressors in the environment, and some aggressive behavior issues.
They are very gentle and help Furkids be more at ease and happy with their world.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

My older boys really love their 'stress remedy' (got it when Finnegan joined the household)...
they'll sit down and start salivating when they see me with the bottle and eyedropper...
so giving it to them is no problem. :)

Wimsey will even ask for it on occasion...stretches up and paws at where it's kept.

the kind of water they usually get. The vet told me when we moved cross country that the cats may not eat very well on the trip. She thought that would be okay but if they wouldn't drink water because it was different put them at risk of dehydration.

You might want some sedatives for the road... I found that my hyper cat needed to have the open end of the carrier turned toward the door. He liked being in the dark. Go figure.

Good luck!

Is there enough room for an article of your clothing that has your scent on it...an old T-shirt or something that's soft and snuggle-able.

Having the carrier really clean to start with is a good idea too...no lingering 'scared kitty/pee' smells to cause anxiety.

Thinking goes something this, maybe?
"Carrier smells like there was a fearful anxious cat in here. Something happened in here to make kitty fearful and anxious.
I'M stuck in this carrier and I'm getting really scared."

A clean carrier and reassuring-smelling article of snuggly as well as Rescue Remedy (or Bach Flower remedies) should make trip easier. :thumbsup:

Talk to your vet and maybe he can prescribe something that will make the car trip less traumatic for him.

Bachs' worked for me when I had to drive the Demon from Charlottesville to Cincy, not a terribly long trip, but full of some windy beginnings in WV, and he hated that. I would not feed your kitty before you travel, if he's anything like mine he'll spew. Definitely ask your vet if you can give him a mild sedative. My guy did best when he was packed in the middle of the front and back seats so that he could see me at all times. A little classical music, and an occasional poke of the finger through his crate grate worked wonders. Good luck on your journey. :hi:

like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Carrier-Travel-Indoor-Outdoor/dp/B0015YUN3O/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1229119595&sr=1-6



I used something similar when I drove my three cats from Florida to Ohio when evacuating from a hurricane. There was room for a litter pan, so it made everything easier.

I also like Feliway and Rescue Remedy.