Has anyone else used this medication to ease getting a former feral into a crate? Any advice based on your experiences is welcome. Next Saturday is moving day! Thanks.
I have never used any medication - vets have never offered that ā¦I would have considered it with one cat but only onle as she was a bit āshockyā but did fine in the end.
First Good Luck - I have moved ferals, derals = domesticated ferals and domesticated cats ā¦ always stressful for all of us !
Plan early - prep carrier ā¦ layer with pee pads - top t with folded towel then a small loose hand towel (to hide under).
-
all towels should have home smell for comfort.
Cover carrier with towelā¦they want to be āinvisibleā. -
try to get the cat comfortable with the carrier in his area so he can investigate ā¦ pitch a treat in there ā¦
If he is one who only goes in once ā¦just make sure he is loaded EARLY before you think he needs to be ā¦in case of last minute issues ā¦while he may be unhappy longer He will be SAFE.
- if he pees the pee pad will grab it away from him
I have never used any medication ā¦ moved from houses, barns ā¦ tame and the wildest of the wild.
All seem to āsettleā a bit after crated ā¦
Donāt release til after everything has quieted down then wait a bit longer remembering he may be upset but he is SAFE in the carrier.
- Special note ā¦do not dump all the litter box contents out or get a new litter box ā¦KEEP some of the old litter - same box for his box at the new destinationā¦ do not add new litter for days ā¦ he will scent to his box and this will give him some comfort.
if he is indoor cat he will need a quiet room on arrival and awhile before released
if he is releasing to barn / again his own room for days
if barn release ā¦ after days ā¦ before releasing . Scatter
a bit of his litter box content at the outside corners of the barnā¦ this tells him ā¦1. He is home 2. Other cats to stay out ā¦ a new owner has arrived.
Good Luck Jingles for the move ā¦ just do everything earlier than planned ā¦
AO ~ Always Optimistic
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Not for a feral, but Iāve used ace to transport my cat when we moved cross country and spent two days driving and she hates the car. Your mileage may vary, and Iāve had our new vet tell me that he feels ace doesnāt really affect most cats, but it worked well with getting mine to settle down (aka sleep most of the way). GABA is probably more effective for what youāre needing though I have no personal experience with it.
Gabapentin certainly knocks me out! If that was a vetās preference to ease moving stress, I wouldnāt have a problem with it. Feliway might also be a good add on, maybe prior to the move as youāre packing up, and then in the new place as you settle in.
Can you also help prep kitty by introducing the carrier and perhaps feeding in it prior to the move?
My vet has me give it to my cat 1-2 hours before vet visits to make him less combative during the vet visits. It also slows him down a bit and makes him less lethal. It has seemed to help. Heās pretty easy to transport so I canāt comment on that aspect.
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I am only moving a few blocks away, so the transport shouldnāt be a problem. I am mainly concerned about getting him in the carrier. So that is good to hear that the medication slows him down a bit. What dosage do you give?
SO if itās all and just about getting him in the carrier
and
- enticing him inside is not working
and you have only one chance
get him on the same level as the carrierā¦on a table is easiest for ācarrier installer = youāā¦ perhaps eating a treat
come up behind him ā¦stroke his back
ONE HAND
SCRUFF HIM ā¦other hand cover his eyes for a second
AND THRUST him in carrier
push a bit farther to back of the carrier
release
Slam the door hopefully before he tries to backs out or turns aroundā¦ check closure mechanism
cover with towel
sit near the carrier quietly to allow him to know youāre there and heās ok.
also remember ā¦sometimes the move happens and then you have to return to get a cat ā¦
it will all work out ā¦
Sending you and your cat Jingles for a smooth relocation ~
AO ~
Be Brave and Congratulations on your new home !
I have a friend with a top load carrier. Itās brilliant. Far easier to drop a cat in and shut than trying to stuff them in the small front door.
Like so: https://www.chewy.com/frisco-two-door-top-load-plastic/dp/149277
Highly recommend! 
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Thatās the method I am going to try. I am just petrified that he will get outside when the movers are here and that will be the end. I will try to be brave!!! Thank you.
That does look good. I wish it didnāt have all the holes on the sides where he could get some traction!
Given the entire scenario if you can not get him in the carrier ā¦ Iād be inclined to contain him in a bathroom or small room that will be off limits to the movers.
Close door / post a sign DO NOT OPEN ! Put chair in front of door ā¦and a bell on the door ā¦ tell EVERY ONE OF THE MOVERS ā¦do not open ! Nothing to be moved out of that room except his litter box and only with him ā¦ by you.
BUT IDEALLY
Catch him earlier than moving morning ā¦ if he pees in carrier no big deal ā¦ just really important to get him container before movers ideally in the carrier.
