Ways to Keep Cat Calm in a Car

Unlike dogs who enjoy going for a ride in the car, a cat does not feel the same way. Granted there are a few cats that enjoy riding in a car but most felines find it stressful.

Today I had to take my cat Sam to the veterinarian for his annual checkup and one of the things we must do is keep Sam from stressful situations. Sam has FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and his condition now is healthy but stress is a factor that can bring on illness. Sam gets stressed out riding in the car so I will do the following things to keep him calm.

If your cat gets stressed out when riding in the car then you may want to try the following helpful tips.

1. If you find that you must take your cat for a ride in the car then make sure you have a pet carrier that is large enough for a cat to be comfortable. They need room to lie down without a tight feeling.
2. Make the carrier more comfortable with a small crate mat. Spray this mat with the Feliway mood and behavior modifier before adding the mat to the carrier. The Feliway spray mimics the cat's pheromones and this aids in keeping the cat calm. Shop and save at Walmart.com for Feliway spray
3. Buy Kong treat dispensing toy to distract your cat while riding in the car. Fill the toy with temptation cat treats and put it in the cat carrier. The toy will divert your cat's attention and they will feel less stressed. (food is a friend to a cat)
4. Set the cat carrier on the car seat and wrap the seat belt around it. Secure the cat in the carrier so that it stays put and does not move around when the car turns or stops. Any sudden movement while the cat is in the car is very stressful and the cat will suffer.
5. Cover the cat carrier with a towel or small blanket. Blocking out the view of cars passing while the cat is riding in the car will help to keep the feline calm.
6. Refrain from turning the radio on loudly. It is best to have soft background music and that you talk to your cat while riding in the car. A familiar voice that is calm and projects positive energy will keep your cat calm while in the car.

L-Lysine for FIV Cats

My FIV cat got an upper respiratory infection last month and the treatment was antibiotics plus the supplement L-Lysine oral gel by Viralys. This gel supports the cat's immune system and is very good in the treatment of feline herpes virus (FHV) because it lessens the signs of the infection, eye infection, sinus nose issues; drainage or congestion. 

My FIV cat was rescued in 2008 and when we brought him in he had eye drainage and was diagnosed with feline herpes an upper respiratory infection. 

Know that Sam is doing much better since I started supplementing his diet with Lysine. There is no cure for feline herpes but you can reduce the flair-ups with the amino acid L-Lysine.

Normally when you give your cat medicine it can be difficult. But my cat likes this gel. What I do is squeeze ¼ teaspoon amount onto my finger then I put the gel on my cat's paw. Sam licks his paw. I give him 2 doses like this daily and will continue this supplement for the rest of my cat's life.

I bought the tube of oral L-Lysine from my veterinarian and it was expensive. When I need a refill I will buy from amazon.com or Walmart.com because these stores offer the same product for less.Walmart.com

What to Do When FIV Cat is Sick

 I noticed that my FIV cat named Sam had fluid buildup in his left eye and this was a sign of sickness, cat cold, or upper respiratory. My cat has a weakened immune system and this cold or whatever it is could progress quickly into a major illness so I immediately called the veterinarian and scheduled an appointment.

Last Monday I took Sam to the veterinarians and they ran tests on him, and his blood, and checked his urine. They told me he had an upper respiratory infection and gave him an antibiotic shot and a prescription for Viralys L-Lysine supplement.

I was told to clean the entire house with bleach and to keep Sam away from other cats.  It was also recommended that after I handle other cats or come in contact with feral or stray cats I remove those clothes and shoes, shower  or spray myself with Lysol disinfectant before I come in contact with Sam.

Know that Sam has lost weight due to this infection,  He cannot smell his food so he is not eating. Normally Sam eats C/D prescription diet food but he has stopped eating.  So I mixed his wet food with water and put it in a syringe, this is how I am feeding him and keeping him hydrated.

Even though I responded immediately when I noticed my cat was sick, his infection has progressed quickly from playing with his toys one day to signs of a cold and now he is not eating.  An FIV cat has a hard time getting over a simple cold, It is best to call the veterinarian as soon as your cat show signs of sickness.

Treatment for Cat Urinary Infection

My rescued FIV cat came to us in 2009 as an adult unaltered tomcat.  When we rescued Sam he was suffering from urinary and bladder infections. After several trips to the veterinarians, my cat, Sam was diagnosed with a urinary condition that required him to eat a special prescription diet.

We were told that it was common for unaltered tomcats to suffer stress when they are rescued and from this stress develops urinary/bladder infections.

The veterinarian prescribed Hills CD for urinary care and we were told that we could not feed our cat any other food for the rest of his life.

