In this post we are going to look at how to travel with a cat on a plane. We all love going on vacation and getting away from the daily stress of work and life. The worst and most stressful part is the actual traveling itself. It’s bad enough when you are on your own but when you have a pet traveling around with you, this can almost double the stress levels.
Cat’s can be very temperamental and unpredictable at the best of times. So you can imagine how high their stress levels will rise once inside a noisy airport. Even a cat who is usually quite calm and laid back will feel levels of anxiety in a place with a large amount of people, strange smells and a noisy airplane.
It’s not ideal to take your cat traveling but there may be times you have no choice such as if you are relocating. If this is the case then you will need to be as prepared as possible well in advance of your trip to make sure everything runs as smooth as possible.
Let’s take a look at all of the tips, tricks, and preparation you will need to know when learning how to travel with a cat on a plane.
Check The Airline Information
The first step before you book tickets or do anything else is to check all of the information with your airline.
- Check with the airline that your cat can actually travel in the cabin with you underneath your seat. Also check the weight requirements and dimensions under the seat. You will need this information for when you get your cat carrier (more info below).
- Find out what paperwork is required for travel. This could include things such as health certificate and vaccination.
- There’s usually a restriction on how many pets can travel in the cabin on the flight. To save disappointment, it is advised to book your flight at least 1 month before you go to increase your odds.
- It’s best to book a non-stop flight. Any stops or transfers will just add to the already stressful situation.
- Consider the time of year you are travelling. For example, afternoon flights are better in the winter, and early morning or evening flights are better in summer when it’s a little cooler.
- Getting your cat it’s own seat is an option if you do not like the idea of them being under a seat. It may be a bit more calming for your cat if the can see you. Not all airlines offer this so it’s another thing to check out.
- If possible, it’s advised not to travel with your cat during main, busy periods such as the summer holidays. During these times it is way more hectic and your cat is more likely to undergo rough handling due to the rush.
- You should expect to pay an extra fee for your cat. The price will be different depending on who you fly with so make sure to ask.
Pre-Travel preparation
Speak with your vet
It’s important that you take you cat to see a vet before you travel. No only will they provide essential documentations that you will need, but will also check your cat is fit and healthy and not suffering from any illness.
- Valid health certificate: Pretty much all airlines will require a health certificate and your vet can provide you with one of these. Keep in mind that most airlines require a health certificate to be completed within 10 days of a flight.
- Vaccination: All vaccination’s should be up to date and make sure you have your cat’s rabies vaccination certificate.
- Microchip your cat: This is a great idea to provide easier identification. Your vet will also scan the microchip to make sure it reads correctly.
- Medication: If you cat is currently on any kind of medication, your vet will advise you how to medicate your cat during travel.
Trim your cat’s nails
It’s a great idea to trim your cat’s nail to prevent them scratching the interior of their carrier during the flight. If your cat gets very anxious and stressed, their claws could get stuck into something which could cause injury.
Cat’s nails should be trimmed every 10-14 days. The best time to do this would be a few days before your flight. If your away for a while, take some clippers with you. There’s a great article on this site titled How To Cut Your Cats Nails At Home. Follow the guidelines on there to successfully cut your cat’s nails.
If you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself, then it’s a good idea to get this done whilst your at the vets getting your certificates.
Cat Carrier Preparation
This is a very important step because your cat has to be both safe and comfortable during the flight. Let’s take a look at what to choose and how to prepare the carrier.
- Choosing the carrier: A soft-sided carrier is the best choice to go with when flying. If you have followed the pre-travel preparation above, you should know how much room you have under the seat. You will now need to get a soft-sided carrier which fit’s under the seat.
- Getting your cat used to the carrier: It’s important to get your cat used to the carrier well in advance before your travel. This will ensure your cat doesn’t feel so stressed and it also prevents excessive meowing. There’s a great article on this blog called how to stop a cat meowing in the car. There’s a great guide featured on that article on how to get your cat used to a new carrier.
- Carrier labels: Attach a label to the carrier which contains your name, address, telephone number, final destination, and hotel name (if needed). Place a label on both the outside and inside of the carrier just encase the outside one falls off.
- Extras: Make sure you have a portable kitty litter inside the carrier as well as absorbent pads.
Take your cat on car rides
Once your cat is comfortable with the new carrier, start taking them on car rides.
- Secure the carrier inside the car.
- Allow them to get used to being inside the carrier in the car
- Start taking short trips
- Reward your cat with treats to associate positive behavior.
Get A Leash
When you reach a certain point in the airport, you will have to go through TSA screening. Your cat is more than likely going to get frightened so it’s a good idea to have them on a leash which allows you to have more control of them.
Cat ID collar
This should contain several tags
- Contact information such as name, address, and cell phone number.
- Rabies vaccination status.
- Cat’s license
Prepare this at least 10 days before the flight.
Getting used to loud noises
Once you cat is used to a car journey, it’s a good idea to then drive up to the airport and sit outside with your cat in the carrier. This will allow your cat to get used to to the loud noises of an airport. Your cat will hate this at first, but after a few trips they will get used to it.
Preparing Your Cat on the Day of Air Travel
Keep your normal routine
Cat’s are creatures of habits and do not respond well to change. It’s a great idea on the day of your travel to stick to a normal routine as much as possible. Any sudden changes will just elevate your cat’s stress levels and make the trip more difficult.
Prepare bags of dry food for your cat
It’s a good idea not to feed your cat before a flight, as this could cause vomiting (see below). The problem with flights is they can easily get delayed for several hours. If this is the case, you will need to be prepared with some dry cat feed to prevent them from getting too hungry.
When to feed your caton the day of your flight
You should feed your cat 4 to 6 hours before your flight. Around a month leading up to the flight, it’s a good idea to gradually change and adjust your cat’s mealtime so it will fit in with your flight schedule. Also give your cat some water around 1 hour before the flight
Keep your cat calm
Travelling is going to be a stressful experience for your cat, so keeping your cat calm is key to having a smooth journey. There are a number of different products you can use to keep your cat calm.
- Sprays
- Wipes
- Diffuser
- Collar
- Drops
A previous post we wrote on this blog will go into more details and recommendations on this subject. Just head on over to the post and scroll down to the section called Stress Remedies To Calm Your Cat.
The Airport and The Plane
- Check-in: Arrive early on the day of your flight.
- Airport security: When passing through the screening, your cat’s carrier will also go along with you. This is where having a leash on your cat is extremely useful. Another option is to request a secondary screening. This will allow your cat to stay inside the carrier if you go with this option.
- Boarding the plane: It’s a good idea to notify a flight attendant and they may take special precautions.
- On arrival: As soon as you arrive at your destination, examine your cat and see if everything is okay. If you feel like anything seems wrong in anyway, take them straight to a veterinarian.
Conclusion
Hope you enjoyed this article on how to travel with a cat on a plane. You should now have a clear idea on everything you need to prepare when taking your cat on a plane. If anybody has ever done this, it would be great to hear your stories or comments.