We contained our cats EARLY = moving morning - transported to new location - still in carriers, placed in quiet room where movers would not be working ā¦like master bathroom / close door ā¦ BEFORE THE MOVE.
Yes it was a stressful day for all but a Safe cat day.
I understand your level of panic ā¦ Iāve lived it many times
Youāll both get through this ā¦ Jingles & AO !
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Is he feral feral or handleable feral or some other mix? Indoor or outdoor kitty?
Weāve moved cats a few times in the past few years, including long distances with overnight stops. Fun! :dead:
For when the movers are there, have him in his crate, in an empty room, with the door shut. Lock it if you can. Layers of security, and out of the action, so heās not getting freaked out. If you can, make that his room for a few days, so heās not getting lost and hiding in a larger space. If heās your barn kitty, the tack room works, and youāll want to keep him in for a couple weeks to reset his cat GPS to where home is now.
24" wire crates are small enough that theyāll fit in the backseat of most cars but large enough that your average cat can have a bed and a small litter box. Itās also pretty easy to herd or chase or otherwise convince a cat to walk in on their own, if heās really not particularly handleable. Itās enough space where you could keep him in there for a few days.
If heās handleable but carrier resistant, and you have to go with the smaller plastic cat carrier, wrap him in a towel before you stuff him in. Heāll work out of it once in there, but taking the legs out of play really makes it easy. I find butt first, with the carrier tipped up on end, is the method of least resistance. The top load carriers set that up without having to put it up on end.
Best of luck! Hope it goes well!
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My vet did prescribe Gabapentin for taking one of my cats to vet - told us to give it 2 hrs prior to visit.
That said, be ready for Options A, B, Cā¦ can you handle him easily? I had a semi-feral living in my house that, until the moment came to put her in carrier (exterminator was coming) I didnāt realize our relationship did not extend to putting my hands around her body. I was able to pet her, so I thought picking her up to put in crate wouldnāt be a big deal - and worst case, I did know how to āscruff and stuffā - never failed me before! WELL - the moment my hands went round her body, I had hold of a whirling biting scratching Tasmanian devil and had to let go, hands bloodied. I also tried the āscruff & stuffā method - failed, more blood (mine). She stayed in closed bathroom during exterminator visit, Then I went to Urgent Care to get stitches and 2 strong antibiotics for bite wounds
The other unexpected cat transport event I had happen - had a cat that was shy but could be handled, needed to go to vet for routine shots. On the way he started open mouthed panting and struggling to get out of carrier. Arrived, vet took one look and went into full ācodeā mode - they thought he was dying, held him down for x-rays, oxygen, fluids - 30 mins later he was still open mouthed panting, so I asked them to let me take him home. Minutes out of the box he was fine and dandy again, asking for dinner. (This is the one they gave me Gabapentin for his next visit - havenāt tried it yet, mind).
So, just wanted to share some possibilities, not to panic you, just so youāre ready in case. I would def try the Gabapentin, supposedly safe for cats. Can you borrow a Have-A Heart trap (raccoon sized) in case you canāt load him in carrier?
Bless you for taking care of a feral, they deserve love too! Even if they do result in interesting emergency room visits, sigh.
A friend of mine has two former ferals that are at the āyou can pet me but not pick me upā stage and she gives them gabapentin prior to transporting them or when the vet comes over (sheās in the UK and their vet does house-calls).
She says it works well.
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One pill at 100 mg.
And another vote for a carrier with a top opening.
We learned this trick from a friend who takes ferals for spay/neuter/shots and then tries to tame them and find homes for them. Her vet gave her gabapentin and told her to mix a capsule with food, feed in a closed room and then put groggy kitty in the crate for transport. It worked so well for her that we tried it with our formerly feral, opinionated house cat who had not been out of the house for 15+ years - also worked really well. I donāt think any of them actually got the whole capsule but got enough to mellow them out and make them easier on the vet.
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Thatās exactly the stage that this guy is in, so I am glad to hear it.
Thanks Peggy and Betsyk. I am feeling more confident now. I will let you all know how it turns out!
Agree with this and with ZuZuās earlier post. ZuZu knows her ācat stuffā!
The only thing that I would add is to put carriers out with doors open weeks or even over a month before the move. Leave the door open with a blanket, toys and a bit of dried food/treats periodically. The carrier becomes a part of the house and daily life and they learn not to fear it which makes it easier to get them in it on moving day. Iāve always periodically brought a carrier out and put it near a cat tree so they can be around it without being wary of it, they end up playing or sleeping in it.
I just relocated over 2000 miles away with six cats, when we got there I left the carriers out with the doors open for them to realize that they arenāt a bad thing after the move. When they started playing and sleeping in them again I put them away in storage. Itās to the point now that if I bring a carrier out they run and jump in.
[B]GOOD LUCK !!!
Jingles & AO for a smooth move !!![/B]
