Any Cat-People are on here? Need advice...

MizzyMuffling · #1 02-23-2021, 05:19 AM

Hi, as some of you might know I've rescued a cat during lockdown in Panama and now I'm in the process of moving back to Germany and we've checked into a hotel while the movers are packing and loading today and tomorrow.
The night was not good, Jack is of course irritated but this early morning he was miauing nonstop, really complaining and being irritated. He got his food, his toys, I'm trying to calm him and pet him, right this second he's next to me on the bed and quiet but I'm really upset on what I could do to make him more comfortable.
I wanted to leave him in the hotel while I'll go back to the apartment during the move.
I feel so bad, he has is own bed here, his transportation bag and I've sprayed Feliway... Should I just leave him be?
He used the litter box and ate a little overnight.
Is this "normal" behavior? I wonder if it's because it's so pitch-black outside (we have a view of the ocean) and maybe it'll get better once it's light out...
Sorry... I just feel to helpless... Any tipps are welcome! Thank you!

**LifeTraveler** · #2 02-23-2021, 06:53 AM

His routine has been changed, and he knows something is going on. Animals sense a lot more than we give them credit for. You've made sure he has everything he needs, so there's not much more you can do for him other than sedate him, and you might not want to do that.

MizzyMuffling · #3 02-23-2021, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeTraveler

His routine has been changed, and he knows something is going on. Animals sense a lot more than we give them credit for. You've made sure he has everything he needs, so there's not much more you can do for him other than sedate him, and you might not want to do that.

Thank you! He did calm down for a while and is now hiding behind the curtain while I was taking a shower. I will leave him in the room and I've told service not to enter so he can calm down and have his quiet time with TV and AC :-)
Poor baby, I feel so bad for him...
Thank you again!

**sidewalker** · #4 02-23-2021, 10:00 AM

OH poor Jack. Well just be sure when you get where you need to be that he's kept indoors for a long while (mine were always strictly indoors) as they can freak out with the new surroundings.
I think a call to a vet might be a good idea, to see if he can write a scrip for something to calm him down.

Anyone know of any natural things he might be given ?? I dont know alot about cats.
Here is to hoping he settles in just fine.

MizzyMuffling · #5 02-23-2021, 10:12 AM

Thanks! There's a spray called "Feliway" which calms him and I sprayed his travel bag and his bed a bit with it. I just think it's the new surroundings and smells but we'll have 2 flights ahead of us and 2 more hotels, one for 1 month though in Germany. We'll be home in Germany on Monday... I will talk to the Vet but I hate to put him on something.
I will try and snuggle with him as much as I can...

yourself · #6 02-23-2021, 10:24 AM

If you are going to sedate him for the flight to Germany, you might want to test out the drugs on him now and make sure he does not have a paradoxic reaction.

(Thinking about little Sam who had a paradoxic reaction, escaped his enclosure, and spent a flight running up and down the plane for most of a trip... my ex was not happy)

If it works, he has a calm day without a ton of stress. If not, you have him contained in the hotel room while he bounces off the walls.

But, yeah, he is going to be distressed. When I moved from law school to Illinois, halfway across the country, little Sam took the distance of an entire Southern state to give up on the meowing. Just comfort him and when you get settled again, make sure you domesticate him to travel so that he gets used to it and does not protest. This did not work for Sam, but did work for Jack.

MizzyMuffling · #7 02-23-2021, 11:47 AM

Thanks & lol... sorry... I can see myself already on the plane with Jack hollering for 8 hours... They're going to give me a parachute to deplane over the Atlantic...
Will talk to the Vet, cannot hurt.
Thank you!

saskatchewanian · #8 02-23-2021, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzyMuffling

Thanks & lol... sorry... I can see myself already on the plane with Jack hollering for 8 hours... They're going to give me a parachute to deplane over the Atlantic...
Will talk to the Vet, cannot hurt.
Thank you!

I did sedate mine once when flying (a 1.5 hour flight) and my vet later told me that I should not have done that as it can cause heart and respiratory problems. (They were prescribed for road travel only I guess and I used them for multipurpose travelling.)

Granted that was 10 years ago so maybe sedation meds have changed in that time but...just thought I should mention it.

**LifeTraveler** · #9 02-23-2021, 05:03 PM

Even though cats are a lot more independent than dogs, they do have their routines also and can get quite snarky when removed from their regular surroundings. Mine HATED riding in the car, but that's because he knew that meant he was going to the vet office. I always had to put him in a carrier, or he would crawl under my driver's seat and I had hell getting him out.

MizzyMuffling · #10 02-24-2021, 09:26 AM

He was better last night and even played and ate something, used the litter-box. He does complain in the mornings a bit that I won't let him out on the balcony without his harness and leash which he also hates because he could fall off but other than that... he seems getting better.
He just doesn't know that he'll be on a plane on Friday and Sunday.. he'll be so pissed...

**patchouli** · #11 02-24-2021, 10:32 PM

I'm not real familiar with cats & traveling with them in tow....but maybe a stuffed animal (cat?) would help him on the flight - assuming he'll be crated for the entire trip.

