Airline Travel with a Cat

Hello M.,

Sorry, don't have any suggestions for this problem... don't have any pets, just wanted to say WELCOME to Irvine!! I just moved here almost two years ago, and I love it.

Best wishes...
C.

Although I understand your love of your cat...bringing him onboard where other people are can be life threatening to people like me...I am deathly allergic to cats, in some cases I can barely breathe and I am not an asthmatic person. Animals should not be allowed on board.

Dear M.:

http://www.catsunited.com/html/air_line_travel.html

This site has instructions by airline including measurements. Just so you know (and the person who responded below), the cat must remain within the carrier at all times.

M.

We traveled from the Philadelphia area to central coast California two years ago. We have six cats! My husband and I made three flights back and forth to get them all here safely. The med. sized sherpa is fine. He may seem cramped in there but he will feel safe. Make sure you leave the bag out well in advance for him to sniff it and get familiar with it. Put absorbent padding like a diaper under a soft blankie or towel he is used to sleeping on. Do not bring any toys or the airline attendees may take them. It is also a good idea to have a harness and leash on him (one with no metal if possible) so you do not lose him in the airport. You will be asked to take him out of the bag to go through security.
Don't stress. It will be ok. Best of luck on your new journey life has brought you. I wish you the best.
J. and Arroyo Grande, Ca

Measure the size of the bag and give them the measurements. Or if the airport is close go directly to the ticket counter before you buy your ticket and ask the agent if it is exceptable. Can they give you a discount ticket for seat? You might want to call your local vet they are a really good source of information for travel. I have two cats that I love very much as well. Let us know your progress.Welcome to Irvine.
Best P.
ps. SH is correct be sure to ask the vet about food and water before your flight. We also have a good vet for you when you arrive.

At first I sent a private message to Kim M but I thought it should be shared with the public:

Are you mad??? Some of us are HIGHLY allergic!!!!!!! This is unbelievable! If ever I got on a plane and someone had a cat with them, I would be beyond mad and to let it out in the restroom so that I could break out in hives?!!! What is the matter with you people!!!

I understand you love your cat but there are many people like myself who are HIGHLY allergic and break out in rashes, hives etc... please consider how we might feel.

You should be able to find the measurements of the underseat area on the airline website. But ... I would go with the smaller one - I know it is cramped, but they will force cargo if it doesn't fit under the seat, so I would rather my cat be cramped, than in cargo. I traveled with my 2 cats in cabin a few years ago. Just be sure to call the airline and reserve an in-cabin space to guarantee the trip. I think it is 120.00$ Good luck and I hope the trip goes well!

I would go with the medium size. I used that size with my Maine Coon, and he fit in it just fine. While I'm sure that you could probably fit a large under the seat, it would just squish down to the size of a medium, anyway, offering your cat no benefit, and it is possible that the airline would give you trouble, whereas the medium fits their specifications (I also flew Continental).

Also, as a pp said, a harness is a good idea. I did have to take my cat out of the carrier to go through security, and he was, of course, quite scared. Having a harness on him allowed me to have a secure enough grip that I wasn't worried about him breaking free and getting lost in the airport.

go to the TSA website, to make sure of travel with a pet.
www.tsa.gov Or, perhaps you can call them.
There are size/weight restrictions, and per "carry-on's" and what will or will not fit under a seat. If you cat carrier does not fit under a seat... then where will he/she go? Ask the airline... or perhaps, you need to buy a seat for your cat? Like you would do for a child....

Or, call your local pet store and ask them about it, and what their customers have said.

Or, go online and research it... and see what people have commented. You can also go to www.amazon.com, and read the reviews there... Amazon sells this bag. Or, Amazon has an "approved" pet carrier bag that is approved per Delta Airlines. Can you switch Airlines or have you purchased your tickets already?

Good luck,
Susan

welcome to irvine! talk to the airline to be sure, i used to travel with my cat all the time, there is usually a fee and you have to have proof of the vacines.

I know the medium size carriers actually fix. I use to travel back a forth between TX and CA with my dogs. I say that you go with the medium size one. Get an aisle seat and every so often take you cat to the the restroom and let it out for a bit.

I used the medium size with my 13 pound dog with no problems. I was way more stressed about it than they were. As long as it can fit under the seat in front of you it is fine.

Put him on a diet LOL

I was going to suggest that you call the airline and get the exact measurements of the area for under the seat carry on but it looks like you have plenty of suggestions. I also want to say that the people that are being negative about your choice can stuff it! Take your cat with you on the flight. Baggage would be too stressful. If you are worried about allregies (or just neurotic people) have your cat bathed a couple days before you fly. What people are allergic to is the dried spit from cleaning themselves. If that is kept to a minimum then there should be no issue. Good luck in Irvine! If you get your kitty groomed on a regular basis and are interested in finding a good groomer out here let me know. There aren't too many that do cats but the grooming shop I work at does and it's the owner that does them. (and we aren't terribly far from Irvine!)

~V