The veterinarian said "Hills CD for urinary care is formulated with the right balance of nutrients which enables your cat's bladder to be healthy. " We were told that Sam would be feeling better and back to using his litter box within a month's time. 

Our veterinarian assured us that feeding our cat this special diet would remove harmful minerals and this meant that the formation of urinary crystals and bladder inflammation would cease.

 So when Sam was feeling better we did neuter him.  Know that it was a long road to recovery.  I needed to watch Sam's bathroom habits to make sure he was urinating, as we were told if he strains to pee and cannot pee that he may have a blockage and that was a serious condition. 

We feared that we would have to put him down if he could not urinate due to a blockage. 

It is important that your cat is hydrated and this was a problem because Sam is not a fan of water we tried everything to keep him hydrated, and even got him a waterfall.He was not impressed with the waterfall for drinking, for playing with the water with his paws, yes...the waterfall was entertainment. 

We mixed his prescription canned food with water and this was the best way to keep him hydrated. 

Sam has been eating this special diet for three weeks now and he is back to his happy self, his energy has improved, and he is using his litter box, (sometimes) and playing with his toys.  Even though we had him neutered he is occasionally marking the sofa and noticed his pee is a little cloudy. Okay, Sam is not 100% his old self, but he is now playing with his toys and he wasn't before. The veterinarian said to keep feeding him the prescription food and in a month it will be in his system and we will see an improvement.

I feed Sam a half can of Hills CD in the morning mixed with the dry kibble and the same portion at night. I also give him purified bottled water. A fresh bowl of water twice a day.

Know that this special urinary prescription diet will prevent the reoccurrence of urinary crystals and stones and as long as we keep feeding our cat the diet food as it is the only food that will manage our cat's conditions so that he will not suffer and there will be no need for urinary / bladder surgery.

Other information about Hills Prescription cat food

Note I kept our other cats away from Sam due to this special prescription food.  I thought the medication in the food would not be good for my other cats.  

My one cat Lucy got into the room and was eating the prescription food with Sam.  I went into a panic I thought his food would harm her.

We have two other FIV cats and now they are all eating the Hills CD urinary diet food. My veterinarian said to not worry about my other cats eating the prescription food because it would prevent the cats from getting a urinary / bladder infection.

The veterinarian said the Hills prescription C/D food is good preventative food for multiple cat homes, it is not recommended for kittens.

** UPDATE Sam refused to eat the prescription food. We tried everything even other brands for prescription food but Sam would rather lose weight than eat it.   Due to his refusal to eat the food I was told to feed him whatever he likes and that the weight loss was a problem for an FIV cat.

About False Positive FIV Kitten

Many times when a kitten is tested for feline immunodeficiency virus the test results will show a false positive. This is why it is important that pet owners wait 60 days before getting their kitten retested. 

All cats that test positive should be retested because of the false positive.


Know that a year ago I took in an FIV feline immunodeficiency virus kitten because the woman who owned it did not want the cat, she did not want to learn more about the feline disease she told me to take the kitten or she would take it to the humane society. I knew that our area shelter would euthanize the kitten so I said I would take it and find it a forever home.


Finding homes for FIV kittens is difficult because, like the cat owner, people think FIV is a death sentence or an indication that the cat is sickly. Not one person wanted to learn more they just said no to me and would not adopt the kitten.


I ended up socializing the kitten with my adult FIV cat named Sam. This was not hard at all, Sam was one happy cat and the two became best of friends.


Know that the kitten had been to the veterinarian a few times, had gotten her spay and her rabies shot and all was well. But the following year when I was told that she need her annual shots I asked if it was necessary since she was FIV positive.  My veterinarian had no record of her being tested, so I told them of her history. I did not have the paperwork but the former owner was adamant about the cat's disease. I agreed to have her tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. 

Both tests came back negative.


The kitten when she was tested showed a positive but it was false. I have no reason not to believe the former owner, as she was upset about the diagnosis of the cat and called me immediately when she had gotten the test results. Learn more about kittens with FIV and false positives here.

About False Positive FIV Tests

Quote: “Because few, if any, cats ever eliminate infection, the presence of antibody indicates that a cat is infected with FIV. This test can be performed by most veterinary diagnostic laboratories and also is available in kit form for use in veterinary clinics. Since false-positive results may occur, veterinarians recommend that positive results be confirmed using a test with a different format.  

Infected mother cats transfer FIV antibodies to nursing kittens, so kittens born to infected mothers may receive positive test results for several months after birth. However, few of these kittens actually are or will become infected. To clarify their infection status, kittens younger than six months of age receiving positive results should be retested at 60-day intervals until they are at least six months old.” End Quote Veterinarian Medicine Cornell education, health information on FIV