Cats can experience stress and anxiety when traveling.Your cat can be thrown for a loop if you remove her from her environment.Prepare your cat for air travel with care and consideration.The travel experience will be less stress for the two of you.
Step 1: Take your cat to the vet.
Cats can be difficult to travel with.It's important to make sure your cat is healthy for the flight.She will be examined by your vet to make sure she is up to date on her vaccinations.If your cat has an illness, it's a good idea to ask your vet how it can be treated prior to your flight.Your vet may need to complete a health certificate for your cat, certifying she is healthy enough for travel and has all of the required vaccinations.Before your appointment, confirm the health certificate requirements with the airline.There are time restrictions on the health completion certificate.Confirmation of your airline's specific time restriction is required for health certificates to be completed within 10 days of a flight.Do you want your cat to be easy to identify?If your cat has a chip, it's a good idea to have it scanned by your vet to make sure it can be read.If your cat is on medication, it's a good idea to talk to your vet about how you can continue to give it medication while you're away.
Step 2: Purchase a carrier that is approved by the airline.
If you haven't traveled by plane with your cat before, you may need to purchase an airline-approved pet carrier.Pet carrier requirements for cabin and cargo travel can be found on the airline's website.A cat carrier should be made of a durable fabric, be wellventilated, and have a side door.The carrier may be required to have a soft bottom pad.A good cargo carrier should be made of plastic and have a door lock.If you want your cat to be comfortable in the carrier, make sure it is large enough.
Step 3: Encourage your cat to use her carrier.
It will take at least one month for your cat to be ready for travel.Ask your cat to spend more time in his carrier during this time.To make it look inviting, put some of her comforts inside, such as comfortable bedding and favorite toys.If your cat frequents a bed or a scratching post, leave the carrier open at all times.This allows your cat to explore her carrier at her own pace, without fear of you closing the door when she steps inside.Consider spraying cat pheromones inside the carrier to make it smell familiar to her.She can have a positive association with it if she is fed in the carrier.After you've given her time to explore it, practice closing the door.After closing the door for a few seconds, open it and give her a treat.Slowly increase the amount of time you leave the door closed before opening it and giving her a treat.
Step 4: Take your cat for a ride.
Take your cat on car rides when she is comfortable with her carrier.Start with short car rides.Take her on longer rides as she gets more used to car travel.The carrier should be secured in the car with a seatbelt.Don't take your cat to the doctor's office.If she behaves well, give her a treat at the end of the ride.It may seem strange to your cat at first, but she will get used to it over time.You should start the car rides at least a few weeks before your flight.
Step 5: Prepare your cat for loud noises.
The airport can be noisy as well.If your cat is used to being in a car, take her to the airport and sit outside with her in the carrier.The loud noise and commotion may be frightening for your cat at first, so it will probably take a few trips to the airport before you get used to it.Near the flight check-in area, you could take her.Provide your cat with some treats to reward her good behavior.Allow your cat a few weeks to get used to airport noises.
Step 6: Your cat has toenails.
If your cat has long nails, she could use them to scratch up her carrier during the flight.She could get injured if she gets her nails stuck in the bars of the carrier.If you don't like trimming your cat's nails, have your vet do it.A cat's nails should be trimmed once every 10 days to 2 weeks so that they don't get long again before the trip.Bring nail clippers if you will be away from home for a long time.
Step 7: You can book your flight.
Pets are often not allowed in the plane's cabin.To increase the chances of your cat staying with you in the cabin, you should book your flight well in advance.Ask if the airline allows pets on the plane and if your cat can travel in the cabin when you call to book your flight.It is better for your cat to travel in the cabin rather than the cargo hold because of her small size.It is possible to pay an extra fee for your cat.If your cat can travel with you in the cabin, her carrier will count as one of your carry-ons.The locator number for your cat is associated with your seat number so make sure to get it when you book your flight.Try to book a nonstop flight.Booking a flight in the middle of the day is a bad idea.
Step 8: Your cat has an ID collar.
One of the tags on your cat's ID collar should have your name, address, and cell phone number on it.Small trinkets or charms that are easy to grab on a part of her carrier should be removed.Before your flight, make sure her collar is appropriate.
Step 9: You can make labels for your cat's carrier.
It's important if your cat will be traveling in the cargo hold, but also a good idea for cabin travel.Your contact information should be on the label, as well as your end destination.If you are going to stay at a hotel, you should write down the hotel's name, address, and phone number on the label.If the outside label comes off during the course of travel, place a label on the inside and outside of the carrier.If your cat will be traveling in the cargo hold, make a few large Live Animal labels and place them on the outside of her carrier.If you make the labels at least a few days before your trip, you won't have to rush to do it on the day of travel.
Step 10: Prepare bags of dry food for your cat.
Cats should travel on an empty stomach if they want to avoid accidents in the carrier.It's a good idea to give your cat a few nibbles of food if your flight is delayed for a long time.Attach a bag of food to the carrier if your cat is in the cargo hold for a long flight.
Step 11: You should keep your normal routine.
It's important to keep a normal routine on the travel day.Cats don't respond well to change, so a sudden change in routine could increase your cat's anxiety and stress levels, and cause her to act out.She uses her litterbox as she usually would if you kept her feeding schedule the same.She won't be able to eliminate again until you arrive at your destination.Before you place her in the carrier, you should keep things calm and normal.
Step 12: 4 to 6 hours before your flight, feed your cat.
If your flight is less than 6 hours before her regular meal, it may be difficult to maintain a normal feeding schedule.During your month of preparation, gradually adjust her meals so that they coincide with the time before your flight.You could try to find a flight that would be available within 4 to 6 hours.You should not feed her again until you get to your destination.If you have an international flight or a flight with multiple stops, you may have to feed her.It is possible for your cat to have water up to an hour before the flight.
Step 13: Provide your cat with her medication.
Schedule your cat's administration according to their travel schedule.If your vet tells you to give your cat a tranquilizer, do it.If your cat is traveling in the cargo hold, tranquilizers can affect her ability to regulate her body temperature, which can have serious consequences.If you give your cat tranquilizers, make sure to test them at least a couple of days before.You can calculate the ideal dose to avoid underdosing the cat on the travel day.The tranquilizer test dose will wear off before travel day.
Step 14: Put your cat in its carrier.
Before you leave the house, make sure your cat is inside the carrier.You don't want to give her a chance to bolt out of her carrier at an airport because it can be frightening for cats.To make the carrier more comfortable for her, make it smell familiar.Keep a firm hold on it if you have to take her out of its carrier.If you can go through an alternative screening, your cat can stay in the carrier.
Step 15: Your cat is calm.
If your cat will be traveling with you in the cabin or cargo hold, make sure to communicate with it in a calm way.Look at her in her carrier and blink slowly until she blinks back, which is a positive form of communication for cats.Before and during the flight, you can talk to her reassuringly.