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- Aug 16, 2008
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First of all I'm new here, so let me introduce first.
I adopted my kitty 2 years ago from a shelter, black and white long haired boy with really adorable black nose
He's 2.5 years old now, a big boy and yet still growing, healthy, furry, fluffy, curious but scaredy.
Anyway, I'm here to ask for some advice.
I'm moving from NYC to Boston next month, and I don't know what would be the least stressful way for him.
Right now, I have 3 options.
I'm gonna try to be really specific to give you as much info as possible, so please excuse me if this gets too long.
Option 1 would be flying to Boston with him, but there are some things I'm really scared about.
First, he's one of THE most scaredy cat.
I'm seriously concerned about the ridiculous airport security procedure where I need to take him out of the carrier and walk through the metal detector holding him.
I'm 99% sure he WILL freak out and try to run and hide.
He's pretty good walking on harness and leash, but I still feel not safe with it.
I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, but tonight I took him out with the harness on and as soon as my neighbor came out to take out the trash he jumped and somehow broke out of the harness and scared the heck out of me.
(He loves going outside, he just doesn't like people at all, besides me, especially scared of male adults)
I don't even want to think about the same thing happening in a huge crowded airport.
Second, he's a big cat, and there's no way he's gonna fit in the in-cabin carrier as the airline policies suggests.
It's just not possible for him to "stand and sit naturally without touching the top" in a 10" high carrier.
He's at least 15" tall or taller standing casually, 19" when he's sitting. Of course, he has the incredible ability to shrink his body and curl into a little fluffy ball as all the cats have
I really don't want him to be in a cargo area as "checked-luggage" (sounds horrible too) but I'm not sure if any airline would let him ride in the cabin with me since he can't stand or sit in that tiny carrier thing.
Option 2 would be driving to Boston from NYC.
I don't drive, and I don't own a car (never needed a car. it's actually a lot more convenient without a car here) so I have to find someone to drive me up there.
It's about 200 miles, and depending on the traffic it might take 4-6 hours to get there by driving.
And if I find someone to drive, then that person (most likely gonna be one of my friends or family) has to drive back to NYC alone and I feel really bad for asking a favor like this.
The advantages of driving over flying is that I don't have to go through the nasty airport security, don't have to buy an extra carrier, and we could avoid crowded area.
But I'm not so sure how he will hold up for 4-6 hours driving. He only rode car twice so far, once on the day I adopted him and drove back home from shelter, and to the vet for checkup.
Option 3 is cancel my lifeplan and stay here forever
Whatever the transportation method would be, all I'm looking for is a safe and least stressful way to get there with my lovely but cowardly cat...
I appreciate any suggestions and advice.
Thanks in advance!
I adopted my kitty 2 years ago from a shelter, black and white long haired boy with really adorable black nose
He's 2.5 years old now, a big boy and yet still growing, healthy, furry, fluffy, curious but scaredy.
Anyway, I'm here to ask for some advice.
I'm moving from NYC to Boston next month, and I don't know what would be the least stressful way for him.
Right now, I have 3 options.
I'm gonna try to be really specific to give you as much info as possible, so please excuse me if this gets too long.
Option 1 would be flying to Boston with him, but there are some things I'm really scared about.
First, he's one of THE most scaredy cat.
I'm seriously concerned about the ridiculous airport security procedure where I need to take him out of the carrier and walk through the metal detector holding him.
I'm 99% sure he WILL freak out and try to run and hide.
He's pretty good walking on harness and leash, but I still feel not safe with it.
I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, but tonight I took him out with the harness on and as soon as my neighbor came out to take out the trash he jumped and somehow broke out of the harness and scared the heck out of me.
(He loves going outside, he just doesn't like people at all, besides me, especially scared of male adults)
I don't even want to think about the same thing happening in a huge crowded airport.
Second, he's a big cat, and there's no way he's gonna fit in the in-cabin carrier as the airline policies suggests.
It's just not possible for him to "stand and sit naturally without touching the top" in a 10" high carrier.
He's at least 15" tall or taller standing casually, 19" when he's sitting. Of course, he has the incredible ability to shrink his body and curl into a little fluffy ball as all the cats have
I really don't want him to be in a cargo area as "checked-luggage" (sounds horrible too) but I'm not sure if any airline would let him ride in the cabin with me since he can't stand or sit in that tiny carrier thing.
Option 2 would be driving to Boston from NYC.
I don't drive, and I don't own a car (never needed a car. it's actually a lot more convenient without a car here) so I have to find someone to drive me up there.
It's about 200 miles, and depending on the traffic it might take 4-6 hours to get there by driving.
And if I find someone to drive, then that person (most likely gonna be one of my friends or family) has to drive back to NYC alone and I feel really bad for asking a favor like this.
The advantages of driving over flying is that I don't have to go through the nasty airport security, don't have to buy an extra carrier, and we could avoid crowded area.
But I'm not so sure how he will hold up for 4-6 hours driving. He only rode car twice so far, once on the day I adopted him and drove back home from shelter, and to the vet for checkup.
Option 3 is cancel my lifeplan and stay here forever
Whatever the transportation method would be, all I'm looking for is a safe and least stressful way to get there with my lovely but cowardly cat...
I appreciate any suggestions and advice.
Thanks in advance!