Traveling by air can be nerve-racking for cat and owner alike. Cats are territorial creatures who don't react favorably to being removed from familiar surroundings. Unfortunately, it isn't always possible to leave your cat at home. Here's what you should know if you find yourself forced to take to the friendly skies with your feline friend.
Make your airline reservations as soon as possible once you know that you will be taking your cat with you on the plane. You will want to give yourself time to call around to a few airlines to inquire about their requirements with regard to pet transport. Each carrier has its own policies, and the policies are subject to change. Some airlines do not allow pets at all; others may allow pets to travel in the cargo hold but not in the passenger cabin.
Some airlines will refuse to transport pets when the outside temperature is either extremely hot or extremely cold. Every airline that allows passengers to travel with pets will charge a fee, and the fee will vary from company to company. In addition, most airlines impose a limit on the number of pets they will accept in the passenger cabin on any given flight.
The important thing to remember is that you will need to make a reservation for your cat as well as for yourself. If you don't give the airline advance notice that you're travelling with an animal, you and your cat may be prevented from boarding the aircraft. Call the airline directly for your reservation or use a flesh-and-blood travel agent. On-line travel web sites like Expedia and Travelocity generally do not enable customers to make reservations for pets.
If at all possible, take your cat with you in the passenger cabin rather than checking her as baggage. It usually costs a little extra to take your cat in the cabin, but it's worth it. Traveling in the cargo hold can be very dangerous for pets. Cargo holds are often not temperature-regulated. Depending on the time of year, your cat could be subjected to broiling heat or freezing cold.
If the plane hits turbulence, your cat's carrier could fall or be crushed by shifting baggage. Plus, a pet carrier can get lost in transit the same way a suitcase can. If you must check your cat as baggage, inform the pilot of the aircraft personally that she is in the cargo hold so that he can take steps to regulate the temperature.
Also, ask the airline agents to allow you to be present or at least within watching distance when your cat is loaded into the cargo hold. Baggage handlers will be less likely to throw your cat's carrier or handle your cat carelessly if they know that the cat's owner is looking over their shoulder. Whatever airline you select will require a veterinarian to certify that your cat is healthy and fit to fly. Try to schedule the visit as soon as possible after you realize you will be traveling with your cat.
Like physicians who treat humans, veterinarians are often booked weeks or even months in advance. When you call for the appointment, be sure to explain the purpose of your cat's visit. The receptionist is more likely to make efforts to "squeeze you in" once she realizes your request is time sensitive and won't take up a big chunk of the doctor's time.
While you're at the vet's office, you may want to ask about tranquilizers. Some cat owners give their cats tranquilizers before flying to prevent them from panicking or disturbing other passengers during the flight. However, many veterinarians advise against the use of tranquilizers during air travel unless your cat is particularly nervous. Cats tend not to respond well to tranquilizers under normal circumstances, and it can be tricky for your vet to calculate the right dosage to give your cat.
On top of that, the changes in altitude and air pressure during a flight can intensify the effect that the tranquilizers have on your cat. There is a slight but real risk that a combination of stress and an overdose of tranquilizers could be potentially deadly for your cat.
Once you have your flight reservations and a veterinarian's OK, it's time to think about the logistics of actually getting your cat on the plane and keeping her in one piece. First, you need to make sure that you have the appropriate pet carrier for the trip. If you absolutely must check your cat as baggage, you will need to house her in a sturdy pet carrier made of a hard, inflexible material equipped with holes or an open-latticed door so that your cat can breathe.
