There are many reasons to sedate your cat. Perhaps, the cat is not able to travel, easily stressed when treated by a veterinarian or professional stylist. There are many ways to calm a cat in a tough situation, whether or not medication is used. Do your research to find the best method for your pet.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Choosing Medicine
Step 1. Seek veterinary advice
You will need a prescription for most sedatives. Even if you buy a commercial drug, report it to your vet to make sure it's safe. Poor quality products can be harmful to your cat's health. All animals to be sedated should be examined by a veterinarian to make sure they are healthy enough to be sedated.
Tell your vet if you plan to fly with an sedated cat. The combination of air pressure, elevation, and excessive stress can cause a potentially life-threatening negative reaction
Step 2. Discuss the time frame with your doctor
Different drugs, different times the properties work so you have to know how the drugs used work. Ask your veterinarian for how long the medication will take before an event that will stress your cat. Some medications may take effect immediately, while others may take up to an hour to be effective.
With medications that take a long time to start working, a cat's restlessness can negate the sedative if it works in a non-soothing environment for the cat
Step 3. Familiarize yourself with the type of sedative medication
There are many types of drugs used to anesthetize cats. All drugs discussed here require a doctor's examination and prescription. Discuss your options with your vet to find out which medication is best for your cat. Your veterinarian will use their knowledge, practice and experience to recommend medications with the least side effects and risk for your cat.
- Benzodiazepines are popular sedatives that can reduce anxiety almost instantly. Side effects consist of disorientation, drowsiness, and increased appetite. This drug should be used with extreme caution in cats with liver or kidney problems.
- SARI can also relieve anxiety quickly, but it can cause dizziness and disorientation. This drug should be used with caution in cats with heart problems
- Clonidine and gabapentin were developed to treat blood pressure and nerve pain in humans, but have a sedative and anxiety-reducing effect in animals.
- Chlorpheniramine is a cold and allergy medication, while phenobarbital is a narcotic and sedative for treating epilepsy.
Step 4. Don't expect instant results
There are a wide variety of medications available to anesthetize cats, and most require a doctor's prescription. However, like humans, cats can have a variety of responses to different drugs. A drug that works in one cat may not be effective in another. Plan your sedative medication well in advance so you can adjust your medication as needed. Don't expect “magic pills: they work instantly.
Method 2 of 3: Using Drugs to Sedate Cats
Step 1. Do a test run
It's a good idea to do a trial with the drug before actually using it on your cat. This ensures that the cat reacts well to the medication. Otherwise, your cat may react badly in an already stressful situation. In general, it's a good idea to set aside a week so you can go back to the vet and discuss other options if the first medication doesn't work.
- Give yourself and your cat time to calm down and relax.
- After administering the medication, monitor for 12 hours to assess the cat's reaction.
- The cat should be relaxed and calm, but not dizzy or faint. if the cat seems panicked or disoriented, do not use the medication again.
Step 2. Prepare the cat to be sedated
Make sure you are within the anesthetic time frame that your veterinarian has recommended. Allow time for the medication to work before the stressful event. Both you and your cat need to be as relaxed as possible.
- Wrap the cat in a small blanket, pillowcase, or towel and leave her head uncovered.
- Hold the cat astride on the floor between your legs or on your thigh, or ask an assistant to hold the cat.
Step 3. Give the cat medicine
Make sure you follow the dosage on your vet's instructions carefully. This drug is very strong and dangerous if not administered properly.
- Place your thumb on one side of the cat's mouth, and forefinger on the other, then open the cat's mouth.
- Apply gentle pressure until the cat opens its mouth.
- Using your free hand, gently press down on the cat's lower jaw to open its mouth wider.
- Insert the pill or squeeze the liquid medicine into the cat's mouth from one side of the cat's cheek.
Step 4. Make sure the cat swallows the medicine
While keeping the cat still, remove your hand from the cat's mouth. Lift the cat's face up, and rub the throat gently so the cat swallows the medicine. You should also gently blow on the cat's face as this can cause the cat to swallow saliva. Remain in this position for a few seconds before unwrapping the blanket and releasing the cat.
