[Hope]

Hi
Has anybody out there used Feliway ( http://www.feliway.uk.com/feliway_uk.nsf/Page?OpenForm )to calm their cats for the flight? Our cats' vet has said we should spray it in the crates before they go as it should help calm them. The problem is that we are having to put them in a cattery when we go as we only had their first rabies antibody tests done in June and so they cannot fly until December.
I am sitting here putting together a list of everything I can think of for the owner of the cattery and I am not sure if I should go ahead and ask her to spray the crates for me.

Is the use of Feliway something MAF might object to? I know from when they flew here from the UK that they are not allowed to be sedated but if this will calm then I would love to be able to give it to them as they have a long flight to quarantine (Helsinki ->Copenhagen -> Beijing -> Auckland). :(

Any feedback much appreciated...

[Ana&Steve]

I've never heard of feliway but I did want to offer my opinion.
I was a pet groomer for years and I specialized in kitties. I am against sedation in cats for a few reasons based on my experiences.
For one, I think most sedatives act more to distress the cat as they can't trust what they are perceiving. (I joke that cats are naturally suspicious, even of themselves:)) The result is a "bad trip", a bit of a waking nightmare.
For two, the cat can no longer regulate body temperature, which I think would be especially important during such a long flight.
Third, I've been injured by more sedated cats than not!
Again I am not familiar with feliway so it could be 100% different than the sedatives I've had experience with. Maybe you could ask your vet if any of the above side effects exist with feliway.
I think cats find their own "happy place" when the stress is high and they can't use their fight or flight instincts. You may have seen it if you have ever successfully bathed a cat and they've realized the bath is happening whether they like it or not. They just turn into staring zombie cats for a while and snap out of it when enough normalcy has returned. I think they can make it w/o sedation, even if their sad little faces are enough to break your heart:(
I'm no vet, just someone with an opinion:D

[adkck]

Hi there,

I also vote against sedatives because I have read in a few sources that because the cargo area is pressurized, oxygen is a bit lower down there, sedating an animal may be harmful. So I guess the things you can do get the kitty used to being in its cage and when it is time to go, put its favorite things in the crate (i.e. blanket, toy, treats, etc.)

I moved cross-country a few years ago and had to put my kitty in a cage (he was a kitten who could not sit still). He whined and cried for an hour or so and once he figured out he is not going to get out anytime soon and figured out he was safe, he curled up and went to sleep. He was perfectly fine and did not seem traumatized by being in a cage for 3 days. Not 3 days straight of course but the trip took 3 days. LOL

Good luck with everything.:nice1

[Hope]

Hi Ana&Steve and Kellbell

Thank you both for your posts! I agree 100% that they should not be sedated while travelling and I hadn't asked the vet about anything like that. It was when I took them for their booster shots and the vet and I were discussing their travel arrangements, she suggested this Feliway spray as it is not something they ingest, more something they smell. I think I am just going to forget the vet mentioning it and let them deal with their flights in their own ways. They have seperate crates but will at least be able to hear each other.


You may have seen it if you have ever successfully bathed a cat and they've realized the bath is happening whether they like it or not.
I have never been brave enough to try and bath a cat - I take my hat off to you :laugh

[unar]

Hi Hope,

I moved my kitty from the US to UK. She is usually a very nervous kitty and doesn't like strangers or strange places. I was worried sick the whole time, but she did perfectly fine. When I picked her up at the airport, she was just sleeping in her box, and greeted with a little meow when she saw me. She looked very very pathetic, but she was fine. I didn't sedate her which is not allowed any way. I did put one of her blankets in the box, so that probably helped with the smell thing a bit.

One thing though, definitely get a litter box ready before your kitty arrives.. my cat did the longest pee ever in history after she got home. :D

Good luck with your move.
-Una

[adkck]

It's funny,

I think we, humans, worry more than the pet does. :laugh

It is amazing how fast a pet adapts in a situation. I am sure once the crate has familiar things in it, your kitty will be just fine. :)

[Ana&Steve]

I have never been brave enough to try and bath a cat - I take my hat off to you :laugh
:laugh

I am going to ask about that product now because I'm curious as, well, a cat!

