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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Wildflower on January 21, 2007, at 22:01:23
I really hope someone can help me with this. I'm losing sleep over the thought of a possible move and not being able to take my two cats with me. The airline websites don't make animal travel sound comfortable for pets and I'm looking at about a 5 hour flight.
Has anyone done this and traveled with the pet on the plane? Some airlines recommend shipping them as cargo. Please share any stories you may have to help me calm my nerves. The thought of spending a week in a car moving the kitties (in lieu of a plane) doesn't sound pet-friendly either.
Posted by ClearSkies on January 21, 2007, at 22:37:13
In reply to Anyone ever traveled with pets on a plane?, posted by Wildflower on January 21, 2007, at 22:01:23
> I really hope someone can help me with this. I'm losing sleep over the thought of a possible move and not being able to take my two cats with me. The airline websites don't make animal travel sound comfortable for pets and I'm looking at about a 5 hour flight.
>
> Has anyone done this and traveled with the pet on the plane? Some airlines recommend shipping them as cargo. Please share any stories you may have to help me calm my nerves. The thought of spending a week in a car moving the kitties (in lieu of a plane) doesn't sound pet-friendly either.I brought my 2 cats with me when I moved to England. They flew in the cargo hold of the British Air flight we took. The were issued with official-looking kitty-passports, LOL. I had to bring a health certificate from their vet stating that they were fit for travel. When dropped then off for their "check-in", the staff immediately started to fuss over them and treat them like the first class passengers they were :-)
They were each in a small crate, which was rated for airline travel. (Just ask at a pet store for one.) They were not tagged like luggage, which relieved me somehow; but handed from person to person.
They were not medicated for the flight, as advised by our vet. He said it would be too difficult to gauge the correct dosage for a cat unaccustomed to being sedated.
There were no ill after-effects of the flight. We were forgiven within 20 minutes of getting home.
OH - and 7 years later, they came back to the states with us. We had to fly into a different airport, and so had to drive 6 hours after having flown for 7 hours. (None of us were in good shape after that trip!! Not humans, nor animals! The cats recovered much more quickly than I did.)
CS
Posted by Wildflower on January 22, 2007, at 7:11:48
In reply to Re: Anyone ever traveled with pets on a plane? » Wildflower, posted by ClearSkies on January 21, 2007, at 22:37:13
> OH - and 7 years later, they came back to the states with us. We had to fly into a different airport, and so had to drive 6 hours after having flown for 7 hours. (None of us were in good shape after that trip!! Not humans, nor animals! The cats recovered much more quickly than I did.)
>
> CS
>
>>>Thanks ClearSkies! When you moved back to the US, you and your kitties arrived at different airports??? Or did you just meant hat the plane all of you were flying on was diverted?
Posted by ClearSkies on January 22, 2007, at 7:50:40
In reply to Re: Anyone ever traveled with pets on a plane? » ClearSkies, posted by Wildflower on January 22, 2007, at 7:11:48
> >
> >>>Thanks ClearSkies! When you moved back to the US, you and your kitties arrived at different airports??? Or did you just meant hat the plane all of you were flying on was diverted?
>
>We were all together, but had to fly in to a different airport because of poor weather. The first thing we did after renting the car to drive was to buy a single-use litter tray, find a quiet parking lot, and let the cats uncross their legs. They were mighty happy after that!
Posted by Wildflower on January 22, 2007, at 7:55:14
In reply to Re: Anyone ever traveled with pets on a plane? » Wildflower, posted by ClearSkies on January 21, 2007, at 22:37:13
Did you put a litter box inside the cage?
Posted by ClearSkies on January 22, 2007, at 8:15:31
In reply to Re: One more thing » ClearSkies, posted by Wildflower on January 22, 2007, at 7:55:14
No, there isn't room enough for a cat litter box unless the cat hunkers down in the tray for the entire flight. Fresh water is necessary, though, since some cats get thirsty when they are nervous. Mine didn't even seem to care about having something familiar smelling, like a little blankie, in the travel cage. I think their noses were busy enough taking in their strange surroundings.
