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The post Can Cats Get Car Sick? Vet-Verified Facts & Info by Chris Dinesen Rogers appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Click to Skip Ahead Why Car Rides Are Stressful for Cats Risks of Motion Sickness & Stress Helping Your Cat Remain Calm A car ride often represents three things to your cat: change, a lack of control, and loss of freedom. Felines hate all of them, and this ramped-up anxiety and stress are even able to trigger vomiting or motion sickness in your kitty. It’s easy to see why when you consider it from a feline perspective. Dogs often go for rides for happy reasons, like trips to the dog park. However, the chances are your cat only goes to the vet when they leave their home, which teaches them that the car is a very stressful space over time. Why Car Rides Are Stressful for Cats Remember that cats are both predators and prey. Thus, they exhibit different coping styles when faced with unfamiliar situations, like riding in a car. They may take a proactive approach with a fight-or-flight response. It can include excessive vocalizations, hissing, and spitting. Felines may react passively by remaining motionless and curling up, perhaps to protect themselves. Cats don’t like change because their survival depends on their awareness of their environment, whether hunting or fleeing a predator. Putting them in a carrier takes away their control over their choice of how to react. That leaves them feeling vulnerable, thus causing stress and anxiety. From your pet’s point of view, it’s a big unknown. It can also be the memory of a past adverse experience. Think of how you might feel in such a situation. Your heart may race and you’re on high alert for anything you can detect about what might occur. It’s the same with your cat, especially if you rarely take them on car rides. You add things like sensations of the vehicle moving, and that leaves the makings of the perfect storm for motion sickness. Image Credit: RJ22, Shutterstock The Risks of Motion Sickness and Stress in Cats Motion sickness in itself isn’t harmful to your pet, but it is uncomfortable and incredibly stressful. The signs of motion sickness in cats include the following: Vocalization Panting Immobility or lethargy Pacing or restlessness Excessive drooling Vomiting Defecation The indirect consequences can be more severe. One study found that 28% of cat owners would take their pets to the vet more often if it weren’t such an ordeal. It also showed that 40% of cats hadn’t seen a vet for the past year. That’s especially risky for felines since they often hide signs of a problem until they can’t any longer. It becomes increasingly problematic when an issue occurs. Stress morphs into a safety concern for the vet and their staff handling the agitated animal. It can also hamper treatment efforts if the cat becomes aggressive. Sedation may be your vet’s only choice if they can’t handle your pet. Image Credit: africa_pink, Shutterstock Helping Your Cat Remain Calm Cats react differently to motion sickness. It’s helpful to consider prevention and treatment options on an individual basis. Sometimes the goal is to reduce the stress and anxiety associated with car rides. One effective way to curb stress is by getting your pet used to the carrier. One study found it an excellent way to make vet visits easier and even decrease exam times. A cat that is less anxious is more manageable to handle. You should also make the car ride more comfortable by keeping it at an optimal temperature. Make the trip as quick as possible with any available shortcuts, preferably in light traffic. Research suggests that species-appropriate music may have a calming effect. It includes frequencies within the feline vocal ranges and sounds of real cats. We also recommend withholding food for a few hours before you go. Put the open carrier on the floor to let your pet explore it on their terms. One study found that a feline facial pheromone product is an excellent stress preventive for short trips. You can add a piece of clothing to the carrier for something that smells like home to your cat. Here are some other helpful tips you might consider: Provide access to fresh water Use a carrier your cat is comfortable with Keep the car cool and quiet Offer special toys on trips Slowly start to desensitize your cat to the car Image Credit: Andy Gin, Shutterstock Medications Your vet may recommend medication in some cases. Some over-the-counter products may alleviate the stress that can trigger motion sickness. Prescriptions for anxiety and nausea also exist if these don’t alleviate the problem. The important thing is that you have options so that you needn’t avoid taking your cat to the clinic. However, the treatment plan depends on the individual animal. At the Clinic Making the vet experience pleasant can encourage positive associations with car rides and reduce the risk of motion sickness. High-value treats are