“Journeying with a cat is not just about changing locations, it’s about weaving a tapestry of shared adventures and memories, one purr at a time.”
Traveling with a pet can be daunting, especially if it’s your first time flying with your feline friend. Rebecca, an experienced cat owner who frequently travels with her cat Wendy, shares her insights on how to make the journey smooth for both you and your pet.
I was curious as to exactly HOW to travel with a cat on a plane. I’ve seen it done many times as a casual observer and have wondered what actually goes into the process. As I have mentioned a few times already, I have a few trips I am planning over the next few months or so, and something tells me that my cat Penny might be coming along to explore with me.
So I couldn’t think of a better way to learn all about the process than from a seasoned cat traveling pro like Rebecca. She agreed to a quick interview with me to answer a few questions for all of us that might want to travel with our feline friends. And for me, the best part about this interview was, it was with my daughter 🙂
Q. What are some initial steps to prepare for traveling with a cat?
A. When preparing to travel with a cat, it’s essential to consider airline policies and costs associated with bringing a pet onboard. For instance, Rebecca has experience flying Delta where she notes that pets are counted as carry-on items and typically cost around $95-$125. It’s crucial to ensure that any other item you bring fits the personal item size requirements since the pet carrier will take up space under the seat in front of you.
Q. Are there specific airline restrictions or documentation needed when flying with cats?
A. Airlines may have limitations on the number of animals per flight, so it’s advisable to inform them when booking your ticket that you’ll be traveling with an animal. At check-in, you will most likely provide details like your cat’s name, weight, and age; they’ll give you a tag for the carrier. There isn’t usually a per-pound charge for pets.
Q. How do you manage food and bathroom needs for your cat during flights?
A. For short flights (under three hours), cats like Wendy typically don’t need food or bathroom breaks during transit. Some owners choose not to feed their cats before longer flights to avoid bathroom needs mid-flight—a strategy that requires balancing hunger against potential messes.
Q. What tips do you have for getting a cat into its travel bag without stress?
A. To minimize stress when placing Wendy in her bag, Rebecca uses tricks such as cleaning out the litter box right before departure because Wendy tends to use it immediately after cleaning—this encourages her to go before being confined in her carrier.
Q. What type of travel bag is best suited for air travel with cats?
A. Soft-sided bags are preferable over hard plastic carriers because they fit under airplane seats better and offer more comfort for pets during flight—ensuring enough room inside is key so that cats can turn around comfortably.
Q. Are there any additional tips or considerations when taking your cat through airport security?
A. Private screening rooms can be requested at TSA checkpoints. If handling your pet in public areas feels risky—don’t hesitate to ask for one if it makes you feel more secure about keeping control over your pet during this process.
“Traveling with a cat is like having a small piece of home with you, no matter how far from home you roam—a familiar purr in new places.”
While each cat is unique and may react differently to travel situations, careful planning and a complete understanding or the airline policies can significantly ease the experience of flying with feline companions. Ensuring their comfort with a well-chosen carrier and familiar items can make the skies friendlier for your pet. By anticipating their needs and preparing for the unexpected, you can turn a potentially stressful situation into a smooth adventure for both you and your whiskered co-traveler.
The questions and answers above were some bullet points of the conversation we had about her experiences traveling with Wendy. I learned a lot. Kinda fun when you can learn a few tips from your daughter.
I honestly felt a little more at ease and am sure that I will recall this interview when I take Penny off into the friendly skys on our next adventure.
I included the full interview below for more about traveling with a cat!
The Actual Interview: Tips for Traveling with Your Cat from an Experienced Cat Owner
“In the quiet hum of the airplane, there’s a comforting continuity in the presence of a cat. Each shared glance is a reminder that no matter the distance, travel is just another path we walk together, paws and feet in tandem.”
Traveling with pets can be a daunting experience for many, but with the right preparation and knowledge, it can be a smooth process. In this blog post, we’ll explore the insights of Rebecca, an experienced cat owner who has traveled extensively with her feline companion, Wendy. Let’s dive into their conversation about the ins and outs of flying with a cat.
Michael: All right, so we’re going to set the stage here. I am speaking to my daughter Rebecca right now. She’s got some experience traveling with a cat. A lot more than I do to say the least. I am however, somebody who wants to travel with my cat and I’m pretty interested in trying to find out her perspective on all of this. I mean, she just kind of shows up with this cat in a bag and it seems like it is such easy experience. At least she makes it seam that way. I kind of dread the thought of even doing this myself, so I personally hope I learn a few things. So why don’t we just start by introducing Rebecca here now. Rebecca! Hi! Let’s start by telling us just a little bit about your cat.
Rebecca: Well, thank you so much for having me. My cat’s name is Wendy. She is about two or three years old, something like that. She’s been flying with me pretty much since she was a kitten. She has always been with me on planes when I travel. And so yeah, she’s come with me pretty much every summer, every Christmas, and every holiday, back and forth between New York and Florida. She’s a pro at it!
Michael: Wow. It sounds like you’re a pro at this as well. In fact, I’ve seen you come through security again with the cat in the bag like there was no problems whatsoever. You make it look effortless. Without any extra bags either.
I mean, I remember when we used to take you on a plane when you were young. It seems like Mommy always had a bag of tricks to get through the flight. God knows what was in that thing! But anyway, I guess that leads me to my next question or series of questions.
- What do you do to prepare and plan for taking a cat on a plane?
- What airlines have you flown on and specifically kind of what are their policies?
- How much does it cost to to bring a pet or to bring a cat?
- Do you keep the cat with you on the plane or does she go underneath with all of the cold luggage?
