Bringing A Cat On A Plane

Francine hicks the northeast regional director of the international cat association.

Bringing a cat on a plane.

If you don t want your cat crying the entire flight try to get them used to being in the carrier beforehand. Passengers are allowed to carry their cat s or dog s food in either their carry on bag or checked bags. You should then carry your cat in your arms through the human screening device. Follow us on twitter.

In either option your cat must remain in the carrier for the entire flight. Pets can t travel with unaccompanied minors. Taking a cat or kitten along on a commercial flight can seem like a straightforward idea but the logistics can mount. Bring a cat harness for airport security.

So you will need to attach a harness to your cat with a leash to prevent him from escaping. You may face additional costs not to mention documentation requirements and. They can either travel in the cabin with you or as cargo in a temp controlled pressurized environment. Your cat s travel carrier must go through the luggage x ray screening device at the airport but your cat cannot.

For many people traveling with cats using the cabin rather than cargo for transport is the best option. There are two ways for cats to travel via airplane. Typically animals traveling by cargo are over 11 inches tall or weigh over 15 pounds. If you fly your cat as cargo you either check them in like bags on the same aircraft you are flying on or you can ship them as cargo if you are not accompanying them.

Cats are small and tend to get nervous requiring physical contact and attention. Puppies and kittens must be at least four months 16 weeks old. Water may be advisable for cats traveling in cargo on long flights for cats traveling in. While this may seem more like shipping your pet it s actually quite safe and can be less stressful for the owner.

Feed your cat at least five hours in advance of travel and avoid giving water within one hour of flight. If you want to bring aboard an additional pet you ll need to buy an extra ticket for that pet and pay an additional 125 each way.