Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Choosing a medication
• Method 2 of 3: Using medication to calm your cat
• Method 3 of 3: Using sedative methods without medication
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

There are several reasons why you should calm your cat. Maybe your pet doesn't like to travel or gets stressed out from vet exams or professional grooming. There are many ways to calm your cat in stressful situations - some medical and some not. Research all methods to determine which one will be best for your pet.

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Method 1 of 3: Choosing a medication

1. Ask for advice from a vet. Most sedatives still require a prescription from a veterinarian. Even if you buy an over-the-counter drug, still have it reviewed by your vet to make sure he or she approves - a poor quality product can be dangerous to your pet's health. All animals that are medically calmed should be examined by a veterinarian before use to make sure they are healthy enough for sedatives.
   • Tell your vet if you plan to fly with a sedated cat. The combination of air pressure, altitude and excessive stress can cause unwanted reactions that can turn out to be potentially fatal.
2. Discuss time frames with your vet. Different medications take different amounts of time to work, so you want to know how your particular drug works. Ask your vet how far in advance you should administer the drug for the event that is causing your cat to panic. Some drugs start to work almost immediately, while others take up to an hour to be effective.
   • With medication that takes time to work, the cat's anxiety can overpower the sedative if you don't get it to work in a quiet environment.
3. Familiarize yourself with the types of sedative medications. There are many different medications used for calming cats. Any medication discussed here can only be prescribed after an examination and by a veterinarian. Discuss your options with your vet to find out which one is best for your pet. The vet will use his education, training and experience to recommend the medication with the fewest side effects and risks for your pet.
   • Benzodiazepine is a popular tranquilizer that can reduce anxiety almost instantly. Side effects include disorientation, insomnia and increased appetite. They should be used with extreme caution in cats with liver or kidney problems.
   • SARI also reduces anxiety very quickly, but can cause mild dizziness and disorientation. These should be used with caution in animals with heart disease.
   • Clonidine and gabapentin have been developed to treat blood pressure and nerve pain in humans, but have a calming and anti-anxiety effect in animals.
   • Chlorfeniramine is a cold and allergy medicine, while phenobarbital is a narcotic and sedative used to treat epilepsy.
4. Don't expect a quick fix. There are several medications available to calm a cat, most of which must be prescribed by a veterinarian. However, just like in humans, individual cats can have different reactions to different medications. What works well for one cat may not work at all for another. For a medicinal tranquilizer, plan as far ahead as possible so that you can adjust the medication as needed. Don't expect magic pill that works immediately.

Method 2 of 3: Using medication to calm your cat

1. Run a trial. You should always test the medication before actually calming your cat. This ensures that she responds well to it; otherwise, your cat may have a worse reaction in an already stressful situation. In general, you should give yourself at least a week of leeway so that you can go back to the vet and discuss other options if your first choice isn't effective.
   • Wait for a time when both you and your cat are calm and relaxed.
   • After you give her the medicine, observe her for 12 hours to gauge her response to it.
   • The cat should be relaxed and calm, but not dizzy or unconscious. If she seems disoriented or panicked, stop taking that drug.
2. Prepare your cat for the relaxer. Make sure you are within the time frame for the relaxer that you discussed with your vet. Allow time for the medication to take effect before the stressful event. Both you and the cat should be as relaxed as possible.
   • Wrap your cat in a small sheet, pillowcase, or towel, leaving only her head free.
   • Sit on the floor and put your cat between your legs or on your lap, or have someone hold the cat for you.
3. Give your cat her medication. Make sure to follow your vet's dosage carefully. These powerful agents can prove to be harmful if used incorrectly.
   • Place your thumb on one side and your index finger on the other side of your cat's mouth.
   • Press gently until your cat opens her mouth.
   • With your free hand, gently press down on the lower jaw to further open the mouth.
   • Place the pill in the back of the cat's mouth, or spray the liquid on the side of a cheek.
4. Make sure the cat swallows the medication. Release her mouth while you hold her body tightly. Lift her head so that her nose is pointing up, and gently rub her throat to encourage her to swallow. You can also blow gently on her face, which may cause her to swallow. Stay in this position for a few seconds before removing the cloths and releasing the cat.
   • If you see the cat licking her nose, it is a sign that she has probably swallowed the medicine.
   • Praise your cat extensively for her good behavior, and comfort her if she is upset about what just happened.
5. Use alternative methods as needed. Taking oral medications doesn't feel natural to a cat, and yours can fight back when you try to calm her down. It may help to wrap your cat tightly in a towel while administering the sedative. When she's swaddled like a baby, she can't struggle and get away as much.
   • You can pilschers that will let you shoot the pill in the back of the cat's mouth, increasing the chance that she will swallow it.
   • Try wrapping the pill in some cheese or other treat your cat loves to get it in.
   • Ask the vet for liquid medicine if you have trouble ingesting pills.
   • Before attempting to mix liquid sedative into your cat's canned food, ask your vet. You want to make sure that this doesn't make the drug ineffective.
6. Wait for the sedative to set in. Different drugs and dosages take different amounts of time to work. Your vet will let you know how long your specific drug and dosage will take to work, and how long it should remain effective. In general, however, you should watch your cat get drunk and tired, but not disoriented and confused. The cat should be calm, but not suddenly lose consciousness. Some cats fall asleep completely, while others stay awake, but calm and calm.
   • Your cat may be back to normal in just a few hours, or she may remain drowsy for the next few days.
   • If she still isn't normal after a few days, contact your vet.