- If you see your cat licking its nose, it may be a sign that the cat has swallowed the medicine.
- Give your cat lots of praise for being well behaved, and reassure her if she's worried about being fed medication.
Step 5. Use alternative methods if needed
Medications don't feel natural to your cat, and your cat may struggle when they are sedated. It helps if the cat is wrapped in a towel when under anesthesia. When wrapped like a baby, the cat will not be able to struggle and escape.
- You can buy a "pill gun" that drops the pill into the cat's mouth so it's easier to swallow.
- Try coating the pill with cheese or another treat your cat likes.
- Ask your vet for liquid medicine if you have trouble giving pills.
- Ask your vet before putting liquid anesthetic into your cat's wet food. Make sure the food does not offer anesthetic properties.
Step 6. Wait for the pusher to work
Different drugs, different duration of effect. The veterinarian will tell you how long and how long the medication will start to work, and how long it will last. In general, monitor until the cat looks nervous or tired, but is not disoriented and confused. The cat should slowly fall asleep, and not suddenly lose consciousness. Some cats will fall asleep, while others will still be somewhat awake, but calm and still.
- The cat will return to normal in a few hours, or may appear sleepy for the next two days.
- If after two days the cat has not returned to normal, contact your veterinarian.
Method 3 of 3: Using the Anesthesia Method without Drugs
Step 1. Use synthetic pheromones in your home
If your cat is agitated, overly excited, or exhibiting unwanted behavior (such as marking territory or scratching), pheromones can be a good solution. This chemical mimics the pheromones that cats naturally produce to communicate with other cats. Some companies use essential oils or herbal blends to mimic pheromones. Regular use will help your cat feel calm and safe at home.
- Synthetic pheromones can be used as necklaces, sprays, wipes, or diffusers.
- Well-known brands include Feliway, Comfort Zone, and Sergeant's Pet Care.
- You can use them all to keep your cat calm and happy. You can also introduce this pheromone a few weeks before a stressful event in preparation for the cat.
Step 2. Consider using body wrap
This product has been shown to help relieve restlessness in cats by applying gentle pressure to pressure points when wrapped around the cat's body. This effect is similar to that of a baby wrap. Although often used on dogs, this product is also effective on cats.
Step 3. Wrap the cat in a towel if you don't have body wrap
If you can't afford body wrap and your cat is nervous or scared, use a heavy towel for a similar effect. Wrap the towel so that it covers the cat's entire body, except for the face. Make sure the towel wraps around the cat comfortably. This method can be used if you need to administer medication, trim your nails, or any other activity your cat doesn't like that lasts only a short time.
Always praise the cat after removing the towel
Step 4. Try giving food supplements to fight anxiety
The ingredients in this supplement support the cat's natural chemical balance to promote relaxation. This supplement is available in liquid, chewable, or tablet form. Examples of these supplements include Anxitane and Zylkene.
- Anxitane is an amino acid in green tea and (according to the manufacturer) acts on chemical receptors in the brain to reduce fear and anxiety in cats.
- Zylkene is a milk protein derivative supplement that helps soothe newborns.
- You can buy these supplements online or at veterinary clinics.
Tips
- In some cases, the best results are seen from combining drug and non-drug methods.
- Experiment well in advance of stressful cat events to find the best solution for your cat's anxiety problem.
Warning
- Never give a cat human medicine unless directed by a veterinarian. You might end up making the cat very sick. Worse yet, cats can die from drugs that, while safe for humans, are toxic to cats.
- Drugging cats to take on a plane is highly discouraged.
- It should be noted that the instructions in this article are not for stray cats caught in a cage. Feral cats should be sedated prior to surgery or physical examination, but physical contact should be avoided to avoid serious bites or scratches. It's best to take a caged stray cat to the vet to be sedated by a doctor.
