“What the hell am I doing?”
Last night as I was laying in bed, begging myself to fall asleep, moving stress finally caught up with me. Big time.
What the hell am I doing? Which, incidentally, is not the same questions as, “Why am I doing it?” Because that answer to that one hasn’t changed. Money, space, family. It’s just that the logistics are starting to take their toll and the little things have been getting to me.
Like the cardboard box wasteland that used to be my living room. Or the thought of being without my creature comforts for weeks while my furniture is in transit. Twenty-one business days! What is that?! Or what kind of havoc it’s going to wreak on Hal when I trap him in a cat carrier and drag him onto a plane. I mean, he’s already pissed at me because he sees the suitcases laid out in my bedroom and thinks I’m running off again. Just wait til he hears he’s going along.
That worry bothers me the most; cats are not known for their adaptability.
Do they actually make you take your pet out of the carrier at security? I can’t imagine Sir Hal is going to be cool with that. At all. I’m hoping that’s sort of… optional. If you have experience with pet travel, I’d love to hear about it. Just… no horror stories, please. I’m strung out and hopped up on pain killers. There’s no telling what I might do.
Sorry, that name’s kind of creepy, but I’m really not that creepy…trust me:). I have a cat that I brought up to Vermont from DC with me last xmas…she flew well until on the way back she managed to eat a whole in the case (flexible fabric cases not such a great invention after all). They did try to make me take Penny out at security, but I gave them a “you’ve got to be kidding me” stare and they took me into one of the rooms to take her out…at least she didn’t get lose in the airport. It was pretty painless. That was on the way up. On the way back when I asked if I had to take her out, they gave me the “you’ve got to be kidding me” stare. So, to sum up, I’d say, prepare for the removal, but it won’t necessarily happen. You can ask for a room, though, to make it a little easier.
Yes – the ‘taking the pissed-off animal out of the carrier’ thing was a drag.
They made us do it. Luckily, we were carrying a non-yippy 6mo old teacup chihuahua. (The sister’s dog)
I have had friends travel with their cats recently, too – and they had to remove them from the carrier at security.
Harness with leash (I know, poor Hal…the indignity!), line the carrier with shredded newspaper in case he freaks out and pees in-flight.
Non-smelly cat treats help, too.
Our vet did prescribe a mild sedative…however, I think the dosage was still a bit high – - George conked out and didn’t wake for hours. Of course, the passengers did get a kick out of the tiny snores emanating from the carrier as we boarded and disembarked. For such a tiny thing, he could saw some serious logs.
Have vet records on hand – - some airlines will make you get a health certificate, too. And, make sure you reserve his spot…..most airlines will limit the number of pets allowed on a plane to two per flight.
I moved from VT to CA last summer with two cats in tow– I could only carry one of them on the plane; they made me check the poor other one (I felt awful! And they said that I couldn’t put them both in the same carrier… so it was check him or leave him behind.). Anyway, they did make me take the carry-on cat out of the carrier at security– I had him on a leash, and we had to walk through the little screening gate while his carrier went through the x-ray. He was *freaking out*. He meowed and whined throughout every minute of both flights and the layover in Chicago. After I picked the other cat up in San Francisco, both of them cried and carried on until we got to the new apartment… and about three minutes later, they were perfectly content. They were a little wound up for a week or two, but actually seemed to adapt pretty well.
i have only moved my kitties once, and that was driving 24 hours from los angeles to seattle, if there comes a time to move again i’ll drive it. it totally sucks, but at least the cats can roam in my car a bit. if i had to take them out at a security check point chances are they’d become lurker airport cats. (hiding from everything)i’m sure you’ll be fine. and i think your vet can recommend ways to get sir hal to be a docile little gentleman for the plane trip. i know for dogs they say to give them half a children’s benadryl.
Just at thought, but how about some mild sedatives for Hal while in transit? Your vet should give you an Rx for some, I’ve seen several animals travel this way on planes…I think it’s actually the the most considerate thing to do, really. Because you’re right, he’s gonna be a little freaked.
