Travelling with two 10 month old kittens in airplane cargo for Christmas - any thoughts?

I have two ragdoll kittens who will be 10 months at Christmas time. I live alone with them in Switzerland, a country I moved to a couple of years ago and where I don't have many personal ties. This makes it difficult to go away, particularly at Christmas since I imagine many people will not be interested in cat sitting but actually spending time with their own family and friends.

As I too would like to go back to Chicago to spend time with my family and friends, I thought about bringing them with me as checked cargo on Swiss airlines. 

I do realise that it would be better to leave them behind as I read a number of articles about the risks and stress of airplane travel on cats, and travelling during weather that is too hot/cold, which is another consideration that is not completely possible to plan for. But I also have concerns about finding anyone who could watch them for 10 days or more at Christmas and New Years. This means that I would not be able to go back home and would have to spend Christmas alone - not a great thought.

If I took them with me, I could probably stay longer as well - more like 2.5 or 3 weeks.

I would just like to gauge people's thoughts on the topic. I imagine that I am not the first one to have this idea or do it.

Many thanks.

Konuku said:

Many thanks.

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Hi

Speaking personally I would absolutely not  do this, and under no circumstances in the cargo hold.  It will be an awful experience for them, easily gate to gate 10+ hours in a carrier defecating and urinating, and sliding around in all of it.  There is a higher mortality rate for transporting in the hold, even higher if you tranquilize and it is unfair to them, and you may have very traumatized cats at the other end, who may take a long time to recover, and then they have to repeat this horrible experience again 2 weeks later, with you in great fear.  Or you end up leaving them in chicago....

The only circumstance under which i would consider this is in the hold, under the seat, most airlines allow 2 cats per flight, with a reservation, health cert, proof of rabies, and a fee (and whatever else is required).  I would bring baby wipes, paper towels, zip lock bags (for waste disposal) and not feed them within 3-5 hours of the flight to discourage pooping, and personally (again) i would only do this if i was moving  to chicago to stay.

As hard as it may be to find a cat sitter its easier than what you're about to embark on.  Worst case, you can board your cats at a vet or boarding facility.  It may cost more, but its the humane thing to do from the cat's POV.

Not that i have an opinion....

Thanks for your opinion. Just so you know, I know of NO airline that allows 2 cats in the cabin unless you are 2 people - one cat per person and their rules seem to be very firm. So that is not an option.

I think your case is an extreme scenario as I have read about lots of people taking their cats on longer haul flights and they are absolutely fine. Their cats never seemed to poop and pee all over the carrier either. I have read about cats being able to hold urinating for up to 21 hours, not that they should be doing that on a regular basis.

I will probably look for other options anyway. It just won't be easy as some catteries are closed at Christmas in Switzerland.

I got one reply from quite a basic cattery that said that they will be open for Christmas, so that is a plus. Not sure if I like the idea of them being in cages, for 10+ days but at least it's something. Waiting to hear back from a nicer one where the cats run freely in her home (she is a behavior vet). Fingers crossed.

See if you can travel with them in the cabin.  Under NO circumstances put them in the cargo hold.

Konuku said:

 
I got one reply from quite a basic cattery that said that they will be open for Christmas, so that is a plus. Not sure if I like the idea of them being in cages, for 10+ days but at least it's something. Waiting to hear back from a nicer one where the cats run freely in her home (she is a behavior vet). Fingers crossed.

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I'd rather put my cat in a cage for a month rather than put them in the hold for any duration, let alone a 10+ hour trip.