Posted by spoc on June 20, 2004, at 6:44:29
In reply to Anyone flown with a cat?, posted by Ilene on June 19, 2004, at 20:24:38
> I want to get underseat carriers and take them with me. The question is to tranquilize them or not. These guys are not quiet and they don't like being in a car. I can imagine how much howling they'll do in a plane.
>
> I.<<<<<< I have flown with a Yorkshire terrier in a carrier (hey, that sounds catchy, maybe I should write a poem by that title). She was not even all that yappy normally for a toy dog. But even tranquilized at the average dose, whatever that was, whooooooa Nelly, was she vocal. And rules (which were enforced, which depending on the flight crew isn't always the case) prohibited me from taking her out to calm her once in flight. I did make sure to get the type of carrier that has a little flip-up grate on top, so I could at least get a hand in.
While the size of the respective animals is similar, I guess this still may not be very relevant, as the temperaments are usually different. But if my dog was typically somewhat quieter than most toy dogs and your cats are typically louder than most cats, it may meet in the middle to some extent.
I think I've heard that tranquilizing for cargo checking doesn't mix with the different air pressure in there, even more so with small animals. But for carry-on, I'm in favor of tranquilizing just in case, for the critter's own comfort as well as the peace on board. (Now if the safety conclusion has changed since I did my homework way back when, of course I'd instead err in favor of not tranquilizing. Bring enough ear plugs for everyone now! :)
poster:spoc
thread:358189
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040619/msgs/358251.html