Motion sickness or travel sickness is very common in cats. Cats typically do not adapt to change very well, and any sudden change in their environment like traveling can be quite stressful and nerve-wracking.
Motion sickness in cats can last anywhere from 1-4 Hours. In some cases where you’ve been traveling long distances, the cat will take a full day to recover. If the cat experiences mild symptoms it will be gone in under an hour but if the symptoms are severe then it will take up to a day.
For cats that present with mild motion sickness symptoms like inactivity, vocalizations, and drooling. It can take anywhere from 1-4 hours for the cat to fully recover as the body bounces back fast as the balance is restored, provided the motion or movement come to a halt.
Car travels are normally hated by cats as the journey is stressful and there are more swift movements and contributing factors. Such as winding roads, bumpy lanes, speeding, and bad driving which
Cats that display moderate to severe symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and defecating will take longer to recover from the sickness as it takes more time for the cat’s body to settle and operate as normal. These symptoms can be caused by excessive movement or the cat’s inability to adapt to change.
Cats that have anxiety along with motion sickness can be very difficult to handle and may present with the most severe symptoms of the sickness. This is because anxiety and stress activate the stress response and the cat’s body reacts accordingly to deal with the problem.
When the cat is in this state including nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms from the motion sickness it could take a longer time for the cat to fully recover and calm down. As the cat is in shock mentally and physically ill from the imbalance.
All these factors affect the severity of motion sickness in the cat and will ultimately decide the recovery time or how long the sickness will last.
What to do if my cat is still sick after a day?
If your cat is still sick a day after traveling you shouldn’t be concerned as some cats take a longer time to restore balance and for nausea and other symptoms to reverse. While some cats bounce back really fast others don’t for several reasons.
1. Keep the cat hydrated with about 7-9 Ounces of water per day.
2. If the cat is vomiting and presents with diarrhea, withhold foods for 12-24 hours.
3. Administer Maropitant citrate which is an antiemetic used to treat vomiting and motion sickness in cats. Or any other over-the-counter feline medications
4. If nothing works and symptoms go on for more than two days visit the vet immediately as the cat could be at risk for dehydration.
Certain cats are affected more badly by motion sickness since they have sensitive stomachs and the constant movement may cause a variety of other symptoms like vomiting, defecating, and other digestional problems. This could take a few days to come right and is completely normal for the symptoms to last for more than a day.
To speed up the recovery the vet should provide some sort of relief by administering the appropriate treatment until the symptoms stop. In some cases, the motion sickness would’ve caused an adverse reaction in the cat’s body causing the cat to not hold food, feel tired and cause lack appetite. Only a qualified vet would be able to diagnose and treat.
Ways to prevent motion sickness in cats?
When traveling it’s always best to prepare in advance so that you are able to prevent the cat from getting motion sickness. Most of the time fear and anxiety are the contributing factors that make cats sick.
If you start planning in advance and acclimate them to the feeling of traveling, chances are that they will do significantly better with each trip.
But for now, you can try the following ways that work best to prevent them from getting sick.
1. Help keep the cat’s anxiety levels down by using positive reinforcement techniques.
2. The Use of calming sprays like the Relaxivet Calming spray which works great for keeping anxiety and stress away.
3. Ensure they are comfortable in their carriers by adding everything they need.
4. Car conditioning will help your cat get used to traveling.
5. RESCUE REMEDY pet drops are a great natural calming aid.
6. Provide fresh air and enough water and treats for the journey.
7. Entertain the cat with its favorite toy as it serves as a distraction, catnip-filled toys are a genius way for them to remain occupied while calm at the same time.
8. Withholding food 12 hours before travel can greatly reduce the effects of motion sickness.
9. Keep the car controlled by controlling the temperature and sound to create a soothing environment.
10. Anti-nausea medication can be administered before the ride to make sure they are fine for the ride.
Can a cat die from motion sickness?
Motion sickness is very common for both pets and humans. While the symptoms may be the severe worst-case scenario the cat will have severe nausea, excessive vocalizations, and an upset stomach.
Motion sickness is not fatal, meaning your cat won’t die from the sickness. However, if the cat has underlying health issues, motion sickness can amplify its severity of it causing it to worsen.
For example, if a cat has digestion problems and they are affected by the most severe symptoms of motion sickness. This can aggravate their pre-existing problems and make it worse. Since motion sickness causes vomiting, and upsets the feline’s digestional tract.
Dramamine For Cats.
Dimenhydrinate better known as Dramamine is an easy over-the-counter medication that is used to treat nausea and motion sickness in cats. Dramamine is an antihistamine that inhibits stimulation of the vestibular system of the cat’s brain. This medicine acts to bypass erratic movements preventing the inner ear from being stimulated.
Without the medicine, any excessive movement or overstimulation of the inner ear will result in dizziness, nausea, vomiting, drooling, and inactivity, as the body responds to the swift change in motion. These symptoms are what’s referred to as motion sickness.
Dramamine works really well to prevent motion sickness and is safe to use on cats. This drug is not approved for use in animals by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but it is prescribed legally by veterinarians as an extra-label drug.
How much Dramamine to give a cat?
While Dramamine is safe to use on cats it’s very important to get the right dosage in order to prevent any side effects and any other adverse effects which can put the cat’s health at risk.
The correct dosage of Dramamine for cats is 12,5mg every 8-12 hours. This means that Cats Should take 1/4 Of the Dramamine 50mg tablet. By no means should this dosage be increased unless advised by a veterinarian.
While the normal dosage of Dramamine for cats is 12,5mg the dosage can increase significantly for much larger cats. Felines between 10-12 pounds should use an increased dosage of 12,5 – 20 mg. However, before you administer the drug consult with your local vet first.
Will Dramamine make my cat sleep?
One of the most common side effects is drowsiness. This can cause the cat to sleep since it contains diphenhydramine which is known for drowsiness as a side effect.
However, every cat reacts differently to the drug. Some cats might react to it by sleeping while some will feel drowsy. If you want something that induces sleep you can use melatonin since it works really well in promoting rest thus making the cat fall off to sleep.
Related Questions
1. How to cure motion sickness in cats? You may administer anti-nausea medication that is feline-friendly. You must also withhold food but provide enough water and give room for the cat to have fresh air.
2. How to tell if my cat has motion sickness? You will know by the symptoms such as drooling, lethargy, lack of energy, vocalizations, and nausea. Sometimes the cat will present with unfamiliar behaviors.
3. Can Benadryl kill a cat? Yes, Benadryl can kill a cat if used at an incorrect dosage. This will cause the cat to overdose which can lead to death.
