:) Benadryl on cats

Hello and welcome to the cat site

I don't have any advice for you regarding the benadryl but I have split off your posts into a brand new thread so it can get the attention it deserves

As far as flaming, that means being unnecessarily mean to someone, calling them names, etc. I hope you'll find that this forum is a very nice place to be because we do not allow that sort of thing

I never recommend sedating cats for any kind of travel. Cats don't react to meds very well - even if the vet say ok. Benedryl, Tylonal, etc. should not be given to cats.

Aspirin can be given ONLY with a vet's guidance (for arthritis). NEVER give human meds to a cat without strict ok from a vet.

Just cover the carrier when she is traveling.

Two drops of Bach's Rescue Remedy 1/2 hour before car rides and some Feliway spray are really good for calming cats. Bach's RR is at health food stores and Feliway is at pet supply stores.

Welcome to TCS, hope we can help.

It is safe to give benadryl to cats - many people do for cats with allergies. Like was explained to you, the bendryl will make them sleepy. Our kitty has allergies, and the dose was 25mg twice a day (straight benadryl - diphenhydramine, I think is the generic) for a 10 pound cat. That's half the adult dose (just required cutting a pill in half). But also like many others that tried to give a cat benadryl - we only tried once. It is VERY bitter tasting to them and makes them foam and drool. The liquid or pill doesn't usually go down, and they run around freaking out from the taste, flinging drool everywhere. It is a MOST unpleasant experience for everyone (usually), not worth it, and requires a LOT of clean up - and for nothing and a lot of unnecessary trauma, because the drug didn't get in the kitty.

That said, all of our cats are feral rescues. They didn't like being picked up or confined. But like any being that has a caretaker, you have to do the right thing for them whether they like it or not.

What we did was pick them up every day. We would immediately put them back down and not try to hold them for any length of time. Just - up - and down, and then give them a treat. Each went at their own pace, but when they stopped completely tensing up just from being picked up (knowing they weren't going to be confined and knowing they were going to get a treat), we'd start holding them for a couple of seconds before putting them down. The trick is to do this every day - even multiple times a day - so kitty "learns" that being picked up doesn't mean bad things.

When it comes to going to the vet, we learned NOT to talk about it (if you live with anyone) for at least two days before the visit. We'd take the crate out that two days before and just leave it out right next to where we feed them - like it's just another piece of furniture or something. They'd still have to come for "dinner" (we let them free feed on dry food and feed two wet meals each day - both are called "dinner" ). Over the two days, they'd get used to the crate being there and ignore it. We also randomly call them for treats - so that the day of, when it's time to put kitty in the crate - we call for treats - and pick up kitty and quickly put kitty in crate.

The trick is to not be nervous, visualize yourself doing it - don't throw off any vibes that gives your cat a clue that something's going on - and don't hesitate, just do it.

We also use Feliway and Bach's Rescue Remedy anyway. We live in a very small home with a lot of cats. But Feliway is a synthetic hormone that mimics the "friendly" markers in cats' cheeks - it helps reduce stress by making the area "smell" friendly (to a kitty). The idea would be to buy the Feliway and spray it directly on the crate (inside). You can also get a t-shirt really sweaty, and put it in there. Having a comforting scent (yours) with her may also help.

Bach's Rescue Remedy is made from flower essences, and is a blend also designed to reduce stress and promote calm. You can add a few drops to the water bowl - you can also dab a little directly on the cat - behind ears, at the base of the tail, and under the chin (this one's important, because it wafts up into the nose). You do NOT want to "douse" your cat with it - just a little dabbed here and there.

There are a lot of people here with cats that hate the crate. It is heartbreaking to have to take them to the vet - with them freaking out banging to get out or howling about how upset they are. Just keep talking to her out loud in a calm, quiet voice that you know how much she hates this, but it's just for a short time, and she'll be coming home, and you're going to give her kisses and treats for being SUCH a brave good girl!