Traveling with Cats

Travel By Air

Don't be surprised if you encounter difficulty booking your cat's travel. The Federal Aviation Administration has made security changes since the terrorist attacks that affect how pets are shipped. Professional pet transporters have the necessary licenses to move pets with the airlines, but only a few airlines will currently still deal directly with the public. Depending on the airline, one or two cats may be allowed in the cabin as a carry-on, or can be booked as excess baggage with you on the same flight in the cargo area of the plane.

Many people worry about the safety of their pets during air travel. According to airline estimates, nearly two million pets a year are shipped. Each year there will be one or two well-publicized accidents to cause concern, but actual airline statistics report less than 30 animal injuries or deaths per year. Most accidents happen due to poor planning, improper crates, tranquilization or human error. Sometimes things are truly an accident with no one is to blame (unless the pet itself is to blame!).

Whether you have help from a professional or do it yourself, certain requirements for air travel need to be met.

• Follow the Rules: An airline-approved shipping crate is required. For travel in the cabin, a soft-sided carrier may be used. But for travel as cargo or in the baggage area, the crate must be plastic with a metal door. It should be big enough for the cat to sit up, turn around and lie down in. The less expensive carriers are not the safest. The higher-priced crates are made of sturdier fiberglass, rather than plastic, and have stronger doors that will not fly open. Each crate must be labeled with live animal stickers, consignee information, feeding instructions, and have two dishes attached to the door. These are federal regulations that must be met.
• Provide Timely Proof: Every cat needs a health certificate and proof of rabies vaccine. The Animal Welfare Act says the health certificate must be dated no more than 10 days prior to the trip. If it expires a new one will be required.
• Say No to Drugs: The American Veterinary Medical Association and the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association do not recommend tranquilizing your cat for flying. It is now widely recognized that tranquilizers are the number one cause of illness and deaths in pets shipped by air. Several airlines will now also refuse to accept a tranquilized pet. Better to have a pet soil the crate, but arrive safe and sound. Travel by air is stressful no doubt; but healthy pets survive a few hours of travel quite nicely. Pad the bottom of the carrier with plastic diapers (padding turned up) to help absorb any accidents that might occur.
• Understand Delays: Excessive heat and cold can prohibit pet shipments. Each airline can put an embargo in place to prevent moving a pet when it is less than 45 degrees, or more than 85 degrees at either end, or at any stop along the way, if they will be exposed to these temperatures for more than 45 minutes. Professional pet transporters and airlines must abide by these federal regulations. Therefore, even if you have your cat booked to go with you as excess baggage, temperatures may prohibit it traveling on that day. This is for the health and safety of your pet.

Planning and common sense can alleviate most of the problems encountered when traveling with your cat. Fluffy may never love traveling, but you can help make it easier. For more complex moves the use a professional pet transporter for air travel is not the least expensive alternative, but may be the best choice, when moving the cat yourself becomes overwhelming. Professional pet shippers are licensed by the USDA for interstate travel and have a TSA approved security program. They will handle all the documents for arrangements with the airline and to meet the FAA/TSA requirements.