Oh, and to answer the sedative question....

When I moved T & P from my Mom's house near Green Bay, WI to my new place in Chicago (3 hour drive), I gave T & P a sedative. I don't remember what the name of it was. The reason I did this was because Peanut is terrified in the car and I thought it would make it easier on her, and at the time Tubby was a meower in the car. He liked to look out the windows when I would slow down or stop, but after a while he'd settle down and just sit in my lap. He was trained to the car because when I first got him I would visit my mom about once a month and I'd always take him along (30-45 minute ride at that time). So the reason I gave it to him was because I thought if I had to listen to him for 3 hours I'd go crazy.

Well, for Peanut it worked perfectly. She was calm cool and collected in her carrier and the next day was perfectly comfortable in the new apartment. Tubby, on the other hand, was a nightmare. I don't know if the dose wasn't enough for him (he's not quite twice the size of Peanut) or what, but it didn't knock him out, it just made him all dopey. So all the way to Chicago I had this cat who couldn't stand up, trying to look out the windows, trying to climb from the front seat to the back - and back again, meowing horrendously the entire way!!! I tried to get him to settle down in my lap and he would for about a mile, then it would be back to the windows, stumbling and fumbling the whole time. It was really rather aggravating, but mostly I felt bad for him. All it probably did for him was make him more confused which is why he wouldn't settle down. We all survived though, and once it wore off he was fine.

So my only suggestion would be too make sure if you're going to use a sedative, make sure the dosage is enough. What I've already done to weigh the cats is first of all I get on the scale without the cat (and ignore the number ) then I get on the scale holding the cat and subtract. The number may not be right on, but it is somewhat accurate.

Good luck, and please let us know how it goes. He's such a handsome boy.