calming a very nervous cat

Question
Hi, My vet will not give or suggest anything to calm my cats when I have to bring one to have a checkup. they are very nervous and one in particular has bitten and attacked me so badly once that I could not stop the bleeding from many parts of my body for an hour. he is usually a very sweet cat except in this type of situation. I need to take them to the vet! What can i use to calm them. i have already tried rescue remedy for several weeks in their drinking water. did nothing for them. i will also be moving next august so i will really need something to calm them before the plane ride. please help...thanks arlyne  

Answer
Hello Arlyne,

Rescue Remedy is a wonderful product, however, the body (human and animal) tend to become immune to it if administered to frequent. It works great in a pinch but when given daily it just doesn't do a thing. You could try to take your cats off the RR daily and only administer when needed.

I would recommed another blend of Bach Flower Essences. They work wonderfully. Without really knowing your cats case history I cannot give you the exact essences to mix. You can research them online and blend the ones which best suits your pet. There are many so take your time and use only the ones that are necessary for this condition.

I make a tincture remedy called "Peaceful Pet", it is strictly for pets who suffer from acute anxiety disorders and pets who do not take to stressful situations. I have had much success with this remedy. It may make the pet a little drowsy but has no side effect and they calm down enough to where you can move them. I use this on my cat and dog whenever they have to go out anywhere. My cat will meow a little but the dog just wags his tail. My cat is very sweet but very viscious if she had to leave the house. The vet was out of the question until I formulated this remedy. I will leave my email address at the bottom, if you are interested you can contact me.

You could also try to drop a dab of lavender oil behind their ears. This works very well too. Make sure they get a good whiff off your hands while you are applying. My cat loves the aroma and will come running as soon as she sees me grab the vile.  

Here is some info on flower essences, how to administer them and dosages just so you have it for your own reference. To make up a combination, use 2 drops of each desired flower essence to one ounce of water; for Rescue Remedy use 4 drops per ounce of water. You can add up to 20% alcohol (usually brandy or vodka) as a preservative as desired, but some animals dislike the taste. (You can use flower remedies straight from the stock bottle, but they taste terrible!) Try apple cider vinegar or glycerin, they seem to go over the best with pets. You may use up to 6 essences in combination, with Rescue Remedy counting as one essence. In general, use the fewest essences possible. The remedy can be given by mouth, which is the most effective method. Only a few drops (4-8) are necessary, and need not be swallowed, but only must contact the mucous membranes (gums, tongue, lips). Be careful not to contaminate the dropper by touching it to the animal (if this occurs, rinse the dropper in very hot water before returning it to the bottle). You can also add a dropper full to the water dish, or a few drops on wet food (there is no effect of dilution). You can add a dropper full to a spray bottle filled with spring water, and use it to spray a room, carrier, car, around litter boxes or plants, or other problem areas. You can even put a few drops in your hand and pat the animal on the head and around the ears with it--the head is very sensitive to energy and will absorb the flower essences in this way. Just a few drops (4 - 8) at a time are sufficient. For serious or acute conditions the remedy can be given as often as needed, even every few minutes. For most behavioral problems, you can give 3 to 4 times a day for 2 to 4 weeks. If the response is reached by that time, you may begin to decrease the dosage gradually. I recommend giving your cats the remedy when needed and only then, giving more frequent may not solve your problem here because they are normally calm and only get worked up when they are out of the home.

I hope this information has helped you and your pets.

If you would like information on natural and herbal remedies for human and animal concerns please contact me at wintersaurora@yahoo.com and I will be happy to assist you and send you a catalog of my home made herbal remedies. If you would like me to research your pets further and prepare a flower essence blend for them, just let me know.

Thank you and best wishes to you and your pet.

Sincerely,
Sharon Hubbs, AHG
Certified Natural Health Consultant & Herbalist