Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hi Cherie--
    
    Sounds like Kimba needs the same kind of help my Billie did!  
    
    For one thing, Kimba is still young, and a moving vehicle probably
    terrifies her.  I had a similar problem with Billie, and after
    consulting my vet, this is what I do whenever I have to travel with
    her:
    
    1. A few days before we leave, I take the cat carrier out, put a
    clean towel or blanket in the bottom of it, and sprinkle it with
    catnip.
    
    2. At least 4 hours (depends on cat, size, etc.--talk with the vet)
    before I know we are leaving, I take her food and water away.
    
    3. I *try* to be as calm and slow-moving as possible the day we
    leave--your moods do rub off on them.
    
    4. Then, about 20 minutes before we leave, I give her a half an
    ACE (cat tranquilizer--again, see your vet.  How much you give depends
    on the cat.).
    
    5. THEN we leave.
    
    Once at the destination, I take her out of the carrier and leave
    her alone in a room by herself--unless the place/people we're at/with
    are familiar.  Most cats experience some nausea from the tranqilizer
    and/or the drive, so don't even bother putting food and water out.
    Again, check with your vet.  When she's ready and feeling like herself
    again, she'll come out.
    
    The above system is designed for the cat's peace of mind AND yours.
    It works for us, and Billie was not only a screamer and a yowler,
    but a pooper, too!
    
    Good luck, 
    
    Jane 

    Up 'till now I thought I had the worst cat_in_a_car stories. My
    problem involved not only trips to the vets etc., but I have a
    motor home and wanted to take my cat along camping. I never thought
    that thousands of miles on the road could be done with a poor cat
    that I thought would roll over and die of terror before I got to
    I95.
    
    This is what I did with 2 cats...and it worked.
    
    Sit in your car with the cat, make a fuss, lots of loving etc. But
    even if it goes well don't stay long. When you get back in the house
    give more loving and feed bonkers or some treat that your cat likes.
    Do the same routine once a day for as many days as it takes for
    the cat to feel at home in the car.
    
    Next give kitty treats in the car.
    
    When your cat is fully at ease start the engine. Your cat will probably
    tell you that you are back to square 1. Keep trying, it'll work.
    
    Now for the BIG move... after kitty will put up with the engine
    running it's time to move the car, only a few feet at first, then
    try a short ride.
    
    I have 'car broken' 2 cats by using the above method. I made
    sure that I did not try too hard when the cat became stressed.
    With one cat it took about 3 weeks, with the other it took about
    a week. I did find that the first rides went better after dark.
    
    Also at the times that you add something like starting the engine,
    or moving the car it may not go well at first! but each time should
    work out better.
    
    GOOD LUCK!
    
    Kirk

    Oscar loved to ride in the car.  Until he got fixed.  After that,
    he would practically have a nervous breakdown.  I have never really
    used a cat carrier, and with Oscar being so nervous the carrier
    made it even worse.  So, now when we have to bring Oscar somewhere,
    Larry and I go together.  Larry drives, and I cuddle Oscar in my
    lap, and try to keep his face burried in my lap, so he doesn't have
    to watch where we are going.  It may not be the safest way, but it 
    keeps Oscar relatively ccalm.
    
    Portia on the other hand will sit quietly on the front seat, content
    to get her pats at red lights, or on straightaways.
    
    Elmo loves to sit on the headrest of the passenger seat. Or perch
    on the dashboard. Or jump from front seat to backseat. Or attack
    the rubbish bag.  He thinks the car is a great place to play.

I'm sorry--this is completely off the subject, but:

Is Kimba named after Kimba the White Lion of cartoon fame?

I had a pure white shorthaired cat that we found abandoned in
the street during a downpour. She was only four weeks old, would
fit in one hand, and was terribly dehydrated, malnourished, and sick.
The vet told us that she'd probably die, but after a few weeks of
feeding her Gatoraid (yuck, but the vet recommended it), we knew she'd
make it. We named her Kimba, after the cartoon lion, and I haven't
ever found anyone else who'd seen that cartoon and could understand
where her name came from.

(Soon enough, our Kimba was 18 punds of the most beautiful cat I've
ever seen. She died nine years ago, at the age of 3, of either feline
leukemia or liver cancer, the vet didn't know exactly what it was. But
even though I was pretty young when we had her--sixth through ninth grades
for me--I can't think of her without crying. But I'm glad to know that there's
another Kimba in the world!)

    
    
    Re:  .4
    
    Well, yes and no.  I did get the name Kimba from "Kimba the White
    Lion", but no, Kimmy's not all white.  As a matter of fact,she's
    tortoise shell colored.  She's gorgeous!  My fiance and I sat for
    days trying to figure out a name for her when we first got her,
    and I kept saying she looked like a Kimba, and Peter agreed, but
    she wasn't white so we hesitated calling her that.  It's the only
    name we could think of that "stuck", so eventually that's what she
    got called!
    
    No matter what the color, I agree with you....Kimba's are very special!
    
    Re:  replies 1 - 3
    
    Thanks for the suggestions!
    
    
    Cherie
    

    I remember the cartoon....

    I remember Kimba the White Lion too.  In fact,  when Lightning lays
    on the back of the sofa, she looks so much like a white lion with her
    ruff fluffed that I call her * Kimba, my white lion *.
    
    That was my second choice name for White Lightning.
    
    Sandi (Lightning, DejaVu & Thunder's mom)