First time reading here… I found you through Long Story Short. Very funny.
Re: Previous post – Dry socket sounds like it sucks. My worst two were chicken pox in 8th grade comboed with poison ivy and also the tonsilectomy with deviated septum fixed at 27. Miserable. Both. Never had the dry socket though… hope to never get it.
i’m willing to fly to dallas to take you up on that offer…
I don’t have much experience with pet travel, but I do know a few things about moving. First, just take a deep breath. Second, repeat step one until you feel better…or you faint. Either option is better than staying up late at night stressed out
And don’t worry, once you and Sir Hal are in the Lone State, things will begin to feel right.
Good luck!!
Cat sedatives are a definite necessity. It is the ONLY way to go.
I have the most skittish cat known to man who tends to freak out if she’s forced to even be in the same room with a stranger, but after the vet convinced me that it was perfectly reasonable to sedate her (I believe the phrase “kitty margarita” was used) I managed to get her from San Francisco to Philadelphia without a single problem. I was *slightly* scared at first because she acted so obviously doped up, but it was fine. No screaming, no scratching, no endless meowing, nothing.
And I did have to carry her through security in my arms, but that was fine too. Seriously. I would never try it without sedatives.
I’ve never flown with a cat before, but I’ve moved twice with my two kitties. They both adapted fine once we got their scratch posts and toys and everything else with their kitty smell on it unpacked. I would agree with the above, if they do want you to take your cat out of the carrier, do it in a small enclosed room. I can’t imagine chasing a cat through a busy airport would be fun.
I’ve flown with my dog a couple of times from NYC to MN and I’ve never been asked to take her out but that was before 9/11. I’m assuming you get to take Sir Hal on board. My dog had to fly in cargo and it was traumatic (more for me than her). My vet suggested I give her a mild sedative–you may want to inquire about that for Hal (or you!). Best of luck.
I’ve made my cat move with me three times in the last few years…I think cats are more adaptable than some give them credit for. Hoping Hal will be okay too!
Just split your drinks with him, that will take the edge of old Hal.
You are going to be fine, darlin.
I flew from DC to SF with my cat when I moved. You have to have vet papers indicating that Hal is healthy (I think they have to be dated within 10 days of the flight – something like that. Check with the airline.) There are weird space restrictions re: size of the carrier (again, check with airline.)
My vet strongly discouraged using a sedative.
The security checkpoint: I kept Gia in my arms and walked through the metal detector. (Even better – I was flying with a laptop, so I was trying to keep an eye on my cat, and my laptop, and not lose my ****.)
When you’re in your new place: I set up the litterbox and some water and food in the bathroom and put the cat carrier in there. I opened the cat carrier and shut the door. It allowed Gia to stop freaking out and explore the bathroom, then after a little while, I left the door open. Gia would make little, tentative forays out – but I would find her back in the cat carrier after each little adventure. After two days, she was fine.
I moved from NY to LA almost a year ago and brought my cat. They didn’t make me take him out of his cage/box nor did they say anything about the cage being oversized. He’s a big guy, 23 pounds.
I also got him a sedative from the vet and, while he didn’t sleep AT ALL, he didn’t make any noise or freak out.
Also, I thought Thompson would freak out about the change but honestly, he’s been more than fine with it. Could be something to with the fact that he’s living in a huge one bedroom instead of a 350 sq ft studio. I like to think he’s justhappy to be near me
Good luck to you and Hal!
I take my dog with me when I travel (by plane) all the time. You do have to take your pet out of the carrier for security but you hold him the entire time- half the time I wonder if security even notices him. There is a “natural” medicine called “rescue remedy” that some people use to calm their pets. Maybe you could try it out a few days in advance and see how Hal reacts. Best of luck!