Method 3 of 3: Using sedative methods without medication

1. Use synthetic pheromones in your home. If your cat is anxious, overexcited, or exhibits unwanted behaviors such as scent marking or scratching, synthetic pheromones are a good solution. These chemicals mimic the pheromones that cats naturally produce to communicate with other cats. A few companies have used essential oils or herbal blends to mimic pheromones. Regular use can make cats feel calmer and safer at home.
   • Synthetic pheromones can be used as collars, sprays, wipes or electric diffusers.
   • Popular brands include Feliway, Comfort Zone and Sergeant's Pet Care.
   • You can use them continuously to keep your cat happy and calm. You can also introduce them a few weeks before a stressful event to prepare her for it.
2. Consider using body wraps. Body wraps have proven to be helpful in reducing anxiety in cats. You wrap these products around the cat's chest, applying light pressure to her pressure points. The effect is similar to that of swaddling a baby. While these products are better known for use on dogs, they are just as effective on cats.
3. Wrap her in a towel if you don't have a body wrap. If you haven't invested in a body wrap and your cat is getting anxious or panicky, you can mimic the effect with a thick towel. Wrap the cat in the towel so that all of her body is covered except her face. Make sure the towel is tight around her body. This method can be used if you need to give her medication, trim her nails, or do anything else that upsets her short.
   • Always make sure to praise the cat after getting her off the towel.
4. Try nutritional supplements to combat anxiety. The ingredients in these supplements support the natural chemical balance to enhance relaxation. They are available in liquid, chew or tablet form. Two examples of supplements are Anxitane and Zylkene.
   • Anxitane is an amino acid from green tea, which (according to the manufacturer) acts on chemical receptors in the brain to reduce anxiety and worry in cats.
   • Zylkene is a supplement derived from the milk protein that helps reassure newborns.
   • You can buy these supplements online or from the vet.

Tips

• In some cases, the best effect is seen when both medical and non-medical options are combined.
• Before you need to calm your cat, experiment to find the best solution to your cat's anxiety problems.

Warnings

• Never give your cat any human medication unless specifically directed by your vet. You can make your cat very sick with that. She could even die from taking drugs that are safe for humans, but toxic to cats.
• Soothing a cat for an air trip is not recommended.
• Note that these are not instructions for calming a feral cat you catch in a trap. Those cats should be calmed before surgery or physical exams, but you should avoid having physical contact with them to avoid potentially serious scratches or bites. It is better to take a feral cat with a cage and all to the vet and let him calm the animal.

Necessities

• Veterinarian
• Cat or kitten
• Pill or liquid sedative
• Blanket, towel or pillowcase
• Sweets