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Got experience traveling (flying) with cats? Advice needed here!
Do you have any suggestions for traveling long distance with a cat? I’m talking about 15+hours on one leg of the flight and 5-6 on another, from Thailand to Portland, Oregon. My cat is very vocal, especially in a carrier, and I am worried about the noise she may make if she travels under my seat, but people say traveling in the pet area in the cargo hold is dangerous. What have you heard? Also do you have recommendations on carriers? I’m supposed to provide food and water containers attached securely to the carrier. Thanks for all your help. I look at your blog every day and enjoy it very much, although I am one of the “lurkers”. Mary
I have actually not flown with cats at all, but I do know that I wouldn’t have a cat travel in the cargo hold. Hopefully people who have flown with cats will have some helpful suggestions. How about it, y’all – got suggestions? Please chime in in the comments!
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Snuggly boys. I am SO glad these two are going home together!
Carmy’s all “It’s Thlurrrpsday, right?” All week long I have had NO idea what day it was. Christmas Eve felt like a Friday. Christmas day felt like a Monday. I thought yesterday was Friday again.
It’s ALWAYS nappin’ time, no matter the day.
Richie has a rest after jumping for the dangly mouse.
Perhaps one day Tina will learn to relax.
Richie’s keeping an eye on the birds.
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Posted on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr/ Bluesky) yesterday.
Happy Boxing Day! Who says boxes are just for cats? 📦
Happy Boxing Day from former foster Ivy (fostered in late 2021/early 2022), who never met a box she didn’t like! (Thanks, Dawn!)
YouTube link
The kittens have a tussle. Sometimes Carmy has the upper paw, and sometimes it’s Richie!
Happy Boxing Day from Richie, who enjoys a good box (in this case, the box from the quarterly Pusheen Cat Kit box!)
YouTube link
Richie was in the litter box, and I thought for sure that EITHER Tina (who was lurking right outside the door) was going to jump on/at him, or that he’d come zooming out and she’d give chase. Neither of those happened, but it was pretty cute anyway!
Good night innernets. (Carmy (left) and Richie)
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Previously
2023: When I was scanning cards the other day, I had a helper.
2022: Slow motion Francesca.
2021: Ivy was not going to reach through there and nibble on the Christmas tree, and she resents the accusation.
2020: Not inclined to roll their lazy little butts out of bed.
2019: “Why you so weird, lady?”
2018: Newt got a little hissy when Pulley got in his space.
2017: No entry.
2016: Plus one.
2015: No entry.
2014: There was a little tortie who lived in a shoe…
2013: Paulie Walnuts, all “I know you’re in there!”
2012: I had to stop talking to Stripey, I was afraid he’d roll right off the top of the bookcase.
2011: If that’s not a look o’ love, I don’t know what is!
2010: Don’t cry for him, Argentina – he’ll muddle through somehow.
2009: Snuggly Cookies.
2008: No entry.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
For the plane – I’ve travelled a few times with cats in the plane and always put them under the seat in front of me. The plane is actually pretty loud itself, so I’ve never heard my cats meowing while in flight. The only real suggestion I have for carrier is to get a soft sided one. I don’t think you’ll find one that fits the seat requirements exactly, but a soft sided one will squish.
I flew with my cats from Kansas City to Baltimore (about 3 hours). My cats also meow a lot in the carrier. They complained in the car to/from the airport, but the airport and plane must have been strange enough to them that the were quiet there. My suggestion is to make sure you check the airline guidelines for pet carrier size for every company you’ll fly with. Also, I used pet carriers with wheels (something like this: https://www.chewy.com/snoozer-pet-products-roll-around-4-in/dp/140501) for easier travel in the airport. You’ll have to take your cat out of the carrier to go through security. You’ll want to have a harness and leash on your cat to help hold on to them. The leash needs to be all cloth with no metal chain (my mistake, they made me take the leash off too).
I’ve flown with a cat a couple times, but only ~4 hr flight. My vet gave me a mild sedative for my kitty, which was very helpful! For that long of a flight, you may want to put puppy pee pads in the carrier in case kitty can’t hold it that long. I agree with those saying NO to putting them in cargo! I put my carrier under the seat in front of me so I could see kitty, and kitty could see me! Meowing couldn’t be heard above the plane noise, so I wouldn’t worry about that too much. Good luck!!
Robyn, I haven’t known what day it is either, so you are not alone.
Good luck with the cat flying situation Mary, I’ve never done that at all but I’m sure you’ll get some great advice from those who have.
Hi Robyn,
Just a quick note to tell you that it ‘s wonderful to finally see your smiling face in the box ! You’re just as beautiful as your personality and your love & long-time devotion to your fosters, your permanent resident animals, and, of course Fred! Hope this doesn’t come off as weird. Feel free to look at my facebook page (Lindsay Feld Heiden,) should you care to see what one of your thousands of devotees look like, although I do not know why you would . I do believe we must be around the same height, . Keep up the amazing work, and wishing your entire household a very healthy and Happy New Year . BTW, my best friend loved her Christmas gift this year – the 2025 picture calendar of Tina and her babies!
I’ve lived in six foreign countries (twice each in west Africa, south Asia, and Europe) with two cats, so that’s 12 int’l journeys with even more flights. I’ve also had a few domestic flights with them, but prefer to drive domestically, for the cats and me. Since it’s just me, I’ve always HAD to put one or both in the hold. They’ve ALWAYS made it. And in good shape. The one time I had one in cabin, despite being somewhat vocal, she was pretty quiet. I think she was intimidated by it all. And the plane is pretty noisy. As for carriers, if going in the hold make sure there are holes on all four sides. My carriers are so old, they’re no longer made. They’re also simple, again, being a solo traveler, I have to stack the carriers and all my luggage on a single luggage cart. I’ve used both old towels and doggie poop pads for lining. I always leave the carriers out for a few days for them to explore. I tape snack bags with kibble to the carrier by the handle, as some airlines will feed them. My best travel experiences have been with Lufthansa, Turkish, and Qatar, United was good a decade ago but I’ve heard they’ve gotten worse. I will fly longer, less convenient routes to use a more reputable airline.
Most vets recommend NO sedatives. Check with yours. And they may have other suggestions.
Get your cat used to wearing a harness. If you’re required to remove the cat from the carrier for carrier inspection, request an enclosed room for the screening. Do not open the carrier until all escape avenues are tightly shut. The harness may or may not be useful in such a situation.
If you’re going through Honolulu, check with the airport to see if there is a pet relief area that you can access. If so, a harness is an absolute must for this, and a leash of course.
Flying might be one time where it’s an advantage to have a cat that “melts” and falls to the ground when put into a harness. You can just scoop them up while they’re pretending to have been broken. H-shaped harnesses are safer than Figure 8 harnesses.
Fifteen hours with no relief for kitty, definitely line with disposable piddle pads. Ones intended for humans are usable too. Maybe several stacked up, where you can pull off the top, soiled pad if you get an opportunity. Carry extra pads and pre-moistened wipes would be good too. If you can find a “family restroom”, I’d try that for any time you have to open the carrier, so that if the cat tries to escape, you can catch her again.
I’ve flown with a kitty and to the excellent suggestions above I will add that prior to the trip, we put her in the soft-sided carrier and took her to a local shopping mall and walked around for an hour or so several times so she could have that sensory overload. Kitties IMHO are basically homebodies so getting a glimpse of the “agora” might help. We used a leash, pee pads, and definitely kept her with us during the flight. We also selected a seat at the back of the plane and put the carrier in our laps when allowed. I recall she curled up and slept from being overwhelmed during the hour long flight.