pooping in her carrier

My 11-year old cat starting pooping in her carrier when she was about three. It's almost an automatic response to being in the thing for more than one minute. Since we don't travel much, it's never been a huge issue - she just has to get a bath every year when we come home from the vet. But we're moving across the country soon and I am pretty sure I will have to fly. I can't imagine subjecting strangers to the rank stuff she produces when she's in the carrier. I don't want to sedate her, but I can't think of anything else to do. Does anyone else have experience with this problem or advice?

Fasting before putting her in the carrier might help, but it might not. Since you say she defecates right after being put in the carrier, I'd simply take her out of the carrier and change the newspaper in the carrier after she defecates. If you can do this fairly quickly, this should prevent any of the feces from getting on her. At the very least, make sure that there are several layers of newspaper so she can bury the feces, or at least reduce the chance of having to sit on them.

Also, pet carriers can smell bad. Don't worry about subjecting strangers to anything. You're paying to move an animal, and feces are part of the deal.