You might be having doubts but we assure you that you can travel with your cat on a plane. However, you should prepare yourself about the do’s and dont’s and the whatnots, and try your best to help relieve any tension and stress on your cat as much as you can. We are going to discuss the general requirements and what you can do to help and make sure that your cat will only experience a very minimal amount of stress if it’s none at all during your flight.
Can You Take Your Cat In The Cabin Or Are They Only Allowed In Cargos?
You can do either of them and you are free to choose whichever one you are most comfortable with: either take your cat to the cabin with you, if the airline allows it, or leave them in the cargo.
What To Bring On The Airplane?
- Carrier. It is of great importance to take a very comfy carrier with you as it will surely make your cat’s life easier and more comfortable, however, it also important for you to be able to check in your cat easily whenever it is necessary without having to always lifting up a lift or opening up a door. We would highly recommend bubble backpacks which essentially are backpacks that have a detachable bubble-like attachment that serves as a window where you can see through and check how your cat is doing.
- Travel Bowls. It would be best if you take a travel bowl with you as they may get hungry on a longer flight. Furthermore, it would also be a better idea to have your cat already fed them right before boarding as they might lose appetite if ever they get stressed.
- Calming Collars. You might need to have a cat calming collar already attached to your cat as this is a very effective way to help your cat stay calm and less stressed as it has this aroma that can help make them feel relaxed.
- Cat Travel Wipes. This is something you would surely need for if your cat accidentally poops itself or vomits at the airport or during your flight, which we all wouldn’t really wish to happen to them, of course. I always have a pack of Wet Ones.
What Are The Airlines Requirements For Cats To Fly?
Age
Most airlines will require that your pet to be of a certain age to be allowed to travel domestically and internationally. For example, American Airlines will only allow small cats that are at least 8 weeks old to be able to fly with you in the cabin and that is only if the combined weight of your cat and the carrier does not go over than 20 lbs or 9 kg. However, keep in mind that every airline has different policies, therefore, make sure to check your airline’s age requirement for cat travel.
Breed
Airlines do not allow certain breeds to fly in the cabin with you. There are many airlines that have certain limitations as to which breeds cannot be in the cabin, such as brachycephalic or snub-nosed cats like the Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian cats. And this is because these breeds have the possibility of suffering from difficulty in breathing when in high altitudes.
Size Of Carrier
Airlines require carriers to be of a certain size as such for them to be able to fit well under the seat ahead of you. Make sure to double-check the requirements of the size of carriers with your airline. In this guide, most of the carriers are following the airline’s rules.
Which Airlines Allow Cats To Fly With You In The Cabin?
It will vary from airline to airline and it would be best if you would do some research on your own with the airline you wish to fly with. However, let us share with you some of the airline requirements when taking your cat with you in the cabin.
- Allegiant Air requires that your carriers should not be over 9 x 16 x 19 inches or 22.86 x 40.64 x 48.26 cm. Their fee costs $50 per segment of the flight. They only allow two cats per person.
- American Airlines requires your cat carriers to be at least under 130 cm long or 51 inches. Their fee costs $125 per cat.
- Delta Airlines require your cat carriers to be at least under 114 cm (combined LWH). Their fee ranges from $75 up to $200 per cat.
- Jet Blue Airlines requires your carrier to not exceed 17 x 12.5 x 8.5 inches or 43 x 31 x 21 cm. However, please check out their website to know more about their other restrictions regarding this subject. Their fee costs $125 each way, and they only allow one cat per person.
- Southwest Airlines requires your carriers to be at most within 18.5 x 13.5 x 8.5 inches (LWH). Their fee costs $95 per cat.
- United Airlines on the other hand lets you have your cat carrier as an addition to your carry-on bag, however, please check out more about their guidelines on this topic on their website. Their fee costs $125 per cat each way. They require soft-sided carriers to be within 18 x 11 x 11 inches (LWH) or 46 x 28 x 28 cm. They do however recommend soft-sided kennels that are under 40 linear inches or 102 cm, but they can allow for you to ever so slightly exceed these dimensions, as they are known to be collapsible and able to conform to the space underneath the seat, not worrying about blocking the aisle.
Note: Please keep in mind to not rely only on the information that we have provided and still double check with your airline to better know more about their requirements.
Here’s a simple and short list of airlines that allows you to fly with your cats in the cabin:
- Aegean Airlines
- Air Canada
- Air Europa
- Air France
- Alaska Air
- American Airlines
- Delta
- JetBlue
- Lufthansa
- Southwest
- TUI
- United Airlines
- Vueling
Check-In With Your Vet Before Your Flight
It is important to let your vet know about your trips or flights ahead of time for them to be able to check your cat’s health conditions. Furthermore, most airlines require you to present a valid health certificate for travel completed and signed by your veterinarian for you to be able to take your cat with you on your flight. You also have to make sure that all the relevant vaccinations are up to date and keep in mind that the airlines will also require for you to present your cat’s rabies vaccination certificate at the airport.
Weaving Through Airport Security With Your Cat
The protocol at the airport is that you have to check in with your cat at the check-in counter as they, unfortunately, do not allow online check-in when traveling with any types of pets. This is because the ground attendant will not only need to see your cat physically but also the paperwork they required you to bring. I needed this when made my travel to Ecuador.
Just like us humans, they will also need to go through airport security. You can choose to go to regular TSA security, however, they will require you to take your cat out from its carrier when you are right in front of the line. This is because they require the carrier to go through the x-ray machine with your carry-on luggage while you walk through the metal detector, holding your cat safe in your hands.
How Much Would It Cost When Flying With Cats?
As we discussed a while ago, it depends upon which airlines you’re flying with and whether the flight is just domestic or international, but it would essentially cost you anywhere between $50 up to $600 or more. Some airlines require you to pay per flight but others might even require you to pay either per segment or per way. So make sure to check out about this with your airline.
Are Cat Sedatives Necessary When Traveling With Cats On A Plane?
It is not really necessary to put your cat under sedation when traveling on a plane and this in fact is backed by experts as they also do not advise on using sedatives on your cats as there can be dangers when you sedate and tranquilize cats, so be sure to take into consideration all of the other better options out there before opting for cat sedatives.
Cat sedatives can cause your cat to become more panicky and confused, will have difficulty in balancing and standing upright, and can increase the chances of being injured as they cannot protect themselves when they need to, and more.
Only consider cat sedatives if and only if it is necessary in such undesirable situations like aggression, increased lethargy, or vomiting which means that your cat is extremely distressed when traveling.
It is better to bring lots of treats, their favorite toys and blanket, calming music if it works for them, and a calming collar.
How Do Cats Do Their Business When In The Cabin?
Stress and nervousness can cause cats to go to the bathroom more often. You can consider taking with you a portable, collapsible litter box to help make your cat comfortable when doing its business, but it should be small enough to be able to fit in their carrier.
You may also want to consider getting diapers specifically made for cats. This is great because we can never guess when cats want to do their business and wearing diapers would help both of you to have more relief when on the plane.
Many people travel with their cats and it is perfectly safe even though it can be slightly stressful both for you and your cat. As long as you do your job of doing your research ahead of time, preparing the required paperwork, and actually taking the time in training your cats in staying and getting used to their carrier and wearing a diaper, it will surely help relieve your stress before and especially during your flight. Have a safe flight for you and your cat!
