histeria

About 6 years ago I adopted 2 cats, a siamese and a black and white short haired domestic cats.
I think the black and white one, her name is Mimi, had bad experiences, it took long time to trust us. Now she is very affectionate, but still when I brush her or do something what she does not like or scared from, she gets histerical, screams, runs away even ready to bite.
My problem is I am going to Europe for a longer period so I want to take the cats with me. I don't know even how to put her to the carrier to take her to the vet. and on the plane also, she be so scared she will be histerical again.
If I have to put harness on her, or give her some sedative before, it will be a big problem too. I don't want to scare her,
Please give me some advice what to do to make her feel safe and loved even when I have to do something what she does not like.
Thanks : Aniko Kovesi

Oh wow! That will be a very scary experience for them. I do hope you are going to Europe for a long time, longer than would be possible to have a catsitter or have a relative look after them. It's a lot for them to go through if it's just a couple months.

Put your kitties in the carrier butt first so it's not as scary for them. Also, sedatives in airplanes can have bad effects due to the interaction between the drugs and the altitude, and it's easy to overdose the cat. Discuss this with your vet very carefully. And fly on an airline that will not make you put them in cargo but will let them be up in the cabin with you, esp for a flight that long.

As for getting the cats used to carriers, leave the carrier out with the door off for a while, with a towel or old t-shirt or something that is comfy, and put some treats in it. Leave it like that for a few days, offering encouragement if you see them in it. Don't force the issue at all, though. Then put the door back on, but leave it open for a few more days. Same thing. Then when you see one of them in the carrier, shut the door for just a couple minutes, sit outside of it, and give them treats and praise and pets while they're in it. Then let them out. Leave the carrier out, door open, from now until you have to use it. You'll find in no time that they'll want to take naps in it! The first time you take them somewhere in it, it should be somewhere pleasant. If you do all this and then take them to the vet's and that's it, you may find it undo all your work. It's better to do something like take them somewhere neutral or happy so they don't associate the carrier with bad things.

And look into Feliway for her behavior problems. It smells like a happy, calm cat so there is nothing threatening about her environment.

You can't just take your cats! You must get info. from the customs/gov'ts of all countries you want to go to and see if they'll allow them in. It's quite likely (sorry!) that some won't. England has a policy, for instance, of keeping all domestic pets in quarantine there for SIX months before allowing them to go with you, and may have strict regs about which shots are needed. Put them into the carrier (front-loading vs top?) backwards, and ask your vet about everything else.

I would agree that keeping them home is the safest bet. Harder for you maybe, but definitely easier on them


http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/37/Be...t-Carrier.html

Originally Posted by akovesi

About 6 years ago I adopted 2 cats, a siamese and a black and white short haired domestic cats.
I think the black and white one, her name is Mimi, had bad experiences, it took long time to trust us. Now she is very affectionate, but still when I brush her or do something what she does not like or scared from, she gets histerical, screams, runs away even ready to bite.
My problem is I am going to Europe for a longer period so I want to take the cats with me. I don't know even how to put her to the carrier to take her to the vet. and on the plane also, she be so scared she will be histerical again.
If I have to put harness on her, or give her some sedative before, it will be a big problem too. I don't want to scare her,
Please give me some advice what to do to make her feel safe and loved even when I have to do something what she does not like.
Thanks : Aniko Kovesi

Click to expand...

I wouldn't advise taking a high strung cat on a long trip like that. If you think your cat is traumatized now, imagine what a plane ride will do. Cats go into the cargo area along with all of the luggage, and it's cold in there, and really, really noisey. Your cat will be terror stricken by the time it arrives.

I suggest asking around to your friends and family and co-workers and see if any of them can cat sit for you, preferably inside your own home so that the cats aren't taken from an environment that they are relatively comfortable in.

As someone else said, you can't just up and decide to take a pet. There is a strict regime of shots, plus most places have an extended quarantine period, which means they are in some shelter in a cage.

And then there is the trip back too.

Travelling is stressful to humans, imagine what it does to a smaller body like a kitty.

Thank you very much all your opinion, I was thinking to take them with me only if I am going back to live in Europe. I also have 2 birds to take with me, so it is a liittle difficult. If I am going back to visit for a month or so, I have a girlfriend who take's care of them.
Aniko Kovesi

I have no advice for you, but just wanted to say good luck! I know it must be hard to figure out the safest and most comfortable thing for your kitties.

A friend of mine bought her cat a 1st class ticket to ride with her in a carrier, on the seat beside her when she moved back to Holland years ago, and there was no problem at all about bringing her into the country (from Canada). I don't remember now if the plane was Air Canada or KLM, and they've probably changed their policy by now, but you could always inquire.

Originally Posted by Larke

England has a policy, for instance, of keeping all domestic pets in quarantine there for SIX months before allowing them to go with you, .

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We have the pet passport scheme now which allows pets into the country without quarantine. It does take about 6 months to prepare however (paperwork, getting all the right shots etc), so if there's any chance you'd be coming to England you need to bear that in mind.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Cats go into the cargo area along with all of the luggage, and it's cold in there, and really, really noisey. Your cat will be terror stricken by the time it arrives.

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Actually you can take your cat in a soft carrier under the seat (where you could bring it up on you lap during flight to calm it down). If you are not flying yourself, then you would have to send the cat in cargo. Also most airlines are pretty strict about flying in certain temperatures, i.e., too hot or too cold.

We flew a little Siamese to California last July 6th and had to ensure we got all the shots and the health certificate before the flight. You definitely need to check out what is required by the country you will be entering.

If your poor kitty is this stressed, it might be better in the long term to let her stay where she is with someone who loves her and will take good care of her even though you would miss her terribly, I'm sure.

Thank you very much for all of your help.
I am going to Hungary. There are no quarantines there.
I will need health certificates for them. And they will need their shots. They did not have shots since they are with me, because they never go outside.
First when I got them they got shots and the siamese was very sick from on eof the shot.
I will try my best I will take them only if I move back in Hungary for ever.