My cat hates the car and his travel box (plastic with wire mesh). He claws at the boxes air vents / grill and goes a bit crazy when we drive, which leads to pulled off claw sheaths and a bit of bleeding. How do I stop him from doing this? Is there any solution other than sedating him?
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1Kitten mittens?– GaryCommented Jul 21, 2015 at 22:44
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Does this only happen when you're driving, or does it happen whenever he's confined to the carrier? Also, when you put him in the carrier, does he seem frightened?– Kate PaulkCommented Jul 22, 2015 at 11:40
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Only when I'm driving. When I put him in he seems distressed, when I drive he seems to be genuinely frightened– Scott EdwardsCommented Jul 22, 2015 at 11:41
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3 Answers
I would suggest cutting the cat's claws immediately before transporting him. Make sure to use proper clippers designed for use on cats. Another suggestion is to get a different cat carrier, one that the cat is less likely to get their claws caught on. They make tote bag type carriers that are constructed from heavy cloth materials like nylon rather than hard plastics, which may work better for him. You could also try covering particular problem areas with a towel or something, as long as it doesn't block all the carrier's ventilation. Cloth is of course porous, so air could get through, but it might become too hot if all openings are completely covered.
Have you tried using a product called Feliway? It is plugged into the wall and is used for stressful situations. They also have a spray and suggest spraying the carrier a few minutes before you travel. You can read more about it both on the Feliway site and Amazon. It's on cheap.
In extreme situations, talk to your vet; there are sedatives which can be used to tranquilize the cat somewhat for transport. They aren't risk free, but used rarely and in appropriate dosages they can be appropriate for the most skittish animals.
Note that over-grooming is a common stress behavior for many animals. Think of humans biting their nails.
