Flying with a Cat as a Carry On

Suki and I are flying across the country late tonight, so I thought I would blog about what we bring when we travel and how we prepare. Suki has flown cross country on 16 different airplanes since we got her 2 years ago (4 trips - 2 planes there, 2 planes back) and I have never given her tranquilizers and we have also never had any accidents. She is totally chill about traveling by plane.

What to Pack

• Pet Duffle with Mesh Sides (the one we use is Sherpa brand, size Medium)
• Calming Treats (for taking off & landing)
• Regular Treats
• A Blanket (I pack one that Suki sleeps with at night)
• A New Toy
• Wet Food (for when you get to your destination)
• Dry Food (for when you get to your destination)
• Identification (Make sure your cat is wearing a collar or has a chip in case anything should happen and you get separated.)
• Rabies Certificate (I always bring this just in case someone asks)
• Last Check Up Receipt/Summary (I bring this too in case someone asks for some reason)

What to do before you leave

The first and foremost thing you need to do before you even book your flight is to check with the airline and see if there is room for your cat in the cabin. Most of the time there is absolutely no problem, but sometimes flights have a 2-4 pet maximum in the cabin, so it is important to reserve your spot.

Pet Fees for Domestic Trips in the USA:
• Delta: $125 each way -  View Delta Pet Policy
• Jet Blue: $100 each way - View Jet Blue Pet Policy
• United: $125 each way - View United Pet Policy
• Southwest: $75 each way - View Southwest Pet Policy
• US Airways: $125 each way - View US Airways Pet Policy
• American Airlines: $125 each way - View American Airlines Pet Policy

Suki has never peed or pooped in her duffle bag. I don't pack litter or anything like that, but I do sometimes put in some newspaper just in case. The trick is to take food away 8 hours before you have to leave for the flight. This gives your cat 8 hours to visit the litter box, but then not fill up on anything that will make them have to go while you are on the plane. Think of it as a half-day cleanse with snacks. Suki is too stimulated at the airport and on the plane to eat more than a few treats anyway. Figure out when you need to leave to be at the airport on time, and set a cut off time for food & water for the cat.

What happens at the airport

When you are traveling with a cat as a carry on, you have to go to the counter to get your tickets. They sometimes stamp your ticket that says "Fee Paid" with a dog or cat face, and that lets everyone you give your ticket to know that you're pet is approved. If you weren't asked to pay the fee over the phone when you checked with the airline, this is also when you would pay the pet fee.

After you get your tickets, you make your way to the security check point. This is the only part that I find nerve-racking because you need to take your cat out of the duffle bag, and carry her through a metal detector. Suki is normally pretty freaked out and clings to me, and I also hold her super tight, so we never have a problem. After the duffle goes through the scanner, you can then put the cat back in and keep her in until you get to your destination.

Taking Off

Most airlines don't let you sit in the middle seat when you are traveling with a pet, so hopefully you have reserved an aisle or a window. If you didn't, try to get reassigned or ask to switch with someone. The duffle goes under the seat in front of you. I have the medium size Sherpa bag which fits perfectly under airline seats. I am not sure how well the large size would fit, so I would not recommend getting that one. Place the bag under the seat in front of you with the mesh facing you so that your cat can watch you the whole time and feel safer.

After the duffle is in place, I usually put a calming treat in Suki's bag while people are boarding the plane. She meows quite a bit here because she knows what we're doing at this point and is not thrilled. Most people will notice you have a cat at this point, so have your speech prepared. Mine is something like this:

"Yeah, she's Siamese. We're visiting family and I hate leaving her behind. She's flown like 15 times. Yeah - she's never had any accidents or anything. Its hard to hear the meows over the plane engine, so thankfully its not too annoying for everyone."

Suki meows a little crazily when the plane is taking off, most likely because her ears are popping. Once the plane straightens out, she calms down a bit. I pet her occasionally and slip in some regular treats every once and a while so she knows I'm still with her. Suki mostly sleeps once we are up in the air though.

Landing

Same as taking off, Suki meows a little more here. Once the plane has landed, and you are allowed to move a little bit, I put the duffle bag on my lap and put my hand back in it to pet. When you are exiting the plane, make sure you say Thank You to the stewardesses and the pilot! They kept you and your feline safe so they deserve it!

Few Last Things... 

Don't be afraid to take a cat as a carry on on flights with stops. I've done it before (it is pretty unavoidable when traveling across the country). Suki knows once she is in the bag, there is no getting out until we get home, and I think she feels pretty safe in it.

Make sure you are prepared if you are traveling to a colder place than your cat is used to - have a blanket or a little vest so they don't shiver. Suki has traveled from California to New York in the middle of winter, and she did not have a winter coat so I had her wear a vest. She was fine with that on.

That's pretty much it! It's not as difficult or traumatizing as you might think. My cat just likes to be included and hates being left behind - so if your cat is like that, you'll be good on the plane. Plus, once they do it once - they will be fine in the future.

Have you ever flown with a cat? Leave a comment!