• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Contact
MENUMENU
  • About
  • Shop
  • Cats
        • Lifestage
          • Kitten
          • Adult
          • Senior Cat
        • Pet Solutions
        • Health & Safety
        • Cat Travel
        • Cat Behavior
        • Cat Bonding
        • Cat Rescue & Adoption
        • Cat Grooming
        • Litter
        • Pee Problems
  • Dogs
        • Lifestage
          • Puppy
          • Adult
          • Senior Dog
        • Pet Solutions
        • Health & Safety
        • Dog Travel
        • Dog Behavior
        • Dog Bonding
        • Dog Rescue & Adoption
        • Dog Grooming
        • Pee Problems
  • Kristen’s Picks
  • Pet Anxiety
    • Pet Anxiety Awareness Event
    • Anxiety in Cats
    • Anxiety in Dogs
  • FREE DownloadsFree resources for pet parents.
    • End Indoor Peeing!
    • Senior Dog Guidebook
    • New Puppy Checklist
    • Bond with Your Dog
    • Cat Health Checklist
    • Bond with Your Cat
    • Pet Holidays Calendar
  • For Brands
  • Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

pet advice logo

Kristen Levine Pet Living Stories, Science & Advice for Living Happier & Healthier with Pets

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Contact
MENUMENU
  • About
  • Shop
  • Cats
        • Lifestage
          • Kitten
          • Adult
          • Senior Cat
        • Pet Solutions
        • Health & Safety
        • Cat Travel
        • Cat Behavior
        • Cat Bonding
        • Cat Rescue & Adoption
        • Cat Grooming
        • Litter
        • Pee Problems
  • Dogs
        • Lifestage
          • Puppy
          • Adult
          • Senior Dog
        • Pet Solutions
        • Health & Safety
        • Dog Travel
        • Dog Behavior
        • Dog Bonding
        • Dog Rescue & Adoption
        • Dog Grooming
        • Pee Problems
  • Kristen’s Picks
  • Pet Anxiety
    • Pet Anxiety Awareness Event
    • Anxiety in Cats
    • Anxiety in Dogs
  • FREE DownloadsFree resources for pet parents.
    • End Indoor Peeing!
    • Senior Dog Guidebook
    • New Puppy Checklist
    • Bond with Your Dog
    • Cat Health Checklist
    • Bond with Your Cat
    • Pet Holidays Calendar
  • For Brands
You are here: Home / Cats / Lifestage / Adult / How to Keep Your Anxious Dog or Cat Calm While In The Car
Calm dog and cat

How to Keep Your Anxious Dog or Cat Calm While In The Car

June 15, 2021 // by Kristen Levine //  1 Comment
Chew on this: Some posts may include affiliate links for which I receive a small commission. However, all products I “dig up” are ones I paw–thentically love!

Tweet
Pin62
Share
Email
62 Shares

 

dog riding in care pet care
Chilly, ready for his car ride

 

Like many pet parents, I love having my fur family with me when I go places, whether it’s short car rides running errands, or on longer road trips. But for some pets, just getting in a car sends them into an anxious spiral.

Thankfully, my dogs Chilly and Tulip don’t have any specific fears regarding traveling. But they do have other anxieties. Tulip suffers from separation anxiety and Chilly has been diagnosed with noise aversion.

Since they have anxious tendencies, I like to be prepared with the right tools and products to ward off any anxiety surrounding car rides.

Plus, it seems like every dog and cat instinctively knows when they’re going to the vet, which always causes anxiety!

Why It’s Important to Take Your Dog or Cat’s Travel Anxiety Seriously

Have you ever been fearful, anxious, or stressed out? Many of us can relate to the heart-pounding, mind-racing effects of anxiety. Well, just as humans can suffer from anxiety, so can our pets. In fact, some pets experience the equivalent of a panic attack.

Now imagine feeling that way on every car ride. Then, add in all the stimulation from the constant movement, unpredictable road noise, and flashes of light. These stressful conditions can result in odd behavioral changes due to extreme anxiety in our fur friends.

Sadly, some pet parents don’t recognize the behavior as being rooted in anxiety, so they scold or discipline their pet. And at its worst, some may surrender their dog or cat to a shelter because they can’t manage the behavior and don’t know it’s rooted in fear.