I took my 15-pound cat on a 4-airport, 3 flight trip across continent a while back and because he was generally a pretty calm guy the vet recommended not giving him a sedative. He did freak a little during the drive to the airport (which caused me to freak and want to kill my vet) but then he got completely calm for the rest of our 15-hour transit. He moaned a little bit during each take-off as the altitude changed, but that was it.
Make sure his carrier will fit under the seat (soft-sided ones are much more giving if he’s a large cat, which Hal doesn’t look like, but..?) And if you use a soft-sided carrier with the zipper openings, I recommend “locking” the zippers with twist-ties incase he develops super-kitty strength and tries to bust out if he gets a little freaked.
And do book him with your airline in advance, as someone else mentioned.
All will be well…people like to buy you drinks when they see you travelling with your oh-so-cute pet…!
Re: the shredded newspaper – they make these things called “piddle pads” for dogs that are lined with plastic and have absorbing stuff on them like diapers (only not that thick) that will fit in a carrier (depending on size).
Also, my last flight in December, a lady had her Dachshund in a carrier on the flight – he was a little jumpy and had ear popping problems on ascent and descent, but otherwise he was fine. His owner said she hadn’t drugged him – I’d go with the harness and leash, too, though, just in case. They’re slippery little devils when they’re spooked!
It will be fine – really!!
I´ve flown with my cat twice, and did not use a sedative either way (although if I were a cat, I´d definitely be hankering after a Kitty Margarita right now!). I´ve also driven her cross country…normally she´s very skittish and will scratch with reckless abandon. But I think she was soooo freaked out at the airport that when I took her out (they made me the first time, barely acknowledged her the second, NOR did they ask for her health certificate…$45 down the drain!) that she curled up into a little ball and tried to melt into my chest. She meowed a bit on the flights but other than a little shaking, she managed just fine.
Although I´ve heard Kitty Benadryl works wonders…
After *not* bringing my cat with me on my move to Boston a few years ago and hearing his sad, sad cries through the phone when I called home, I knew I had to bring my cat with me whenever I moved again. I moved, he lives with me, and he’s actually much happier than when he lived with my parents and was not the only animal in the house. Cats have a reputation for not being very, uhm, nice about change, but eventually they get used to things. After spending a few nights under your bathroom sink (or some other equally strange place), I’m sure you’ll be back in Sir Hal’s good graces, and he’ll likely be back up on your bed, getting whatever attention he missed out on by being moody.
We’ve never flown with our cat, and she, too is very skittish. But we moved homes, and though it’s a small town, I worried she’d run away trying to get back to our old house. So, on the first few weeks (and yes I said weeks. Katherine is nothing if not a panic attack waiting to happen) lived under the bed in my bedroom with me closing the door when the moving in started. A big sign on the door to let people know not to open the door. I monitored her very closely for a long time just to make sure she was ok with the new territory.
We flew our cat cross country. Same experience as most people here, but our vet discouraged tranqs (apparently the altitude can make them work differently) and suggested Children’s Benadryl (I don’t remember the exact dose). Our cat cried on land but was totally cool in-air. Go figure. Once we got her to her new home she adapted quite well.
I drove my cat from the midwest to CO in a loud, cold rental truck in the middle of winter. Very stressful for both of us, but he was OK and fine once we got to our new home. My vet discouraged sedatives, too. Older cats may not be able to tolerate them. The vet suggested going with a half dose to see how it affected him…before the move. That worked well. A week before the move, I tested the half dose, which was all he needed. Funny stuff…he would lean on my leg or a wall to help him stay upright
I’ve never flown with a cat, but I did drive three hundred and some miles with one. And this cat hates travelling. We took her to the vets and got a prescription for a tranquiliser. It wore off just as we pulled into the driveway of the new house.
As for the adaptability, give cats more credit. Both of ours have been shuffled around, and they’ve never given us any bother. He’ll be grouchy for the first few days, but as he gets to know his new place he’ll settle down. I assume he isn’t an outdoors cat, because that at least will cut down on the risk of escape.
