Ask the Vet - Feline Sedation

My family is planning a trip, but my 20-pound cat has a difficult time traveling. I’d like him to be able to sleep for about 2 hours. Can you recommend a safe, fast-acting tranquilizer that I could give him?

Some cats are very vocal when traveling, and occasionally they will urinate or defecate in their carrier. But in many cases this is more painful for the owners to watch than it is stressful for the pet. If you are only going to be on the road for an hour or two, you might want try to tough it out. No medication is always the best and safest way to go.

If that is not possible, your veterinarian may be able to prescribe a safe product that will calm your kitty (there are no over-the-counter medications available for this purpose). Before giving any sedative to your pet, though, be sure he is in good enough health to handle it and make sure his heart is healthy.