"But I've Heard It's Dangerous!": Tips And Tricks For Taking Your Cat On A Long Plane Ride

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Feb 13, 2023 12:00 PM EST

Moving can be stressful, especially if it involves taking children (or fur babies, in this case) on a long trip. Plane rides, proper documentation, and the stress of how your animal will be treated on a plane are all valid things to be worried about, but is it too much stress for one cat? This Redditor is debating rehoming her cat instead of taking her with her on her international move in a few months. We can tell she only wants the best for her cat, and some people have warned her of the dangers of traveling with pets on airplanes (and we're not talking about the infamous, yet adorable, airplane ears).

Luckily, the internet has chimed in and helped convince her otherwise. This post should be helpful for anyone thinking about moving internationally with their pets because all of the information out there can be confusing and anxiety-provoking. A few stressful hours on a plane are much better than the stress of being re-homed, and your cool cat will thank you for it once it gets used to its new environment.

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    Cat
    via u/cheesecakecaramel
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    Font - 2 days ago These people are stupid and not worth listening to. Rehoming the cat would throw its life into chaos. She'll survive 15 hours and be excited to be back in your arms. She will not understand why the person who means the world to her didn't want her anymore. The constant in her life is you. DZKOBZKT 18.2k Share 2 4 & 6 More
    via u/DZKOBZKT
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    Font - RealGunRunner808 +1 2 days ago edited 2 days ago This 100 My cat was born and raised in Hawaii. Took the flight over to Las Vegas and four months later drove 24+ hours to North Dakota. He is now a seasoned traveler On the flight over to the mainland, I kept him underneath my seat, he was very quiet and seemed to enjoy the flight. It really blew people's mind once they found out there was a cat in the cabin of the plane (I guess most people don't know that you can do this)! On the drive fr
    via u/RealGunRunner808

    This is a great story, and it honestly makes us wonder how many cats were on planes we've been on and we didn't even notice! We would be happy to meet a kitty on a plane, but we understand why they can't for people who are allergic or uncomfortable with them (but they're losers, so, whatever).

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    Cat - My guy couldn't be more happy, not only in the fact that he is a seasoned traveler, but that we are still together! 8.1k Share
    via u/RealGunRunner808
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    Font - paperthinpatience 2 days ago I work at a shelter and animals whose owners leave them behind literally mourn or look for their owners constantly. It's heartbreaking. If you can keep your baby, do everything you can to keep them! My vote would be the 15 hour flight. 13.5k Share
    via u/paperthinpatience

    We 100% agree with this. The stress of a 15-hour flight seems incomparably low compared to giving up your cat, having them live in a shelter until someone else adopts them, and they have to figure out their new life. That sounds awful!