I once moved my cat five times in less than six months. She now gets nervous and has to be IN MY LAP when I get out boxes (I’m doing spring cleaning)– but she actually handled the traveling part just fine. They don’t like it– and you might want to give them a little extra warm padding in the carrier– and the mild sedatives are ALWAYS a good idea– but once they realize they are still going to be WITH YOU at the new place, and the stuff is the same stuff as they were around in the old place– they calm down and forgive you.
In fact, my cat LOVES the insanity of the box-filled living room, once she’s sure we’re arriving and not leaving. New chaos to explore, new havoc to create!
Wet kitty treats (if he’s up for eating anything in transit) give him a bit of liquids, which he’ll need, by the way. Remember how dried out we all get in airports?
i think drugs may be the way to go…he will wake up and be there, while you won’t be hated by the other passengers. win-win.
I traveled with our deaf cat from NYC to Santa Fe (via Atlanta). It was challenging but do-able. I thought I was going to be traveling with two cats, so made reservations for both having been told that they only allow two pets per flight. I was also told that there was no charge, but upon arrival at the airport, was required to pay $100. My anger at this injustice was increased by my sadness at just having put down kitty #2 (cancer). I did have to take her out of the case at Security. And while I did have thoughts of her dashing off down the corridor not hearing me call for her – lost forever! – she just clung to my shoulder like the scared cat she was. Plan on carrying on little else, so this isn’t too much to juggle.
I put a wee wee pad in the carrier, but she didn’t use it. I made sure a litter box was available on the other end. She said no to liquids and nibbles, probably out of sheer terror.
As for adjusting, each cat is different. Ours was heartbroken over her lost sister so…
Moved my cat from San Francisco to South Florida and back to San Francisco. If Sir Hal is not used to a carrier yet, you might want to have him spend a little time in one every day so he can get used to it before the big day.
Also, if you are going to use sedatives, ask the vet for a few extra and do a test run a few days before. That will let you know if he will have any reaction (like an upset stomach) beforehand so you are not trying to clean him off in the airplane bathroom.
closing in on two years ago, i moved to the country that i now call home. i distinctly remember crawling into the uncomfortable hotel bed that first night and thinking- you got it- ‘what the hell have i done?’. it’s natural, and goes away. it was the best move i could ever have made. =)
my family sent my (largish) dog as freight (!) a couple weeks later. she escaped at the airport on their end- thank god the police dogs were nice. O_o i’m not gonna lie, the experience seemed to be somewhat traumatic for her, but since your cat will be with you and in the cabin i’m sure it will be better. i’m going to say- discuss with your vet and consider carefully whether you want to use sedatives. there are risks. once he’s there, pay careful attention to his eating habits; if he stops eating for more than two days, get him to the vet, stat. as i’m sure you already know, this can cause life-threatening issues for cats in a very short amount of time. but i’m sure hal will adjust just fine.
erm.. happy trails? =)
I haven’t ever flown with my cats, but I have moved them a few times. I agree with the suggestions other people have mentioned to make sure Hal has on a harness and leash just in case you do have to take him out of the carrier, it’ll give you some peace of mind he can’t get too far. The puppy pad will also probably be a good idea, just in case. One thing I haven’t heard anyone mention yet is to put a t-shirt that smells like you in his carrier, it’ll make him feel more comfortable. Ideally one that is a bit sweaty (how about the one worn while packing up). Also make sure his stuff is the last stuff packed and first stuff unpacked in a smaller area with something he can hide under and claim as his own when you get to ‘his’ new place! My kitties were kinda freaked at the end of packing (yet oddly drawn to the fun boxes they can climb), weren’t happy during transit, and kinda ‘off’ on arrival, but adjusted fairly well after having found a “safe spot”. Good Luck!
can you sedate your cat?
good luck – moving is stressful (to say the least).
Fear not! He will be just fine. Cat’s can adapt quite easily as long as you’re around and he has some familiar smells and a familiar bed. I moved interstate three times with three cats in 3 and a half years..I had seven different addresses within that time and all of my critters did just fine. As long as Hal knows you’re around with his food bowl he’ll do OK.