That’s why it’s so important to know how to recognize the signs of anxiety in our fur friends. And it’s also important to understand that the signs are different in cats and dogs.

Anxiety Signs in Dogs

Symptoms of anxiety in dogs are varied and may include behaviors you haven’t thought of. Some symptoms may include:

  • Barking or howling
  • Chewing/destroying things
  • Excessive licking
  • Trying to escape
  • Pacing
  • Urinating
  • Trembling
  • Yawning
  • Digging

Signs of travel anxiety may manifest differently. Some dogs feel anxious about getting in the car because they get car sick.

If you’ve ever had motion sickness, then you know how miserable it truly is. We wouldn’t want to endure that awful feeling, so of course, our dogs shouldn’t have to either. Vomiting on car rides can be painful and anxiety-inducing for your dog (and for you).

Here are other signs that your dog may be car sick:

  • Drooling
  • Dry heaving
  • Excessive lip licking
  • Excessive panting
  • Inactivity
  • Pacing
  • Restlessness
  • Shaking
  • Vomiting
  • Whining
  • Yawning
  • Bracing stance

You’ll notice many of the signs of motion sickness and anxiety overlap. So it’s important to visit your veterinarian to determine the true cause of your dog’s abnormal behavior while in the car.

A few years ago, I noticed some of these signs in my dog, Chilly. After consulting with our veterinarian, he prescribed a medication that doesn’t make your pup drowsy or loopy. To learn more, check out my blog post here.

Cat Anxiety Signs

Unfortunately, cat anxiety is much less likely to be diagnosed or recognized than anxiety in dogs. Our furry feline friends tend to be more mysterious in everything they do. So it’s especially important to be on the lookout for the subtle signs of cat anxiety. 

Symptoms frequently include:

  • Hiding
  • Not eating
  • Social withdrawal
  • Panting
  • Dilated pupils
  • Aggression
  • Twitching tails or ears
  • Failure to use the litter box
  • Clinginess
  • Pacing
  • Hair loss from excessive grooming
  • Increased vocalization
  • Becoming less active 

Have you noticed any of these signs of anxiety in your kitty? With a keen eye and a little planning, you can be alert to the signs of anxiety in your cat and take the best steps to keep her calm and cozy while she’s in the car.

A peaceful dog and cat are resting on a pet bed together

 

How ThunderShirt Can Help Your Anxious Dog or Cat on Car Rides

Tulip in her ThunderShirt
My dog Tulip in her ThunderShirt

ThunderShirt is a must-have in the Levine household! It’s veterinarian recommended and proven to be over 80% effective in calming pets during anxiety-inducing events, such as travel and car rides to the vet. ThunderShirt has helped millions of dogs and cats (pet parents) regain peace and calm. I personally use it to keep my dogs, Chilly and Tulip, calm on short car rides, especially when we go to the vet.

Chilly in his ThunderShirt
Chilly in his ThunderShirt

Just like swaddling an infant, ThunderShirt is designed to apply gentle, constant pressure to your dog or cat’s torso.

Researchers suggest that this type of pressure can release calming hormones like oxytocin or endorphins in both humans and animals. Think about how you feel when you get a warm hug from a loved one! This gentle pressure is helpful for calming all types of anxiety and fear.

Note: ThunderShirt works great for cases of mild to moderate anxiety. But if your pet is showing signs of severe anxiety please consult your veterinarian as they may require prescription medication.

Other Helpful Therapies to Ease Your Dog or Cat’s Travel Anxiety

ThunderWunders work to calm your dog or cat. ThunderWunders is another effective natural solution that can ease your cat or dog’s anxiety. These calming chews are vet and trainer recommended, with options for both cats and dogs.

They contain ingredients that promote rest and relaxation. And they’re packed with calming agents like Thiamine, L-Tryptophan, and Melatonin to help your pet remain calm in stressful situations.

ThunderWunders is a proud sponsor of Pet Anxiety Awareness Week.

Plus, their cat chews have even been feline taste-test approved. So even if your cat is a picky eater, she’s likely to enjoy the flavor. ThunderWunders chews are a great solution for car rides, trips to the vet, or meeting new pets and new people.