a potent persuader for food-motivated felines. Don’t be surprised if your pet refuses the treat. The message is still hitting its mark. We suggest talking softly to your kitty to calm their fears. Cats get attached to their owners, making it an effective method. Final Thoughts Cats can get motion sickness because of the stress car trips cause in our pets. Felines despise change. A ride away from home couldn’t be a greater disruption to your pet’s everyday life. Fortunately, several things exist that can make it easier for your kitty and the vet. Anything you can do to calm your cat will make the examination quicker and less nerve-racking for everyone. Sources https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/motion-sickness-in-cats https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Felis_catus/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31132445/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2469925/   Featured Image Credit: RJ22, Shutterstock The post Can Cats Get Car Sick? Vet-Verified Facts & Info by Chris Dinesen Rogers appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post How to Stop My Cat From Peeing on My Bed: 8 Vet-Verified Tips & Tricks by Misty Layne appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Click to Skip Ahead Why Do Cats Pee on Beds Problems with the Litter Box Tips & Tricks Picture this scene—you’re home after a long day at work and finally ready to slip into bed and head off to dreamland. You throw the covers back, only to find a large wet spot; your cat has peed on your bed! Felines are usually pretty good about using their litter boxes, but sometimes cats can engage in inappropriate elimination, and it can absolutely put a strain on your relationship with kitty, especially if it’s reoccurring. So, how do you stop your cat from peeing on your bed? Well, the first thing to do is to determine why they’re peeing on your bed in the first place. While they could be doing so because of a behavioral problem, they could also be dealing with a medical issue, so figuring out the reason will help eliminate the behavior. Here’s a look at why cats pee on beds and how you can stop yours from doing so. Why Do Cats Pee on Beds Felines pee on beds (and in other inappropriate places) for a few reasons. Here’s a closer look at what those are. Image Credit: Billion Photos, Shutterstock Problems with the Litter Box Cats spend a fair amount of time in the litter box, so they’re picky about the kind of litter used in the box and where it is placed. If your cat’s litter box isn’t up to their standards, they will find somewhere else to use the bathroom. This will also happen if you aren’t cleaning out the litter box as often or as well as is needed. Anxiety Cats can suffer from anxiety, just like people can, only they have different ways of dealing with it. One of those ways could very well be peeing on the bed. How does that help? When your cat urinates, they leave behind pheromones that they find comforting, which makes the bed a safer place for them. Why would a cat be anxious? A cat can suffer anxiety for any number of reasons, including a move to a new home, a new person or pet in the house, fireworks, loud noises, construction, etc. Image Credit: Elena Rozhenok, Shutterstock Old Age Cats who are older can often suffer from joint issues that make it more difficult for them to get up and down or in and out of things. For some cats, getting up on the bed (especially if there’s a ramp or kitty stairs) could be simpler than getting in and out of the litter box. Older felines may also suffer cognitive decline as they age, which could cause them not to remember where the litter box is, resulting in them locating the next best flat surface, which could be your bed. Health Issues There are a plethora of health conditions or illnesses that could cause a cat to pee on your bed. Some of these include feline idiopathic cystitis, urinary tract infections, diabetes, kidney disease, bladder stones, and incontinence. The 8 Tips and Tricks to Stop Your Cat From Peeing on Your Bed Stopping your cat from peeing on your bed can take some time and patience. Once you have worked out the underlying cause of the behavior, typically changes to several aspects of your cat’s care and home environment are needed. Here are some tips and tricks to help you out! 1. Veterinary Check-Up When dealing with any form of inappropriate elimination, it’s important to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Book a consult with your vet who will examine your cat and may recommend other tests such as bloodwork, urine tests or imaging. If your cat is diagnosed with a medical condition then following your vet’s prescribed treatment plan is essential to stop your cat from peeing on your bed. Speak To a Vet Online From the Comfort of Your Couch! If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price! Click to Speak With a Vet 2. Fix the Litter Box Think your kitty has problems with