Kittens and air travel

This is my second post.  Thanks to those who helped with the flea issue on the kittens.  The fleas are gone, the litter is now 9 weeks old, had their first vet visit, first shots, all developing well, almost completely weaned.  I am going to help by taking one of the kittens from Ft. Polk back home to NJ.  I had hoped to bring 2 with the thought that they would comfort each other during the trip.  Alas that is not to be, Delta permits 2 animals in a carrier, the connecting airline does not so one it will be.  Reservations are made, kitten will be 11+ weeks old when the trip takes place.  One hour in the car to the airport, the wait at the airport, 2 hours to Atlanta, 2 hour layover,, 2+ hours to Newark, 30 minutes in the car.  Any advice on how to make the kitten less stressed during the trip?   

There will be a kitten room set up when we finally get home, I will be bringing a blanket in the carrier that contains the "group scent" so the kitten has something familiar during the trip and once it gets to a house that already has 2 cats.  Introductions at home will not take place for a least 2 weeks.  What I have never done is travel by plane with a kitten so please share if you have something.

I have never traveled with my cats.  The 15 minute drive to the vet is 15 minutes too long for my cat and the end destination is not looked forward too.

There are a couple articles on TCS regarding traveling with cats.

 [article="29652"]Traveling With Cats​[/article]  

 [article="30165"]36 Awesome Tips For Road Tripping With Your Cat​[/article]  

There are also a bunch of threads about traveling with cats.  Just use the search bar and you will find them.

F fanwoodguy

I am assuming your kitten will be traveling as a carry-on?

The kitten will ideally be fed and have used the litter box before travel begins that day. You will need to at least offer the kitten dry kitten chow and water during the layover in Atlanta, but do not let her out!

Line the carrier with doggie pee pads in case the kitten needs to go pee or poop. Line it so that a pad that is soiled can be removed and disposed of.

The kitten should be okay for the trip if there are no unusual delays. It's a shame you could not bring two with you.

What is happening with the rest of the litter that are staying behind?

Yes this will be a carry on, the carrier arrived yesterday.  Soft sided, meets the size requirements for both express jet and delta.  Express jet policy is one animla per passenger per carrier.  Delta would have permitted 2.  Flight is later in the day so the last feeding will be about 3 hours prior to the car ride to the airport.  I have access to pads so that should not be an issue.  

One of the liter will stay with Mom. given the hours my son works, I have advised him keeping one kitten will keep Mom occupied.  She is going to be neutered as soon as she stops nursing.  The are still suckling at 9 weeks.  After they are 11-12 weeks old someone at the vets office offered to take 2, we will see.  Two other potential adoptees have already dropped out.  The base also has it's own rescue group with a shelter but it seems to be more dog centric.  That will be a last resort.  The mother cat was clearly a dump, probably someone was transferred and the cat was just put out.  She is micro chipped but a call to the company did not get an owner response.  

The picture is when they were just over 3 weeks old around June 2.  

So to those of you traveling with cats be aware TSA requires you remove the animal from the carrier so they can x-ray the case.  I asked for and received access to an office space in case the kitten bolted.  She did not.  Otherwise, despite 2+ hours in two different cars, 4 hours air time on two different planes, a 2 hour flight delay and a 2 hour layover the trip went well.  Carrier was not soiled and the flight attendants took pity on my or liked the kitten so much the scotch was free.  

I'm glad the trip was successful! Thank you for the update and the heads up! [emoji]128522[/emoji]