I’m also a big fan of ThunderEase Calming Collar for Dogs. This unique collar is drug-free,Adaptil Collars are great for travel anxiety. easy to use, and over 90% effective. It works by releasing natural pheromones that mimic the pheromones a nursing mother releases for her pups, leaving them feeling calm and protected.

The calming collar is activated by your dog’s own body heat and helps him feel safe and serene just like when he was a nursing puppy.

I’ve used the calming collar on my dogs, and it works wonders at helping them adjust to challenging situations and curbing unwanted stress-related behaviors.

ThunderEase Calming Cat Spray
ThunderEase Calming Cat Spray

ThunderEase Cat Calming Pheromone Spray is great for when you’re on the go! You can spray the calming pheromones directly onto objects such as your car, your kitty’s carrier, or her favorite blanket. The spray will mimic her mother’s natural nursing pheromones, putting her at ease and reducing unwanted behaviors. Car rides and visits to the vet will be much calmer.

Even with the best preparation, your pup or kitty may still be a little anxious once you arrive at your final destination. If so, then ThunderEase Diffuser for dogs or cats will help.

ThunderEase Calming Diffuser Kit for Dogs
ThunderEase Calming Diffuser Kit for Dogs

Each kit is vet recommended and clinically tested to be effective for 90% of dogs and cats, respectively.

Simply plug into an outlet in the room where your dog or cat spends most of their time. The diffuser releases a drug-free, odorless vapor that can cover up to 700 square feet and last up to 30 days. As your dog or cat is reminded of their mother’s love, their stress will fade away. And so will some of the troubling behavior issues that are common in anxious dogs and cats. I use the diffuser in my house to help my cat, Olivia, when she’s feeling stressed or skittish. 

Can Your Pet’s Travel Anxiety Be Cured?

The short answer is maybe. Most of the time, with the right therapies, a dog or cat’s anxiety can be greatly improved so that it’s almost imperceptible. But it’s important to talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s anxious behavior because there may be medical reasons that need to be addressed. And some cases of strong anxiety warrant prescription medication.

But with expert help, a variety of calming solutions, and unconditional love from their pet parents, our fur families can have less stress and live happy, healthy lives.

Tweet
Pin62
Share
Email
62 Shares

About Kristen Levine

Kristen Levine is a nationally acclaimed pet expert and influencer with over 30 years of experience in the industry. She's helped millions of pet parents provide the best care at every stage of their pet’s life.

Her blog, Pet Living with Kristen Levine has been featured in Pop Sugar, Good Housekeeping, New York Times, USA Today, and more.

She's also the founder of FWV Fetching, the first marketing agency exclusively serving pet and animal health companies.

Her early work with the SPCA led her to a lifelong career in the pet industry, advocating for pet adoption and rescue as well as for pets and their parents here on her blog and in the media.

She’s frequently booked on satellite media tours and national shows, like FOX & Friends, Good Morning America, and Daytime, to talk about pet trends and new products.

Insanely passionate about pets since she was a little girl, Kristen has had more than 30 pets in her lifetime — including dogs, cats, goats, donkeys, a horse, a gerbil, mice, and chickens!

Today she lives in Florida with her dog Tulip, cat Olivia, and husband Paul.

Previous Post: «Keep your anxious dog calm when home alone. How to Keep an Anxious Dog Calm When He’s Left Home Alone
Next Post: 10 Dog Toys Your Dog Won’t Destroy Right Away Dog with ball»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debra Pung

    June 22, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    Good information..Thank you

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

How to Find the Best Enzyme Cleaner for Cat Urine

How to Find the Best Enzyme Cleaner for Cat UrineRead More

Is Rawhide Bad for Dogs? Here are 5 Better Treats for Your Dog

Is Rawhide Bad for Dogs? Here are 5 Better Treats for Your DogRead More

Kinderbean - the best enzyme cleaner for dog urine.

The Best Enzyme Cleaner for Dog Urine According to a Pet Expert

The Best Enzyme Cleaner for Dog Urine According to a Pet ExpertRead More

Footer

Come. Sit. Stay.

Join tens of thousands of fellow pet parents and sign up to receive our e-newsletter so you never miss a trick!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2022 Kristen Levine Pet Living · All Rights Reserved ·

Privacy Policy · Cookie Policy · Terms and Conditions