HE WILL BE FINE.
I took my cats with me from San Francisco to India when I moved there as an expat. I also adopted a cat in India and brought him home with us when we finally returned. I am currently preparing to take them with me again to India in 2 weeks time for a 3 month stint this time. So you can say I am a bit experienced at traveling with cats. It is very stressful, and the cats hate it, but the they always recover and it is so worth it to all of us to be able to be together wherever we are.
The worst part for me is getting all of the required documents together for International travel. Oh, and I check my boys as luggage (and I always fly KLM or Northwest, as they have the best pet policies of any airline).
Good luck!
I’ve moved my kitty 3 times via plane. You must make a reservation for them prior, and there will be a charge that you pay when you check in. Delta charges $50. I’ve never been asked for a health certificate so don’t bother putting your kitty through the trauma of going to the vet.
Make sure you have a fabric carrier that can squish a bit in order to fit under the seat. There’s not much room for them under there so make sure the carrier is airline approved before you buy, cuz they’re a bit expensive.
I used pills once, but found it was more stressful for the cat for me to give them to her than it was to just make the trip. I’ve heard that Rescue Remedy does wonders for these types of situations. It’s a liquid so it can be added to water or wet food without being noticed. I did a taping on Oprah last week (will air Wednesday), and Oprah’s vet recommended it and the whole audience sang its praises. I bought some at Whole Foods, but haven’t tried it out yet. It’s meant for humans, so it may help with your stress
My own scamps strongly recommend a Sherpa bag (fits under the seat) with fleece blanket and a hot water bottle underneath. Vet said to give kitty valium an hour before travel but i’ve found it’s more effective if you give it 2-3 hours before. Take one yourself, too!
I just moved last year with a cat in tow and the best advice I can give you is upgrade! Seriously.
My kitty survived quite happily on a 22 hour 2 leg move, both in the plane and then for the second leg in the cargo and had her leash on the whole time inside her carrier. She was much happier in the plane, where in Business and First Class they tuck the carrier in the closet for take off and landing, but during the flight let you keep the carrier on the floor at your feet. And with all that space, you still have a spot for your legs and feet. Check the airline carrier size requirements – although mine was a smidge too big and no one noticed or cared.
My vet said that tranq’ing my kitty wasn’t necessary, and she was right. Check with your vet to see what they think. Also be sure to check the health certificate requirements in Texas – they may bristle a bit if you don’t have his papers on hand.
I guess you’ll have to hire a cab for 3 grand.
Bach Flower Rescue Remedy and mist the inside of his carrier with lavender and peppermint. It works, really.
I have never travelled by plane with a cat in tow, but I have been on planes with cats. In my experience neither LNK or MHT made the kitties leave their carriers, but leaving NYC I think is probably a bit stricter. I have a friend who travelled Boston to Manchester, NH by car with her high strung cat several times, and has since done the trip from Boston to San Fran. She even allowed her cat to roam in new neighbourhoods on the journey and she always came back to her. I also, highly, suggest a pet sedative. Talk to the vet about it, but if you’d prefer there are organic and holistic pet sedatives out there. I think Hal will make it through just fine, so long as his owner does [and doesn't she always?].
I had to take my cat from New Orleans, to Rio de Janeiro – Brazil and it all went ok.
The only thing that I didn´t like was that they made me take her out of the carrier at the security check.
The vet gave me some meds and after I geve them to her, she slept the whole 8 hours.
A friend flew her cat from Japan to Texas, the cat was fine…I think the airline even prepares a meal for the animal…
I admit, I did not read all of the previous comments, but here is my input. Keep in mind this comes from a woman who traveled to Texas with 2 cats via plane. Yes, you do have to take them out of the carrier. Might I suggest that you visit your vet before you go. They can give you a pill that will chill the cat out for about 6 hours. I just give them a 1/2 of the pill and by the time we get to the destination, they are just coming out of a nice long rest. It doesn’t knock them out, it just takes the edge off, just enough that they are not all stressed out. I think that is more humane than letting them stay alert and FREAKED OUT all the way thre. Take off and landing can be traumatic for a little one, especially when they are sitting on the floor, it is LOUD! Trust me, the people on the plane will thank you!
