Flying with a cat

Flying with a cat takes planning, because each airline and each country sets its own rules. Most small cats travel in a soft carrier under the seat in the cabin. Larger cats, or airlines that do not allow cabin pets, may mean hold travel, which carries more risk. Start well ahead, check the airline and the destination, and speak to your vet early.

Decide whether to fly at all

Flying is stressful for most cats. Noise, motion, unfamiliar smells and confinement come together for hours. For some cats a long-haul flight is a poor idea. Consider an alternative if the trip is optional: a pet sitter or a cattery at home, or a car or train journey if the distance allows.

Weigh a flight against the cat's health and age. Ask your vet whether your cat is fit to fly. Cats with heart, breathing or kidney problems, very young kittens and very old cats may face extra risk. Flat-faced breeds (see brachycephalic) have narrow airways, and many airlines restrict or refuse them in the hold. The decision is medical, so ask your vet.

What to do, step by step

1. Choose the airline and read its pet policy. Look for whether cats may fly in the cabin, as checked baggage or as cargo, the size and weight limits for the carrier, the fee, and the number of pets allowed per flight. Some airlines limit pets on each plane, so book your cat's place when you book your own seat or as soon as the airline allows.
2. Check the destination's rules. Countries set their own import requirements. These can include a microchip, a rabies vaccine given at least a certain time before arrival, a blood test, a health certificate signed by an approved vet, parasite treatment, and sometimes quarantine. Some of these take months. Some places treat travel from certain countries differently. Look at the destination government's pet import page, and ask your vet or a pet travel agent to confirm.
3. Book a vet appointment early. Tell the vet the date and destination. They will check the cat's health and complete any forms. Health certificates often have to be issued within a short window before the flight, so ask for the exact timing.
4. Pick an approved carrier. For the cabin, a soft-sided cat carrier that fits under the seat is usual. The airline will state the maximum dimensions. It must allow the cat to stand and turn, be leakproof at the bottom and close securely. For the hold, the airline usually requires a hard, ventilated crate that meets its rules. Measure the carrier and compare.
5. Train the cat to the carrier. Leave it out at home for weeks, with treats and a familiar blanket inside. Practice closing the door and carrying the cat around the house, then in the car.
6. Fit identification. A current microchip and a tag with your phone number on the cat or carrier help if there is a mix-up. Put your destination address on the carrier too.
7. Plan for security. At the airport checkpoint the cat usually has to come out of the carrier while the carrier goes through the scanner. A well-fitted cat harness and lead, put on at home and tested, stops a frightened cat from bolting. Carry the cat close, in a quiet area. Ask the staff if you can use a private room.
8. Pack a small kit. Include a pad or towel for the carrier, wipes, a spare pad, a small amount of food and a collapsible bowl. Check what liquids the airline allows.
9. Feed lightly before the flight. Ask your vet what suits your cat. Offer water at the airport if the cat will drink.
10. Afterward. Let the cat out in a quiet room at your destination, with a litter tray, water and a hiding place. Give it time.

Sedation

Many people ask whether to sedate a cat for a flight. Many airline and veterinary bodies advise against it. Sedatives can slow breathing and heart rate and affect balance, and the risk can rise at altitude and when a cat cannot be watched. Do not give your cat any sedative or human medicine on your own. If you think your cat needs medical help to cope, ask your vet before you book, and follow their advice about whether it is suitable and what to do.

A pheromone spray on the carrier blanket may help some cats feel more settled. The evidence is mixed. It is an extra and not a substitute for carrier training.

Cabin or hold

• In the cabin. Your cat stays near you and you can see it. The carrier goes under the seat in front, and the cat usually has to stay inside for the whole flight. Cabin space is limited, so book early.
• Hold or cargo. The cat travels in a pressurised, temperature-controlled area on many airlines. Hot or cold weather can lead airlines to refuse pets in the hold. Some airlines do not carry pets in the hold at all. Ask exactly where your cat will travel and what the airline does about temperature.
• Direct flights. A nonstop flight is easier on a cat than one with connections. Avoid tight transfers and the hottest or coldest times of day.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the research to the last week. Import rules and vet certificates can take months.
• Assuming one rule fits all airlines. Each sets its own limits on carrier size, weight and cabin pets.
• Buying a carrier that only just fits. Check the dimensions against the airline's rules, and test fit in front of a seat.
• Using a new carrier on the day. Train the cat first.
• Sedating the cat without veterinary advice. This can be dangerous.
• Letting the cat out of the carrier at the airport. Only take the cat out when security asks, and have a harness fitted.
• Not checking the return trip. Rules for coming home can differ from the rules for going.

When to see a vet

See your vet before the flight to confirm the cat is well enough. Contact a vet immediately if the cat:

• breathes with an open mouth, or struggles to breathe
• is limp, collapses or cannot stand
• has not eaten or drunk for a day or more after the flight
• vomits repeatedly
• strains to urinate or passes no urine, especially a male

Summary

• Choose an airline for its pet policy as well as its price, and book the pet place early.
• Read the destination's import rules months ahead, and ask your vet to complete forms in the right window.
• Use an approved, familiar carrier. Check size and weight limits.
• Keep the microchip and tag current. Use a harness at security.
• Do not sedate your cat without your vet's advice. Many professionals advise against it.
• Treat flat-faced, young, old or unwell cats with extra caution, and ask your vet.
• Give your cat a quiet room to settle after landing.