Cat motion sickness is a very common problem, unlike many dogs who can ride comfortably in a car. Cats have a more difficult time overcoming car anxiety. Especially those cats who don’t go out very often, they only travel almost 2-3 times a year, so they will be highly nervous when riding. In addition, the constant motion of the vehicle and the noise of the engine may also disturb the cat and cause motion sickness.
Symptoms of motion sickness:
· lethargy, listlessness
· licking lips incessantly
· excessive drooling
· vomiting, diarrhea
· pacing, shaking, Anxiety, restlessness
Causes of motion sickness:
The main reasons cats are prone to motion sickness are the same as humans. It’s how we feel when what we see visually is different from what we feel in our inner ear (the innermost part of our ear, a highly sensitive area responsible for hearing and balance). Just as motion sickness is more common among children, young cats are more prone to motion sickness than adults. Because their inner ear structure is not fully developed, there is also a possibility that it is due to a lack of travel experience. They are not used to being in the car and feel different signals from the glasses and inner ear to the brain.
In addition to this, another reason for Mao Mao’s motion sickness may be emotional. They automatically associate the car with a trip to the hospital, causing anxiety and motion sickness symptoms.
Motion sickness prevention:
Motion sickness is an unavoidable event for individual cats, and the best way we can help them is to Get them used to staying in their suitcases. You can place the crate in his favorite sleeping area and familiarize himself with the space with toys and treats. When the suitcase can give it a full sense of security, let it get used to the space in the car step by step.
In addition, we can try these ways to help them reduce motion sickness:
1. Don’t eat within 4 hours before going out: Fasting can help reduce gastrointestinal nausea and the frequency of going to the toilet. Especially on long road trips. If the travel time is more than 4 hours, prepare the cat litter and toilet for the cat.
2. Keep the car cool and quiet: Play soft classical music. Keep the car ventilated and at a suitable temperature.
3. Let the surroundings smell like home: you can put some home clothes or a blanket in the cat’s suitcase to make it smell like home~
< p> 4. Distract his attention: Provide him with toys and snacks that he is very interested in and only appear when traveling, which can help the cat to divert his attention and calm down.
5. Frequent rest: When the cat has a motion sickness reaction, you can take it out of the car for a walk, and breathing fresh air can help it reduce the symptoms of nausea.
6. Drug treatment: Just like people, there are drugs that can help pets cope with motion sickness. Anxiety and motion sickness can be treated with appropriate medication in consultation with a veterinarian.
Note: Do not leave cats alone in the car; even on cloudy days, the temperature in the car will rise rapidly, which is easy to cause heat stroke.
