I'm flying to LA next week for the summer and will be taking Mikka with me. Apparently in the US you can take them on board as long as they fit under the seat?? I'm not sure if she will, though the bloke at American Airlines said that as long as her carrier is within the dimensions (10H x 11W x 19L) she'll be ok. I don't know if I'll be able to cope her miaowing pitifully for 6 1/2 hours from Boston to LA though.

So the other choice is to check her in, which I'm cool with - she flew from Sydney to Boston so a flight to LA should be ok. But apparently as it's summer, if the temperature is 85 degrees anywhere on the route they won't check her in. So I have to be prepared for her being in the cabin. Has anyone here brought their pet along on an airline flight? What was it like? Did they get stressed on takeoff/landing?

My friend suggested a mild sedative if she's in the cabin (NOT if she's checked in) to make her sleep - I'm thinking I may need the sedative myself! :eek:

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I'd say she's subject to bite you after the trip...Not sure why, but kitties hate traveling, as a rule, anyway. Least wise, I've never had one that liked it.

I would definitely think a sedative (for her at least ;) ) would be helpful, especially if she has been a poor traveller (e.g., in a car) in the past. You want her to be able to sleep, which she won't if she's frightened. Maybe even some anti-anxiety medication would be a good idea?

What would be the logistics of toileting? Tuppy wets herself going in the 5 minute drive to the vet, and while she is a particularly anxious cat, 6 1/2 hours is a long time, plus all the time before and after at the airport and getting to and from, might be 9 hours or more all up. You wouldn't want Mikka having to sit in urine and be all wet and smelly. Plus it would be very smelly for everyone else...

I think she should be able to hold it in - I just have to make sure I don't give her water from 3 hours before the flight. She's pretty good with not weeing where she's not supposed to. She's never weed anywhere but her litter box. In any case, I'm not allowed to take her out of her carrier at all. To tell you the truth, I don't even know if she'll fit under the seat in front of me - these economy seats are getting smaller and smaller these days.

I'd really prefer her to be checked in as a. her kennel is a lot bigger; and b. I won't stress myself out listening to her miaowing. But it depends on temperature conditions. And they'd better make sure they look after her!!!!!

What I'll have to do though is buy her a litter tray and some litter when I get to LA - that'll be fun, finding a PETCO in a city I haven't driven in for years....

That means going without water for 9 1/2 hours Memnoch, I'm not sure that it is a good idea. The air at altitude is very dry and would cause serious dehydration imo, How about after an hour into flight you give her full access to water?

One piece of advice I can give you... make sure the carrier is obviously a carrier. I've seen flight attendants use their feet to push/kick a wayward piece of luggage back under a seat... and hear a startled yelp from its inhabitant. Make sure you don't get a bulkhead seat.

I'd talk to your vet about a sedative of some sort, too. And possibly something to limit urine production, too.

And one final thought... are you flying direct or with a connection? Looks like flight times are around 6-7 hours direct, so add another 1-2 for a connection.

Okay, one more final thought... she has to be stowed underneat for take-off and landing, but not while you're flying. You could put the carrier in your lap and stick an arm in there to comfort her. That may help the kitty complaints.

So have any of you transported your pet with you by air? I'd love to hear from you.

Anyone?

I flew from California to Nebraska with my cat in the cabin. The vet gave me a sedative for her and the only time she went crazy with the Meows was at takeoff and landing. I had a layover in Dallas and bought her a litter box to see if she needed to go but she was so drunk she couldn't walk very good to use it. I would try it again without the sedative it just broke my heart to see her so out of it. My cats have never been big loud mouths but when they get in the car they start throwing fur and bellyaching for a good 10 minutes then quiet down. I was a nervous wreck the whole trip but it worked out well. She was 12 lbs.

I've got friends who've done it a few times, Mario. They recommend that if the cat hates the carrier or long time in it, see the vet for a mild sedative and also , line her crate with someting absorbent (try those puppy pads they make for housetraining a puppy). If she isn't a hyper kitty normally and doesn't mind her crate (get her used to it for a few days if you have the time!) then I'd opt for no sedative too. Makes them kind of groggy, poor things. Still it DOES help when they are likely to hurt themselves clawing at the crate or getting overexcited and frantic! Depends on how she deals with change and strange surroundings, I think. But at least you'd be with her!

No food or water for a few hours before the flight and if you layover for a while, just a few sips of water for her if it's warm.

[ 06-19-2006, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

Clouds, was that when they were in the cabin or travelling as checked cargo? I don't have an issue with her travelling as checked cargo as she's done it before, all the way from Sydney. The vets definitely don't recommend a sedative if the cat is travelling as checked cargo as she can get flung around her crate that way. But if she's in the cabin, it might be ok.

I would probably prefer her to travel in checked cargo as her crate will be a bit bigger that way, instead of the soft shell carrier that I have for her if she was to go in cabin, which is only 10" x 11" x 19". Problem is, if I check her in and it's too hot (85+ degrees) on the travel date in either Boston or LA, they won't check her in.

