Why, oh why, is a ride in the car so fraught with anxiety? Your Friday Art Cat has to be tricked or stuffed into a carrier to go anywhere. (Most often the vet, of course.) Once en route the protests range from quiet mewling to plaintive wailing to outright caterwauling.
There are ways to desensitize kitties to the stress of car travel by leaving the carrier out, wiping the carrier with happy cat pheromones, and depositing occasional treats in said carrier. Some cats are prone to motion sickness. According to PetMD, the initial signs are:
- Excessive drooling
- Crying out in distress
- Immobility, or acting afraid to move
- Vomiting or regurgitation
- Urinating or defecating
If that happened to me every time I got in a car, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere either! Check with your vet to determine the best remedy for your cat’s symptoms, and considering trying some strategies to destress the cat carrier experience.
I write about art, cats, and books all of the time. Check out my posts at Art is Not for Sissies. Thanks much for your interest!
Reblogged this on ravenhawks' magazine and commented:
Good Suggestion of course since pet carrier is synonymous with vet visits it may take a lot of work to make kitty happy. I solved my problem by having the vet come to me. No more Caterwauling[x 5] for 16 of the longest miles I have ever traveled.
So nice that your vet makes house calls! If only I could do it that way. Thank for the reblog, too 🙂
You are welcome
I keep the carriers out in various corners with bedding and catnip inside. Everybody naps in them. Without mentioning the “v” word or changing the morning routine when I pull the carrier out the one who has the appointment takes off. If they all did I could understand but they must be psychic. It’s only the one with the appointment. And none of them like the car. Once in the vet’s office they are fine.
Haha! I think they could be psychic. They’re so sensitive to subtle clues or changes in routine that they can see it coming.
I’ve had fairly good results with just being calm and matter of fact. The cat sense they can’t get out of it. I think it helps the stress level. Of course, not all cats are created equally… by the way, I love that cat painting. It’s so evocative.
Thank you!
That picture captures the cat’s emotion well 🙂
Thanks!!
Thanks fur a Pawsome post, furiend!?
You’re welcome! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
Thank you!
Reblogged this on Rattiesforeverworldpresscom.
Pingback: Your Friday Art Cat Panics | Angel's Life