Good luck, and don’t freak, people move every day! Cats move every day too!
it may have just been luck, but moving my cat from california to nyc and then back again several months later worked out just fine for me. she is too small for sedatives so i couldn’t give her any medication. i did have to take her out of her carrier but was able to hold her as we walked through security. she just clung to me with her eyes wide. her carrier fit under the seat perfectly and i sprinkled catnip in it for added comfort. as soon as i got to my new place, i unpacked something of hers that looked and smelled familiar and shut her in a smaller room for an hour to adjust. i have moved my cat SO many times and she has adapted SO quickly. like, i said, it may just be luck, but i don’t think it’s as traumatic for them as one might think. good luck! i’m sure Hal will be just fine, because he knows he is loved.
Your vet can definitely give you sedatives. I have something I give my kitty so I can drive him home to my parents for holidays. He gets really car sick and cries and pants and drools… it’s awful. With the sedatives he doesn’t move or pant, although he does still cry a bit. Shoot me an e-mail if you want the name of the drug.
I have travelled with a very large, very ornery cat. They didn’t let me carry him on, I had to check him in. Before that, I had to take him out of the cage so that they could check the cage for any illicit items. My vet did not recommend sedatives/tranqs because she said with the altitude change and the different air pressures in the plane, it may not be good for the cat. The airline (United) also would only allow water, no food in the carrier. I put down those pads in his cage, but he shredded them up by the time we even got to the airport (and spilled out most of the water). On the otherside, I picked him up and immediately drove him to a new vet for a bath. It was stressful, but not as bad as I thought. On the bright side, I think my cat forgave me for the trauma of the whole experience the next day!
I relocated from NYC to Minneapolis last year with my 5 month old LARGE puppy. He flew Continental quickpak cargo and despite my hesitation they impressed me. The vet recommended 1mg Benadryl for each lb of body weight instead of a sedative & he did great. It just made him really mellow. Maybe cats can take a similar dosage?
Congrats on the move. And despite what it feels like now, it will all be fine
When we flew our dog we used a natural sedative called rescue remedy – vet recommended. You will need to start giving it to him a few days in advance.
Did work so well on the dog, I think the dosage was too low, as she’s really big. But have heard it’s worked well for others.
Opposed to the torn up paper, I would put in one or two of your old tshirts. So at least there is the comfort of your smell. Worked well with the dog.
We also put her name on masking tape of the create, so when we checked her the staff could talk to her and she could hear her name, another thing familiar.
Hope that helps.
When I flew my cats with me from the Caribbean (to DFW incidentally), I spoke with the airline and they advised to have the vet sedate them and prepare certificates of their shots, etc. as well as ensuring the carrier could fit underneath the seat in front–most do btw.
My vet prepared the papers, sedated the kitties and had advised me to place them on a water only fast the day before to prevent any messes. In addition to that, I placed a few old t-shirts inside the carrier to calm them.
I used a carrier with a mesh zip-up top so that instead of having to take them out, the security personel could just look inside. I also took a wrap to drape over the carrier while I waited for my connections to avoid having children pester them.
It worked well and they made the trip without any upsets nor side-effects other than being a bit groggy when I released them. Hope this helps and good luck!
I think everything has been suggested…but I would add make sure to wear an outfit that will go through the metal detector with no beeps. There is nothing worse than having to Take kneehigh zipper boots, belt, watch, and any jewelry off. PLUS take cat/dog out of bag. Then get everything on conveyor belt. Go through metal detector and set the thing off. Try to “assume the position” with holding animal in your arms. Then get through and put belt, coat, shoes, watch, laptop etc. all back together!
You could also get Hal used to the bag before you go – feed him treats in it etc.