I don't think she'll meow all that much - she's a pretty chilled out cat, when she's stressed she just stays perfectly still and meows now and then. She can do the most pitiful sounding meows you've ever heard. She won't claw or struggle or anything like that. It's more me I'm worried about, like Nightwing said I'll be a nervous wreck worrying about her if she's in cabin with me - I'll probably need a sedative myself. :D

So the pros and cons of each way I can see are:

TRAVELLING IN CABIN:
Pros:
- I can see her for the entire flight
- there is no risk of her getting lost or whatever
- no hassles with trying to find her when I get to LA
- no temperature hassles to worry about

Cons:
- she might not be comfortable in her soft carrier for 8 hours straight (though I can probably take her out in the airport for a while
- can she hold off from peeing for that long?
- there's a chance they might say she's too big, in which case I would have to check her in anyway
- I may stress myself out if she keeps meowing
- she may annoy other passengers with her meowing
- no provision for water in the soft carrier

TRAVELLING AS CHECKED IN CARGO
Pros:
- bigger crate
- she's done it before
- she can pee in her crate if she has to
- I won't stress myself
- there is provision for water in her crate so she can drink

Cons:
- if temp is too high on the day they won't check her in (in which case I'd be @#$% and would miss my flight)
- (low) risk that she might get lost or left behind or whatever (like baggage does)
- if my departure is delayed she may suffer needlessly in heat, etc.

I'm so stressed about making sure I do the best thing for her. She's a part of the family, after all!

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[ 06-19-2006, 10:40 PM: Message edited by: Memnoch ]

That was IN cabin, Mems. My friends out in the southwest and California don't check them in, they usually take them in cabin if possible and not at all if it's not since heat is an issue most of the time.

They do make a carrier just for fitting under the seats on a plane, but danged if I've seen one lately.. they were hard case but low and wide. If she's a mellow critter about new places/people, then I'd go with IN cabin and no sedatives, just no food or water for several hours before hand. She should be ok for a few hours but if you've got a huge layover or something, you'll have to trek about the airport with her. [img]smile.gif[/img]

PS: Most cats don't mind the snug space for a little while- it feels safe to them, so she may be just fine in that soft sided carrier, just try not to kick her accidentally! :D I'd take her on the flight with me... she's precious cargo and in the summer, if she got left out on the tarmac in that heat.. not good.. delays happen and I'd worry... better she's safe with you, IMO. [img]smile.gif[/img] Be sure you have a harness and leash, though if you intend to take her out of the carrier at all- she may panic and try to run off, you never know!

For the most part, as my vet always said when I traveled with my diabetic cat, years ago, by car, the cat is safe in the carrier, so don't worry! :D

[ 06-19-2006, 10:53 PM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

Actually, I have travelled with cats. The only thing I would suggest is take kitty to the vet for sedative. They tend to do better. When we got to our destination (flight from Sicily to USA) they were seranading the airport. They were fine in a couple days.

Cloudy gives good advice. Let us know how your trip goes.

Well, I took Minky to the vet and got her a mild sedative for tomorrow - the challenge will be getting her to take it. The vet showed me how to get her to swallow it, but I'm guessing he's better at it than me.

I hope they let her on with her carrier - it says its airline approved, but you never know.

Will update everyone on how Jetset Cat went tomorrow! :D

Good luck, dude.

Yes, do let us know! She's a beauty, that one...and now a jetsetter..whew, the limelight is all hers! Buy her a nice glitzy collar and matching rhinestone lead, Maz! :D

Here's hoping all goes well! Oh and if you see this before you pill her.... tip her head back a bit when you put the pill in and try to get the pill back as far as you can, hold her mouth shut for a minute and gently rub under her chin...she should swallow then and she'll lick her nose when she's done that. :D

I'm in LA now - touched down a couple of hours ago and am now in my hotel with Jetset Cat. The pill thing was a no-goer - no matter that I did she refused to have it in her mouth, so I gave up finally. She was pretty quiet on the way there and in the plane actually, I was surprised. I think she went to sleep once the plane levelled off.

The only time I did get stressed was when I arrived in LA - I picked up my bags (it's not fun carrying a cat in a shoulderslung carrier, another bag with my laptop on the other shoulder, and dragging two suitcases all at the same time) and had to go catch the bus to the rental car depots here at LAX. That's when I think she really got scared, because of the sound of all the buses and airbrakes and all that, which was very loud as we were at the kerb. Then I had to line up at Hertz for half an hour to get the car, and then take a golf cart to where it was parked. By the time I got her in the car she was very quiet, which concerned me as she's normally a very talkative cat. But when we got to the hotel and I finally let her out she got herself back to normal again and is playing now. She's a brave cat! :D

Cool, glad to hear she made it ok.

Very glad to hear you made it ok with her! I'm not surprised she slept, cats sleep alot and she probably needed it after being bundled off through the airport and all!

Hope you found a place to stay for the summer and she gets acclimated quickly! Of course... I wouldn't tell her you plan another trip like that in a few months! [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]