I've never used one so can't recommend any. You might ask on the Savannah Enthusiasts FB group if you're a member. I remember a number of people posting about them during the past year.
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Moving with a nervous cat
- Thread starter Snookie
- Start date
I would be cautious of calming collars. I know one of mine and one of Trish's cats almost got choked using the Sentry calming collar. It is supposed to be breakaway but it does not. There are sprays using the same ingredients you can use, or get the collar but put it in the room or on a crate or something else instead of the cats neck. It did have a pretty good calming effect on my nervous cat.
NikkiA
Site Supporter
We share our lives with a very nervous F3, Jarvis. Jarvis takes Soliliquin, which is a treat that the vet prescribed, which helps him be calmer and less anxious. He also eats a dry food (hills- which I wish he didn't need- but which does seem to reduce his anxiety) designed to lower his stress level, and we have feliway multi cat diffusers. He has a safe room, and a place in the living room he can retreat to when everything gets to be too much for him. No one if these things alone is enough to take him calm and relaxed. All together though they really do make a difference for him.
Jarvis also used to freak out when I touched him, let alone tried to pick him up, like your guy. He used to not come near me unless I was sleeping. Gradually, over time, we changed that. I felt that I needed to be able to pick him up for his own safety.
We worked on positive reinforcement, and I tried to figure out what I was doing that was scaring him. Fast forward 3+ years, and I can pick Jarvis up at will, carry him for short periods of time, and he gets in bed, under the covers, and snuggles with me most nights. Jarvis is food motivated, so I used treats and his favorite foods to gain his cooperation. Gradually, we discovered Jarvis doesn't like to have his back, shoulders, or torso touched, but loves chin rubs, head pats, and belly rubs.
Jarvis is also play motivated, and when I'm home, is usually within 10 feet of me.
Try to find something your little guy likes, whether it is petting or playing or praise, and focus on positive reinforcement. He may be like my guy, and just need a heck of a lot of reassurance and positive reinforcement.
Jarvis also used to freak out when I touched him, let alone tried to pick him up, like your guy. He used to not come near me unless I was sleeping. Gradually, over time, we changed that. I felt that I needed to be able to pick him up for his own safety.
We worked on positive reinforcement, and I tried to figure out what I was doing that was scaring him. Fast forward 3+ years, and I can pick Jarvis up at will, carry him for short periods of time, and he gets in bed, under the covers, and snuggles with me most nights. Jarvis is food motivated, so I used treats and his favorite foods to gain his cooperation. Gradually, we discovered Jarvis doesn't like to have his back, shoulders, or torso touched, but loves chin rubs, head pats, and belly rubs.
Jarvis is also play motivated, and when I'm home, is usually within 10 feet of me.
Try to find something your little guy likes, whether it is petting or playing or praise, and focus on positive reinforcement. He may be like my guy, and just need a heck of a lot of reassurance and positive reinforcement.
Ok since I cant really lock him up for 3 weeks given the circumstances. Do you think spraying feliway and keeping a cat collar or two around will help him? I too worry about not being able to pick him up because my fear is there will be an emergency. Ok so feliway and collars around the room? will that help? please and thanks everyone
SavannahLuv
Site Supporter
Like some of the others said, there's no way to know, other than trying them. I would definitely try the Feliway & collars. Hopefully your fur kid will be one of the ones who does great with them and it will help the move go smoothly. Since in a hotel, I'd also recommend you make sure to put a do not disturb sign on the door or let the front desk know so house-keeping doesn't visit the room when you are away. That way you are there to comfort your girl when any "strangers" are in the room or maybe you could take her for a walk or somewhere else when the room needs cleaned so that doesn't stress her out anymore with a strange person in her space making noise cleaning/vacuuming. My F2 boy loves walks on his harness, but when in more public places he prefers to go for rides in his cat stroller. Sounds like your girl isn't the best on a harness so perhaps a walk in a carrier or stroller or even a ride in the car depending on how she does with that.
NikkiA
Site Supporter
I'd call your vet. Explain that he is anxious, and ask about anti-anxiety medication. As I said, my boy is on Soliliquin, which is on the more mild end of the spectrum. My guy is also on an anti-anxiety food. I'd ask your get about these two options, or possibly a prescription, if you think you can pull him (I can't pill my boy, he spits the pills out, that is why we use medicated food and a medicated treat).
I had a bad experience with a sentry collar, So I would not recommend them. As others have said, they are not breakaway. I don't think it will do any good to have them around, without him wearing one.
Feliway. I have had zero luck with the spray. The plugins work better for my guy. i think you tried the plugin, I'd buy several of them, and if you are not going to keep him in one room, put one plugin per room.
If he doesn't like being picked up please use the suggestion I made before and get him familiar with a crate. I would now add that you should feed him in the crate as well. If you have a hard time picking him up, you need some way of confining and controlling him if the need arises, e.g., when housekeeping comes by to clean the room. Make the crate his fun place and his safe place, it could save you a lot of grief in the future.
Agreed with Patti, if he doesn't like being picked up being able to get him thinking the crate is a good place to be is the best idea...one large enough not to feel too claustrophobic in and as she suggests feeding him in there so he associates it with good things.
As others have said, it's hard to know how things will go... the suggestion of asking your vet about anti-anxiety meds might be a good move also.
As others have said, it's hard to know how things will go... the suggestion of asking your vet about anti-anxiety meds might be a good move also.