How to Travel by Plane with Your Cat

Sometimes we just don’t want to leave home without our feline friend. Traveling by plane with your cat requires careful preparations so leave yourself plenty of time to accomplish the steps below.

Step 1: The most important thing you can do in preparing to fly with your cat is to call the airline! You need to know the airline’s policies on cats traveling in the main cabin. (You do not want your cat to travel in the cargo section of the plane!) Ask about the additional cost to you and the size restrictions on the crate.

Step 2: Reserve a non-stop flight for you can your cat. Traveling by plane and sitting in an airport can be traumatizing enough for cats; you don’t want to subject your pet to lengthy layovers. Also, make sure you secure an advanced reservation for your cat and get a confirmation.

Step 3: Purchase a soft sided crate for the journey, keeping in mind the restrictions the airline places on size. The crate will need to be large enough to accommodate your cat comfortably, but small enough to fit under the seat in front of you for takeoff and landing.

Step 4: Make an appointment with your vet. He can recommend and prescribe a tranquilizer or sedative. There has been much debate about the safety and reliability of tranquilizers and the vet can provide some alternatives such as Benadryl or a hormone spray, if you prefer.

Step 5: Gather the necessary health records. Typically, airlines want health records that are no older than 7-10 days, so this might be something you need to get from your vet while you are there. Also, make sure your cat has proper identification tags on his collar.

Step 6: On the day of travel, place a toy in your cat’s crate as a means of comforting her. Restrict or limit food and water for a few hours before departure to avoid any untimely accidents. About an hour before the flight, administer any drugs you’ve decided to give your cat.

Step 7: Throughout the flight, talk with your cat in a soft voice and try to keep her calm by praising her and petting her. But no matter how tempted you are, do not take your cat out of her crate during the flight!

With these preparations, you and your cat should have happy and safe travels!

This article was provided by pet-super-store an online pet supplies store featuring patio pet doors.