the location of the litter box, the kind of litter being used, or how it’s being cleaned? Then, fix the issue! There will be some guesswork here, as you’ll likely need to try a few different types of litter to discover which your cat likes best or move the litter box around until you find the perfect place for it. One thing to remember when moving a litter box is that it can’t be too close to your pet’s food and water, and it shouldn’t be in a noisy area. When cleaning the litter box, ensure you scoop it each day and replace the litter fully once a week. If you have multiple cats in your home, you should have one litter box per cat, plus one extra, scattered around your house. Also, if cats with joint issues are having difficulty getting in and out of the litter box, get a lower litter box for them. Image Credit: Lightspruch, Shutterstock 3. Stress-Proof Your Home Okay, you probably can’t completely stress-proof your home, but if you know what’s causing your kitty to be anxious, you may be able to remove the stressor. Of course, this won’t work with something like a new baby in the house or a move to a new home; in those cases, it’s a matter of giving your pet time to get used to the changes that have occurred and giving them a safe place they can retreat to if needed. Hopefully once they are used to them, they should return to normal behaviors. If you can remove a stressor, though, the behavior should clear up more quickly. 4. Synthetic Pheromones Synthetic pheromones, like Feliway, are available as diffusers and sprays and mimic the natural pheromones that cat’s produce when they feel safe and secure. After making sure your cat’s toileting areas are up to scratch you can add a Feliway diffuser to the room your cat spends most time in to help them feel calm and reassured. Image Credit: Dr. Karyn Kanowski, Pangolia 5. Interact With Your Cat More Often Make time each day to play with your cat! Playtime helps cats de-stress and feel less anxious. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to bond with your pet, which will also make them happier and more relaxed. 6. Use an Enzymatic Cleaner Chances are you’re throwing your bed linens straight into the wash when your cat pees on your bed. Don’t do that, though! Before you launder anything, spray where your cat peed with an enzymatic cleaner. These kinds of cleaners remove any lingering urine odor, so your pet doesn’t smell the urine later and thinks it’s a great place to pee again. It’s an extra step in the process, but it’ll help in the long run. Did you know there's an enzyme cleaner that does it all? The Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray permanently removes the very worst smells and stains (truly, everything you can imagine!), and they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Click here to get yourself a bottle. Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular...FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture,...FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical... Check Price on Amazon At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company! 7. Spray Your Bed With a Scent Kitty Hates If nothing else seems to be working, you could try deterrents to try and discourage the behavior for example by spraying your comforter with a scent your cat hates to make it less appealing to them. Commercial sprays are available and cats tend to dislike citrus scents. Of course, you’ll need to find a scent you can live with if you take this route! Although using scents that your cat finds unpleasant may help in the short term, if you haven’t addressed the root cause of the inappropriate elimination it’s likely you’ll find the behavior recurs, even if it’s in a different location. 8. Close the Door to Your Bedroom Finally, the simplest way to keep your cat from peeing on your bed is to restrict access and close the bedroom door! While addressing other factors, shut your bedroom door, and don’t let your cat sleep on the bed. They may end up going back to the litter box if you do this or decide to pee on the couch or floor next, but at least your bed will be safe. Image Credit: Lucamato, Shutterstock Conclusion Felines will pee on your bed for a variety of reasons, many of them medical. However, if you can determine the cause of your kitty no longer using the litter box, you should be able to remedy the issue. Start with ruling out health concerns with a trip to your vet and addressing any litter box issues. Solving this problem can take time and patience, but you should avoid any form of punishment which will only make the situation worse and your cat more stressed.  If the problem persists it can also be helpful to seek the help of a veterinary behaviorist. Sources PetMD Cornell Cornell   Featured Image Credit: Creative Cat Studio, Shutterstock The post How to Stop My Cat From Peeing on My Bed: 8 Vet-Verified Tips & Tricks by Misty Layne appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.