[migratory birds]

Feliaway isn't a medication or sedative. It mimics the hormone/pheromone secreted by kitties facial glands (which is supposed to be very calming for tightly wound or stressed cats).

There is also a spray that you could ask whoever is loading up your cats for flight to spray on their bedding or on the inside walls of the carrier. As far as a cattery or quarentine facility goes, you could ask them to keep the plug-in version on the wall in your cat's quarters.

Call MAF directly to ask about restrictions (the number is on their website) - I was surprised when I called with a question a few weeks ago about microchips when they ANSWERED the phone, in person, without a frustrating menu of recorded options! :yes

[Hope]

Call MAF directly to ask about restrictions (the number is on their website) - I was surprised when I called with a question a few weeks ago about microchips when they ANSWERED the phone, in person, without a frustrating menu of recorded options! :yes

Thanks! I will go ahead and contact MAF and find out (will let you know Ana&Steve) about restrictions.

The spray is what the vet has recommended. She said I should spray their blankets just before they get put into the crate to go.

[KerryS]

You can get Feliway over here, so I wouldn't have thought there would be any restrictions on it being sprayed on your cat's crate. Still best to check with MAF though...

[dilanium]

Feliway has shady scientific research behind it. As Migratory birds said, it is supposed to be a pheromone that is supposed to help calm them down. It has worked for some cats and so is something to try when cats aren't behaving well. I haven't heard of it for use in a crate during flight though.

Another thing that you can do is wear a t-shirt around for a few days and make sure the cattery puts that into the crate with your cat so the cat will have the comfort of your smell for the trip. I arrived here in July and my cat will be flying in in September, so I do know what this is like.

I do reccomend having the cattery take pictures of your cat every so often to send to you, it gives remarkable peace of mind. :)

[Hope]

Hello again
I mailed MAF asking about the use of Feliway and they replied with the following:


Thank you for contacting us regarding the "Feliway". This is really a animal welfare matter which you will need to check with your local animal welfare officer. however as a biosecurity risk this is mitigated as all animal containers arriving in New Zealand are thoroughly cleaned inside and out before being released.

Therefore should this product be cleared by animal welfare we see no reason as why this product could not be used.

So I have decided to try it for helping calm them while they are in the cattery here waiting to fly as they are going to be there for 3 months and if helps them at all then I will ask the quarantine facility in NZ if I can supply it for them. I will discuss it futher with their vet with regard to the actual flight.

Thanks for the tips Dilanium - I will ask about the photos as that would give me some peace of mind.

[unar]

It is probably a good idea to try it on your kitty before you leave. Cats react to things differently. For instance my crazy cat hates catnip and LOVES lemon and chili. We used a spray made with lemon juice mixed with chili powder to stop her from eating our house plants. Instead of running away from the plants, she licked every leave clean and begged for more. She also loves bleach. What is wrong with my cat?!

-una

[Hope]

She also loves bleach. What is wrong with my cat?!

-una

Well she definitely sounds a little nutty:laugh Mine also love bleach but have never expressed an interest in lemon or chilli.

[JandM]

Of all the cats we've had in our lives (ten to date), only one was at all interested in catnip, and he wouldn't get all excited and purr and roll on it as advertised, but would just calmly EAT the whole plant, stuffed mouse or whatever. The others wouldn't take any notice at all.

[dusk]

:yes catnip toys get sadly neglected by all cats I've ever had too. contrary animals :)

[Jo Jo]

Oooh, one of my cats loves bleach as well. Mind you, he also loved catnip in the UK, but hasn't been at all interested in catnip in NZ - I wonder if it's any different?

[Myrkk]

feliway is a pheromone pretender. As with catnip[30% of cats are immune to catnip], some cats respond to it and others don't. As someone else suggested the best thing is to try it in the house and see how they react there.
The suggestion of putting a blanket or some other thing that smells of you and your home in with the cats when they travel is a good one. It really helps them calm down if they can smell something familiar. Perhaps put it in a sealed freezer bag or some such while your cat is in the cattery so it retains more of the smell of you and not the smell of the cattery prior to use.