Is Sedation Bad for Boops???

[wschoops]

I will be moving to New York (about a six hour trip minimum, 2 flights and a taxi ride) and Boops is coming with me.  I will need to have him sedated on the plane and I was wondering if this was the best choice.  Also, how much does it cost and what are the repurcussions, i.e., recovery time and side effects?  any comments are welcome!

[HelpinUtah]

I'm not sure if the cabin pressures cause discomfort - my mother's cat seemed fine.  And, Rusty did not get sick.  I think it depends on each cat.  The sedation they give is like a kitty valium or something along those lines and they are not out cold.  Sometimes it just make them more obnoxious like with my cats.  My cats used to always yell in the car the whole way to the vet and back and so that's why we sedated them for our trip and it made them worse.  That's why I would ask the vet more questions about what he is planning to give your Boops for the flight.  He might be able to answer a lot of your questions about the flight too.  Like I said, Rusty did great.  Most people did not even know he was on the flight with my mother - he was under her seat in his enclosure an was very good and when he would cry people thought it was a baby on the plane.  

Please chat with your vet and get more details and I think it'll make you feel better!  :)  

[wschoops]

Thanks for the advice.  He's never been sedated before (besides when he got fixed) and other than being really pissed off afterward, he seemed OK, but this is such a long time for him to be out of it.  He is one of the most skittish and frightened cats when it comes to leaving the house, especially in his carrier (he's a true scaredy-cat).  He's yells the whole trip in the car too.  I'm just worried it will become a nightmare like what you've been through.  Does it hurt him to go through the cabin pressure changes on the plane?  Will it make him sick?  Or does it all depend on the individual?

[HelpinUtah]

When my hubby and I traveled across country and drove, hubby drove the truck and I drove the car with the cats in their carrier in the back!  OMG!!! It was horrible!  The vet gave us something to sedate them and all it did was make them louder!  My one cat turned into a mountain lion!!!  It was the worst trip!  I finally had to stop giving it to them so that I could get them to quiet down.  My mother flew across country from PA to Utah with her cat, Rusty, and he was not sedated and he was very quiet and good.  He would cry every now and then, but nothing horrible.

What does your vet say?  I would definitely ask all these questions.  I honestly think mine did better without!  LOL!!!

Good luck!!

Janet