You have a beloved friend that you want to travel with wherever you go. This friend is always supportive and, being rather a rather independent sort, does not ask a lot back from you. The fact that your friend is four-legged and furry should not make a difference. Your cat does not take up much space and you want it with you when you are traveling by air. How do you go about getting your favorite feline on an airplane?
The best thing that you can do for your cat if you want it to travel with you is to get it used to the idea when it is still a kitten. Cats generally do not like to leave their home territories. But, if you start getting your cat used to being in a carrier, being in a car, and being in said carrier in strange places around strange people while your baby-kitty is young, your cat will be much more comfortable when on an airplane.
There are two ways to get your cat on a plane with you, either to check kitty-and-carrier as luggage or take kitty-and-carrier into the cabin as take-on luggage. The second option is much more preferable and typically also costs less money than the cat-as-luggage option. If you want to take your cat in the cabin, you have to make a reservation in advance with the airline of your choice. Airlines limit the number of carry-on animals that they will allow to stay with their owners, so make sure that you try to make a reservation for your cat when you make your own reservation.
It is a little more complicated if you have to check your pet in as luggage. You should mark the carrier with your cat’s name as well as your own identifying information. The USDA requires that animals must be given food and water within four hours of being checked in. You will have to provide instructions on feeding your feline as well as food and water. Your friend will be placed in a pressurized area with a temperature between fifty and seventy degrees Fahrenheit. Be prepared. An airline will refuse to put an animal in the cargo area if the ground temperature at any stops is going to be eighty-five degrees or more. The airlines will not do anything to help you out if your friend is weather-grounded. You might both be stuck at home. Some airlines also have restrictions on how cold a ground stop can be, usually less than fifty degrees.
Carriers are extremely important regardless of whether you are checking your cat in or taking your cat into the cabin. Carriers must be large enough so that your cat can stand up, lie down, and turn around freely. If checked, the carrier will not be able to be collapsible or soft-sided. Some airlines will allow soft-sided carriers in the cabin, but whether soft-sided or not, your cat and carrier will have to fit underneath the seat in front of you. Line your carriers with soft absorbing materials like paper towels or baby diapers to take care of any “accidents” your cat might have while traveling.
Should you tranquilize your cat prior to traveling? Even if your cat is not used to “being on the road,” it probably not a good idea. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends against it because there is a lack of information about how animals, tranquilizers, and high altitude interact. If you have a particular concern about your cat, consult your veterinarian before you leave home.
Give yourself some additional time to go through the check-in process at the airport because you will have to go to the airlines counter to take care of your cat and will be unable to use curb-side services. If you are going to take your cat into the cabin with you, it would also be a good idea to check with security at your airport to see if they are going to ask you to remove your cat from its carrier when you go through the metal detector. Keep in mind that you will not be able to let kitty sit in your lap when you are in the cabin. Your cat must always stay inside its carrier.
When you make your reservations, check with your airlines about additional requirements that they might have regarding traveling pets. For example, some airlines will ask for a health certificate from your veterinarian or proof of rabies shots. If you have a connecting flight with another airline, you might have to pick up your cat and check it in again if your friend is traveling cargo-passage. Airlines will also be able to tell you what to expect if you are traveling to a state like Hawaii, where a quarantine period is so long that it might be better for you to leave your cat at home, or to a foreign country that requires special information from your vet.
Enjoy your flight. Tell your cat before you leave that not many people get to go to the place where your cat is going. This probably will not make much difference to your feline, being the independent sort that it is, but it might make a difference to you.