Rebecca: Well, I’ve only had experience flying Delta. Dogs and cats are allowed on pretty much all airlines, but I’ve only had experience with Delta just because that’s who I have a program with. She stays with me; she goes under the seat in front of me. One thing to note is that they do count the animal as a carry-on, even though it goes under the seat, which is usually your personal item. So you have to make sure your other item is small enough to be considered your personal item. But yeah, I fly with Delta, you know, it’s pretty easy. I think on the website it’s listed as $125, but for some reason, they usually charge me $95.
Michael: Gotcha. So there’s no like per pound charge or anything like that?
Rebecca: I don’t think so.
Michael: Do you need to make any special arrangements in advance? Is there any specific documentation you need with your cat?
Rebecca: When you book your flight, it’s always a good practice to let them know that you’re traveling with an animal. They say that they’re only allowed a certain number of animals on each flight, but I’m not quite sure if that’s ever been enforced. But I usually just go up to the counter when I drop off my checked bag and I say I’m traveling with an animal. They’ll charge me then and take down some information like the name, the weight, the age, and they give you a little tag that you put on the animal’s bag.
Michael: The thing that scares me, I guess, is the actual process itself, you know, the day of the flight. I think oh gosh, I’m gonna put this cat in a bag?! She’s used to roaming around here in the condo, going to the bathroom whenever she wants, and eating whenever she wants.
Do you do anything to mentally prepare the cat or is this just like once you get her in the bag, she kind of knows that she’s there for a while? I guess its done all the time as I haven’t heard any excessive meowing on any flights recently.
Rebecca: Luckily, I’ve only had to fly with her on short flights. I’m usually only traveling from New York to Florida or from Florida back up to New York. And that’s a flight that’s usually under three hours. So she is pretty good in that short amount of time. She doesn’t normally need to eat or use the bathroom. If you’re worried about it, or if you have a longer flight, some people will not give their cat food for a certain number of hours before their flight so that way they don’t need to use the restroom. They’ll be a little bit hungry, but there has certainly been times when I’ve been hungry before and, you know, I lived. One trick that I do is that every time I clean my cat’s litter box, she pretty much goes back in it right away. So sometimes I’ll trick her where if I want her to go to the bathroom before I put her in the bag, I’ll clean out her litter box so that she goes in because that’s just what she always does.
Michael: That’s a pretty cat specific trick there!
Rebecca: HAHA! …. So yeah, she’s pretty good in terms of not needing food or needing to use the bathroom for the duration of the flight. I’ll usually bring treats, but I’ll give then to her like in the car when I get picked up. Sometimes she doesn’t even want them at that point. The flight is sometimes a little nerve-racking enough to them. You know, its like when you are anxious yourself, you’re generally not going to be hungry. You’re not gonna want to eat you know, and the pets are the same way. If they are feeling a bit uneasy, they are not gonna want to eat, so you don’t have to worry about them being too hungry. and in terms of getting her in the bag, just a little hack, I bring her and the bag into the bathroom when I put her in, so if I miss the first time, she doesn’t go running all over the apartment and hide under the bedI I just try to do it as quick as possible and just get her in there.
If your cat does, you know, suffer from really bad anxiety or you are just really worried, most vets will give you some sort of medication that can help, you know, chill your cat out. They usually recommend that you try that once before you actually fly so that you know how your cat reacts. Sometimes they don’t react super well to the medication or sometimes, you know, maybe they only need half a pie or maybe it doesn’t even really work. I have never had to medicate Wendy. She’s a good and patient flyer!
Michael: Lots of great tips! So the carrier itself, what sort of bag do you look for in a cat travel bag and what’s worked for you?
Rebecca: That is a great question because there are a lot of different options. I particularly, when I’m flying, will go for a soft-sided bag. There are usually two different kinds of pet carriers: the harder plastic and like a softer fabric. The harder plastic ones are almost certainly never going to sit under the seat in front of you, and then your cat would have to go in the luggage area of the plane, which is not ideal. So I definitely go for a soft-sided crate. You want to make sure it can fit underneath the seat. Not all bags are alike, so I would recommend checking with your airline online and then bringing a tape measure to the pet store when you buy a bag.
Also, make sure that your cat has enough room to turn around. That’s the big thing. They don’t really ever need to stand up, but they need to be able to turn around. That’s where I like those soft-sided bags because it can move with her a little bit. There’s wiggle room. I also put a blanket in the bottom to make sure that she’s extra comfortable.
Michael: I feel a lot more confident that my cat Penny and I are going to be able to make a trip here on an airplane now with little or no fuss at all! I was kind of dreading it, and I don’t think it’s going to be that difficult. Any parting tips before we cut out here?
Rebecca: I would say two things. One, my cat never goes outside, but she does have a collar, and I put her collar on specifically for travel days. It just makes me feel a little bit safer. And also, when you’re scanning your bag and stuff, don’t be scared to ask for a private room. A lot of people are able to take their cat out and walk through the metal detector just fine. But for my safety and how I’m feeling, I always love to know that my cat’s in a private room. So don’t be scared to ask for that.
Michael: Great tip again. Penny and I will be slightly confused the first time we do this, but I’m glad we had this talk, and I think this will help me with my first trip. Maybe I’ll come up to see you with the cat. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions. I think they’re going to be a big help to people.
Rebecca: I’m so glad. Alright. Thanks.
Michael: Thanks again Rebecca. Love you! I’ll link to a couple of cat carriers in the blog post. Tell Wendy I said hi! I’ll talk to you later 🙂
Well, there you have it ….
Traveling with a cat doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. With the right carrier, preparation, and a calm approach, both you and your feline friend can enjoy the journey. Whether it’s a short hop or a longer flight, these tips from Rebecca can help ensure a smooth trip for all involved.