MizzyMuffling · #12 02-25-2021, 05:18 AM

I actually have a "twin" for Jack but that would make his travel bag really crowded so I've decided against it.
I guess we'll have have to tough it out...

mauri23 · #13 02-25-2021, 04:04 PM

I wish both of you a safe trip home and hope you enjoy it back in our latitudinal lines

MizzyMuffling · #14 02-27-2021, 03:46 PM

Well... made it to Miami but not before Jack getting out of his harness at security in Panama, taking off line a torpedo, me after him, falling and getting black & blue & bloody and fearing he’ll run through some open door... he stopped at the farthest corner and cowered on the floor and I got him gently and he let me put on the harness again and I carried him back to security, him clinging to me tight. The security people watched my things, helped me put him back in the bag and cleaned up my blood.
It was to be honest traumatic and once at the gate I’ve cried.
He’s been an angel ever since.
I’m anxious about the same procedure tomorrow in Miami when I’ll finally fly home but I’ll do it differently this time, grabbing him more his neck. It’s only for a few seconds. Or I’ll cry and beg that they’ll allow me to leave him in the bag...
Wish me luck!

Edited by Admin to conform with PTO picture size - will add re-sized picture. pic

**sidewalker** · #15 02-28-2021, 09:13 AM

How terrifying that must have been for you Mizzy. Poor little guy. Glad he didnt escape outside or worse.....Wish they would rethink where you have to take him out of his crate so they can inspect it and maybe take to a smaller room.

MizzyMuffling · #16 02-28-2021, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidewalker

How terrifying that must have been for you Mizzy. Poor little guy. Glad he didnt escape outside or worse.....Wish they would rethink where you have to take him out of his crate so they can inspect it and maybe take to a smaller room.

I got some big bruises but I just read online that I could request a separate room which would at lease ease my mind... I hope they'll allow that for me later.

I'm emotional as it is and that makes me nervous on top of everything. I'll be crying the full 8 hours home I bet..

(poor seat neighbor... LOL).

MizzyMuffling · #17 02-28-2021, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzyMuffling

Well... made it to Miami but not before Jack getting out of his harness at security in Panama, taking off line a torpedo, me after him, falling and getting black & blue & bloody and fearing he’ll run through some open door... he stopped at the farthest corner and cowered on the floor and I got him gently and he let me put on the harness again and I carried him back to security, him clinging to me tight. The security people watched my things, helped me put him back in the bag and cleaned up my blood.
It was to be honest traumatic and once at the gate I’ve cried.
He’s been an angel ever since.
I’m anxious about the same procedure tomorrow in Miami when I’ll finally fly home but I’ll do it differently this time, grabbing him more his neck. It’s only for a few seconds. Or I’ll cry and beg that they’ll allow me to leave him in the bag...
Wish me luck!

Edited by Admin to conform with PTO picture size - will add re-sized picture. pic

Here's the runaway once we got to the hotel.... like an angel...

**LifeTraveler** · #18 02-28-2021, 05:39 PM

Like you, I would have freaked!! Thank goodness he didn't get somewhere he couldn't be reached. Best wishes for smooth sailing the rest of the way home.

MizzyMuffling · #19 03-01-2021, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeTraveler

Like you, I would have freaked!! Thank goodness he didn't get somewhere he couldn't be reached. Best wishes for smooth sailing the rest of the way home.

Made it! Jack even got his own business class seat next to me that little luxury terror tiger... all went well in Miami, it was a long journey but we're in good old Germany again.

Thanks everyone for your kind words and support!

**sidewalker** · #20 03-01-2021, 09:21 AM

willkommen zuhause

MizzyMuffling · #21 03-01-2021, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidewalker

willkommen zuhause

mauri23 · #22 03-01-2021, 10:49 AM

Ich hoffe, dass der Kulturschock nicht all zu groß ist

!

MizzyMuffling · #23 03-01-2021, 11:39 AM

Ich, war ja nur 14 Monate weg aber nach 14 Monaten Dauerschwitzen waren 7C total super!

Sorry for the exchange in German...

mauri23 · #24 03-01-2021, 04:01 PM

14 month is a long time if you consider how fast the world changed ! If you want to come for a coffee to Vienna, it's getting difficult right now even it's not far away

I felt like the 7 degrees are already like summer the last days but glad it's getting cold again before spring will be there pretty fast. So enjoy and rest - hopefully Jack is fine with our culture here :-) :-) and most of all I hope you are happy, but it seems you are doing well

!

MizzyMuffling · #25 03-02-2021, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mauri23

14 month is a long time if you consider how fast the world changed ! If you want to come for a coffee to Vienna, it's getting difficult right now even it's not far away

I felt like the 7 degrees are already like summer the last days but glad it's getting cold again before spring will be there pretty fast. So enjoy and rest - hopefully Jack is fine with our culture here :-) :-) and most of all I hope you are happy, but it seems you are doing well

!

Definitely have to visit Vienna, I have never been... One of my best friends lives in Kranjska Gora so I've been to Villach and around there a lot but will visit Vienna. It's on my bucket list!