A cat in good health should be able to tolerate, say, 8 hours of having to hold it. (Unless the cat has health issues, like diabetes, in which case the vet might suggest other alternatives for travel plans.)
Happy travels,
CS
Posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2007, at 10:56:17
In reply to Re: One more thing » Wildflower, posted by ClearSkies on January 22, 2007, at 8:15:31
Can you still buy those carry on cages to put under your seat? As I used to fly to Connecticut from Virginia with my small dog and he flew the whole way in that cage under my seat. I think he weighed l0lbs. about the limit size of a cage for under a seat. Good luck . Love Phillipa
Posted by Gee on January 22, 2007, at 16:01:04
In reply to Re: One more thing » ClearSkies, posted by Wildflower on January 22, 2007, at 7:55:14
I haven't personally flown with animals, but my aunt did.
Her family was coming to visit my family, and we live across the country. Their dog was pretty abused before they adopted it. He still quivers at the site of the broom (needless to say, it's well hidden most of the time). Anyways, my aunt was terrified that he was going to die on the trip out and, well what a way to start a vacation with 3 three little girls. But I guess, he was treated like royalty. Somehow, he managed to escape from his crate, and when they opened up the door to the pet section, there was the dog wandering around all happy. They had a layover, for a few hours, and the airline took him out and walked him, and just generally let him hang out. They got to where they were going, and the dog was still very much alive, though for the trip home they had to buy a new cage. He surrived, and was treated fairly well on the way back.
If only the animals could talk to tell us what they though!
Posted by Wildflower on January 22, 2007, at 18:07:30
In reply to Re: One more thing, posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2007, at 10:56:17
> Can you still buy those carry on cages to put under your seat? As I used to fly to Connecticut from Virginia with my small dog and he flew the whole way in that cage under my seat. I think he weighed l0lbs. about the limit size of a cage for under a seat. Good luck . Love Phillipa
>>>I could do that but the airline requires that the animal be able to stand up and turn around comfortably. The cages that would fit under the seat are too small for the cats. Also, the airline limits the animals allowed to be in the cabin and I'd only be able to carry one of them on.
Posted by Wildflower on January 22, 2007, at 18:10:47
In reply to Re: One more thing » Wildflower, posted by ClearSkies on January 22, 2007, at 8:15:31
> No, there isn't room enough for a cat litter box unless the cat hunkers down in the tray for the entire flight. Fresh water is necessary, though, since some cats get thirsty when they are nervous. Mine didn't even seem to care about having something familiar smelling, like a little blankie, in the travel cage. I think their noses were busy enough taking in their strange surroundings.
>>>Thank you so much for your story! It's very reassuring knowing someone that's been through this...and had positive results. I wouldn't be moving for a few months (if I decide to go) but at least I won't be up worrying about this issue anymore.
Posted by Wildflower on January 22, 2007, at 18:13:14
In reply to Re: One more thing » Wildflower, posted by Gee on January 22, 2007, at 16:01:04
> Somehow, he managed to escape from his crate, and when they opened up the door to the pet section, there was the dog wandering around all happy.
>>>Yikes! Better make sure I buy extra strength cages for the cats. They're both very skiddish and would run at the site of a stranger.
Posted by notfred on January 23, 2007, at 15:06:37
In reply to Re: One more thing » Gee, posted by Wildflower on January 22, 2007, at 18:13:14
I have traveled with my cats quite often, though not by plane. 2 things I found were key.
1) A halter and leash. Cats can inflect quite a bit of pain if they want to, esp. in stressful situations. A halter and leash means they cannot get away.
2) Get the cat out of the car first when unloading
and load the cat last when loading. This cuts down on the chance the cat will get out when a door is open. It is not a good idea to leave an animal alone in a car, even if they are in a cage.
This is the end of the thread.
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