To poster Melissa: Rescue Remedy doesn’t work on children teething and valerian does not work on animals. Take the cab for 3 grand.
The only thing rescue remedy does it make them tipsy — it’s like 40% alcohol or something. Children’s Benedryl is the WINNER! Our vet recommended it when we asked for a sedative, and we drove from oregon to north dakota with the cat in the car, no carrier or anything. Lifesaver. Good luck!
Flying with cats isn’t as bad as you think – promise! I’ve done it twice… cross-country… with two cats… and they appear to continue to lead well-adjusted lives.
I used a soft-sided carrier and lined the bottom with a couple of towels. Also, I stuck in a dirty t-shirt that I’d slept in for a couple of nights – apparently cats are calmer when they can smell you. (Sedatives can cause problems with breathing in older cats).
I did have to take the cats out at security even though I wasn’t flying out of major airports – after much pleading, they let me do it in a tarped off side area away from other people. Two words for you: death grip. Hal will likely be too petrified to try and run.
Just avoid food and water ahead of time. On one flight, my cat layed major pipe. Which smelled. Really. Really. Bad. On the other flight he settled for peeing on my neighbors shoe. (I of course said absolutely nothing since he didn’t notice – it was dry by the time we made it to the other coast).
Good luck!
This tip comes courtesy of a friend from South Africa. Another friend of mine was moving and was very distressed because she once had a cat run away when they arrived at their new home (it was an outdoor cat and she didn’t keep it inside for the first few weeks as is recommended). Anyway, my South African friend said that part of what freaks cats out is moving them out of their territory. They’ve worked hard to make sure their surroundings smell like them. She said putting a little bit of butter (or unscented oil) on their paws helps establish their scent in a new place much faster. You don’t have to use a lot – there shouldn’t be greasy paw prints everywhere – just enough to catch their scent and leave it where they have been. My friend tried this and thinks it may have helped (and certainly didn’t hurt).
Good luck.
FYI, some airlines will not allow you to board the cat if it is on a sedative– my vet said that it’s a bad idea anyway, because there’s no way to predict how the sedative will influence the cat under the pressure of elevation. The airlines (United, at least) refuse to board cats that they know are sedated for just this reason– if something happens to the cat as the result of sedative/elevation effects, they don’t want to be liable. When I traveled with mine, they weren’t sedated… they meowed a fair amount (and other people looked like they wanted to kill me…), but they both were fine in the end.
a bit late to the party, but they do make you take the cat out at security so they can scan the bag. I, like you, was terrified my cat would fuh-reak out, but he was surprisingly good. Something about the large open space and all the people left him lying quietly in my arms… with his claws dug into my skin, but I was just thankful he didn’t run away.
I’m sure others have noted it, but my vet also told me it was a bad idea to sedate my cat. Something about lowered heart rate and the altitude affecting animals differently.
Anywho, I flew from Pittsburgh to Newark to Seattle with my cat and we arrived in one piece. Good luck!
Hi, most cats take it fine when you move places. They adapt more to the people who take care of them than to a new environment. Which means as long as YOU are there for your cat through the whole ordeal he should take it just fine! When I was a kid we moved a lot and always had a cat moving with us. Give him a little bit time, he will get used sooner to his new home as you can imagine. Maybe leave one of your sweaters or something like that (something that smells like you) in his carrier, it will make him feel more comfortable during the flight
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Just drug him up. I would ask the vet for a recommendation on how much OTC Benadryl to give him. The stuff the vet gives you can make his heart slow down, which is why animals flying is dangerous. If you just make him sleepy he will feel much more calm.
You will most likely have to take him out – I have always had to take mine out at the security point.
Honestly, and this is somewhat mean. I give him a 1/2 of a Benadryl and check him with the cargo, otherwise he cries and makes a fuss the entire time. I get more tense and sad and he gets more angry and upset. He’s been checked the last 5 times we’ve travelled together and it’s made a world of difference.
GOOD LUCK!