Car or plane?

gatinha

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Hi all,

I will be moving with my 2 boys from CA to the midwest this summer. I have 2options:
1. My husband can drive with them in the car (he's moving before me, in June)
2. I can fly with them when I go in July (I plan to fly anyway)

We haven't decided yet whether to use aceprozamine or not, but that's a different question altogether. The issue I am trying to decide is whether to go with option 1 or 2. The cats really hate the car (the 20 min drive to the vet is torture), and I am wondering if this automatically means that they will hate the plane as well. I figure that the plane has less motion, so it may be less bad. Also, if they DO hate the plane, at least it's a shorter torture for them (even with having to change planes). And I would not check them in the cargo, they'd go under the seat (even if I have to purchase 2 seats). So I guess I'm wondering is: for those of you whose cats hate cars, do they hate planes too? Is there a way to assess that ahead of time?
Thanks
 
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gatinha

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I forgot to add that my cats are big-- they each weigh about 17 lbs. Would they fit comfortably under an airplane seat, even if just for take off and landing?
 

goldenkitty45

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Check with the airlines re: 2 cats - I know they will allow 2 animals on board, but not sure if that means 1 or 2 people. I have flown with cats - most times they are ok - worse part is take off and landing - in the air they are quiet.

Do NOT sedate the cats! They sometimes have bad reactions even if the vet says its ok. I have never sedated a cat when travelling.

The soft-sided carriers are best for under the seat travelling. Not sure if they would fit in a soft-sided carrier - my biggest cats flying were 7 lb!
 

butterflyy

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I would go for the plane route if I were you. As long as you will be right there with them on the plane and they aren't in cargo I think it will be just fine. They will be stressed out no matter what, but at least the flight is shorter.
 

emmylou

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If the cats were smaller and could fit comfortably in one carrier, the airline would allow it. But since they're both 17 pounds, they'll need separate carriers, and the airline won't let you take both as a single passenger... since you couldn't fit two carriers under one seat.

So that may solve the problem for you. Unless you bring another flyer who can take the second cat.
 
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gatinha

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Originally Posted by emmylou

If the cats were smaller and could fit comfortably in one carrier, the airline would allow it. But since they're both 17 pounds, they'll need separate carriers, and the airline won't let you take both as a single passenger... since you couldn't fit two carriers under one seat.

So that may solve the problem for you. Unless you bring another flyer who can take the second cat.
Actually, a friend would be flying with me-- so we'd each have a cat and a seat. American Airlines is apparently the only airline that will allow cats up to 20 lbs, so I'd have to use them.

Still exploring my options...
 

februa

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I flew with Manytoes from Toronto to Edmonton in September of last year. Manytoes does not like the cat carrier, and does not like the car. He did not like the airport. But he didnt seem to care about flying. When we got to the new apartment he was sketchy as he low-to-the-ground scoped out the new place, but had no after effects etc. He didnt throw up or anything the whole time....
I would definately go the flying route. If your cats dislike transportation, its a much shorter trip for them to make.
 

bab-ush-niik

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N one's actually going to weigh your cat. I flew with United/American West, and all was fine. Puppy is 15 lbs. In general, no one knows what going on some examples:

1) There's limits for how big your carrier can be. Ignore them. Just get the largest carrier from Sherpa. It fits fine under the seats, and no one's going to measure it.

2) A pet ticket costs $80, which I paid for. No one ever asked to see it.

3) Only two pets are allowed per plane, which is why you have to reserve ahead of time. There were three pets on our plane (our cat plus two small dogs)

4) You have to have paperwork from the vet certiying rabies vaccine, etc. No one checked that either.

5) There's some size limit about the pets, usually weight and size. Puppy was actually 1 inch too long and 1 inch too tall. No one every noticed. When I took him out of the carrier to get through security, someone remarked that he was a big kitty. That was it.

If the cat hates cars, they'll hate the plane. However, the plane engineer will drown all but the loudest meows. Sedatives didn't work so well for us, but your choice.

Oh, and do NOT fly through Las Vegas. All pets in that terminal were freaking out due to the noise and commotion. Puppy was crying the entire time in that terminal.
 

littleraven7726

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we moved from wisconsin to california, then back again. we drove, and did not sedate the cats. we also moved from wisconsin to iowa (4+ hour drive) a couple years ago, and did not sedate them.

my reasoning for not sedating, was we were driving through the desert. and i had read that sedation could mess with their ability to control body heat. i didn't want them overheating through the desert. we had AC in the car, but it was working hard to keep everyone comfortable. now i don't use sedation because they are usually ok. they meow for a while, then go to sleep. our biggest problem with the last move is my 2 older cats can't hold their bladder like they could when they were younger. and they didn't want to use the travel litter pan with the last trip. so make sure you have extra towels, baby wipes, and a plastic bag to put any soiled bedding in.
 

erinandseamus

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I did have my paperwork checked once on a flight. No one has ever weighed or measured the cats or their carriers though.

I just finished a move. Gator, who cries the entire 30 min trip to the vet, was fine once we got on the highway. He's fine in a plane too. I think they prefer it as they get to spy on all kinds of interesting sights through their sherpa bags.
 
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