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    Font - i82register +1 · 2 days ago edited 2 days ago My cat and I had been on two 24 hour international journeys. Her life here with me is better than with anyone else back home. Dont listen to that crap. But also dont put the cat in the airplane as cargo, take it with you in the cabin. Ask a vet for applicable pills to calm it down, and test it before the flight as it may have the opposite effect. Bring some cat snacks and toys and a bowl for water. Put a big towel over the carrier to limit str
    via u/i82register
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    Font - Clueless Dinosaur 2 days ago edited 2 days ago . She'll be absolutely fine. Those people are idiots. She may get stressed but she won't suffer. Tips: Get some gabapentin from the vet to help sedate her so she sleeps/relaxes for the flight. Get some feliway spray to spray on her blankets about 15 minutes before you put her in the carrier. Keep her carrier covered with a feliway blanket at all times. Have peepads to change out in her box just in case. When TSA wants to search her carrier, a
    via u/i82register
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    Human body - Get established at a vet in the new place as soon as you can and find where the emergency vets are ETA: If you haven't already, get a health certificate and get her up to date on rabies and fvrcp vaccines.
    via u/i82register
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    Font - WaterLily6984. 2 days ago They won't pee or poop especially if you make sure they've done it before the flight, though... True story: I was moving and could take my cat in the cabin with me. I trained her to wear a harness so that I could hold on to her when I had to take her out for the carrier to go through the X-ray. Then the TSA officer decided to do an explosive check on my hands WHILE I'm holding a terrified cat. My cat used to turn into a possum in scary situations and just play de
    via u/WaterLily6984
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    Font - 2 days ago I also work at a shelter and I've seen the same thing. Lots of cats are depressed after being left. :( BeeJ1013 3.8k Share
    via u/BeeJ1013
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    Font - fullmetalfeminist 2 days ago This is so hard to read since I had to surrender my two cats when I became homeless. They were so affectionate and used to follow me around my one-bed flat, snuggle under the duvet with me, and express deep concern when I took a bath. They were 6 when I surrendered them, so I just hope they found a happy home 2.3k Share
    via u/fullmetalfeminist
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    Font - SuperBottit +2. 2 days ago She'll be fine those people are idiots ↑ 4.5k Share
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    Font - foomits 2 days ago yea... I've flat out seen my cat sleep without moving for 15 hours. they can make it through a flight. 1.2k Share
    via u/foomits
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    Font - ColdIceMelt 2 days ago People will tell you that you are not doing the right thing, but that is false. I have rescued cats that were left behind, and they never recovered. They had short lives and had a hard time bonding with people. It would help if you considered your bond with the cat. Is it truly a part of the family or a cool pet to pay attention to every so often? (Don't answer that here.) If your cat is genuinely part of your life, take it with you. Research the hell out of pet tra
    via u/ColdIceMelt
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    Font - paperthinpatience 2 days ago Yes! I work at a shelter and animals whose owners leave them behind literally mourn or look for their owners constantly. It's heartbreaking. If you can keep your baby, do everything you can to keep it.
    via u/paperthinpatience
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    Human body - Magnum820 +2. 2 days ago Some people should mind their own business. The vet should be able to recommend the best path for that flight. Safe travels to you and your girl.
    via u/Magnum820
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    Font - Flimsy-Tough8228 2 days ago I travelled with my cat who is the most scared and unfriendly cat. He literally will get scared if i walk fast or do something unusual. He was on a 15h trip each way including a 3-4 hours layover. He was scared during the flight but once we got to destination he adapted in couple of days. I would highly recommend you take the cat with you. Someone who is saying it's a torture has no clue what they are talking about. In the wild, cats face danger continuously, i
    via u/Flimsy-Tough8228
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    Plant - ZealousidealEmu4 2 days ago . I haven't experienced this with my cats myself but I would think that a one time flight and move with their owner would be better than the long term distress and suffering caused of rehoming your cat.
    via u/ZealousidealEmu4
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    Font - Impulsive2k22 - 2 days ago I bought my 2 girls and my boy over from Ireland to England with me on the overnite ferry. They were all given sedatives and suffered no ill effect. There was no way I was leaving my furr-babies behind
    via u/Impulsive2k22
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    Font - freeradicalx 1 day ago And as for airlines, a significant number of them do let you bring your cat into the cabin for a reasonable fee. That's what I did. I was worried about other passengers with allergies but it turns out that the air filtration in a plane cabin is world class. One of the folks sitting next to me said they actually did have a cat allergy but that he wasn't bothered by her sitting in her case at my feet.
    via u/freeradicalx
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    Font - RogueDevlin 2 days ago edited 2 days ago I know exactly how you feel. A few months ago I relocated with my two cats (male 7ys, female 9 years). I was terrified of moving my cats abroad and I refused to consider sending them with the luggage. It required three flights: 2 hours + 2hr stopover 12 hours + 8 hour layover 3 hour flight. From the moment we stepped out of my old apartment into the new one was about 32 hours (had to arrive earlier than 3 hours for international flight to do the pa
    via u/RogueDevlin
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    Font - In all three flights they were under the seats, they barely made any noises, some meowing every now and then especially if I peeked under the cover to check how they were doing. Other than that, barely no one noticed there were cats there. On the 8 hour layover I was prepared with a portable litterbox and a portable playpen. I did not medicate them on any way. I did leave the pet carriers several days before so they got used to getting inside by themselves and ripped a pair of jeans and h
    via u/RogueDevlin
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    Font - I hope I never have to put them through that again. And although it was super exhausting and I was very stressed for them, they really were champs. I think they are extremely more resilient than we give them credit for. So prepare yourself (I had a bag with wet towels, silica litter, plastic bags, toilet paper, food pouches and portable water plates) and I am absolutely sure the best decision is to bring your cat with you. A few hours of discomfort are way better than your cat separated f
    via u/RogueDevlin
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    Hood
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    Jeans - Pla CON SAL HIMALAYA BOTACON SA CAMOTE C
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cat tips askreddit plane advice tricks Travel love family moving kitty Reddit Cats animals airplane knowledge
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