Tips on how to Fly with a Cat - Based on Personal Experience

Towards the end of August last year I was given the privilege of being able to help fly two amazing kitties to their new homes! It was a whirlwind of a weekend but I had a great time completing the mission! I wanted to share some tips and tricks I learned and used while planning for the trip, going through TSA, flying, and handing off then off to their pawrents!

Note: This guide is to provide insight on traveling based on my personal experience to help other pets travel comfortably!

Phase 1: Planning

Read your Airline's Pet Policy!
If you have preferred airlines, read about the pet policies when it comes to traveling on their aircraft with a pet partner. I don't have a huge preference toward any specific airline, but I just ended up taking American Airlines for all my flights.

Identify Key Details about the Pets you will be taking!
You will need to know the pet's size, weight, and some paperwork from a vet that shows their shots and vaccinations are up to date! I didn't need their paperwork at any part of my flight, but these details are better to have in the off chance someone asks.

Talk to your Pet's Vet
Call your pet's Vet and let them know about your travel plans and discuss the best way to handle your pet during the flight. In some cases if you have an outgoing and adventurous pet, you might not need to provide them any medical aid. However, in my case, I was picking up two cats on two different trips that had only met me 2 times before over the last 7 years, and they were both anxious ones. So they were provided Gabapentin to help ease their anxiety as much as possible.

Note: Gabapentin is an anti-seizure and pain-relieving medication with sedative properties. This is often prescribed to help reduce stress and anxiety for cats while they are travelling. There are multiple drug options that are available so make sure to consult your vet before using any drug/medication. 

Check State Entry Requirements
This one I suggest lightly, as I read that to bring a pet into Wisconsin you will need the vet history to be allowed to enter. With that being said, I did not have anyone talk to me about this when I arrived and dropped off my kitty flight buddy to his pawrents at the arrivals. 

Set up your flights
If at all possible to ease the intensity of travel, it would be best to get a non-stop flight. If you have an anxious cat/dog, the less changing of surroundings the better. Also make sure to apply any pet fees that might be required to add your pet to your flight! Initially I bought window seats as it would be the least disturbed seat in the row, however I think that middle seats might actually be the best option for multiple benefits. 

1. They tend to have more under seat space from what I experience.
2. People don't normally want to sit next to someone, so they'll opt for another row with no middle person. This is great for less busy flights.

Phase 2: Before Flight Prep!

What do you bring with you?
When I went on my adventure, I knew the first cat that I was going to travel with, Captain, would sometimes pee in car rides, and he was going to go on a plane! So I brought and used the following:

• A small Blanket/towel to cover the Carrier while resting before boarding
  
• Pet carrier
  
• Pee Pads (I lined the bottom of the carrier with them, and had spares to switch in)
• Churu tubes
• A small collapsible bowl for water
• Small Toys for comfort
• A brush to help provide comfort
• Gabapentin & plunger syringe to administer when/if needed

When arrived, check in to confirm your pet's boarding at the front desk.
It is important to check in at the front desk to make sure that your pet is cleared and their carrier is approved for onboarding. Some airlines have a pet limit on their plane, so if there happens to be too many other passengers with a pet in the cabin, they might have to help move you to a new flight. (I believe that this is very rare, but just be aware it could happen!)

You can request a private room at the Security Check
At the security check, you need to remove your pet from their carrier so the carrier can be scanned. This means you are expected to carry your pet through the full body scanner system! This is not a good idea when you don't have any harness or have a runner. Request this once you get to the area where you start putting the bins on the conveyer belt. Once requested the TSA members will walk you into a smaller room with two representatives to check your bag while you hold you pet. This worked out great for me! Each time I had to do this, the TSA members were friendly and kind of excited to meet who I had with me. You might have to wait a little for the room too. Don't let any TSA workers bully you into trying to take your cat out where you are not comfortable. (One started too and I restated that I wanted a private room, and she backed off.)

How did the Trips go?

For Captain’s trip: 

The night before, I sprayed the Pet Carrier I was going to use with some Feliway Spray, and took some time to familiarize Captain with myself. I tried to give him Churu treat tubes, pets, play, and spoke with him to try to have him become more comfortable with me. He is a very shy kitty and was really resistant to becoming too close with me, but not confrontational. I learned that he was just a big sweet boy with a lot of shyness inside. 

Before I went to sleep that night, I reviewed tricks on how to administer Gabapentin( a liquid medication) with the least amount of discomfort possible. I learned that if cats don’t like the taste of something that they are eating they will foam at the mouth! This is also a common reaction for medicine if they happen to taste it.

I woke up about 1.5 hour earlier than I wanted to leave to give myself some time for the medication to kick in, and went to administer the medication to Captain. Honestly, I'm inexperienced so it wasn’t the most tasty experience, but it wasn’t terrible! One foamy mouth and a Churu tube of apology later, I was able to move him into his carrier and called an Uber to arrive to the airport on time. 

Note: If you can, please let the Uber driver know that you will be bringing a pet with you in text before they arrive. It’s just courteous!

I checked in with the front desk to make sure Captain's carrier and flight was secured, got my ticket and headed off to the security check! I requested a private room once at the conveyer belt and I had to wait a little since it was busy at that time. 

For those who are curious about the private room check process:
You have a TSA member hold your pet carrier while you go through the scanner to clear your person. Then you carry your cat into the private room. Both of the ones I used looked like it was part storage/closet. TSA then asks you to remove the cat/pet, and they swab the carrier for drugs or any other illegal substances. Usually the second TSA member present would ask me just curious questions about the cat I had, and it would be fun to just talk about Captain or Jojo. Once cleared, I would put them back into their carrier and would be sent on my way!

The time between my arrival and the flight was small enough I did not need to wait long to board, however my window seat had a smaller area for my under-seat storage due to a metal box that was attached to the plane. Thankfully the seat next to me was empty and I was able to place Captain under the middle seat storage for take off. Since the flight was less full, a flight attendant let me bring Captain's carrier onto the middle seat and we just snuggled the whole flight. (Captain stayed in his carrier by choice since he was a little woozy still from the Gabapentin. 

Once I handed him off to his new Pawrent I caught my next flight home and got ready to do the same thing the next day with my other flight pawtner, a Black cat named Jojo!

For Jojo's Trip:

About 2 hours before I left for the airport, I ended up giving her 2ml of Gabapentin. Since Jojo is a lot more outgoing and I had a little more experience, it was easier to administer her the Gabapentin before the trip! The I gave her one tube of Churu to heal any damaged trust and we left for the airport! 

However this trip that I had with Jojo was little more difficult!
I had a 1.5 hour flight, a small layover, and a 5 hour flight after that.

Thankfully the TSA Private room check went smoothly, and the first flight had nobody next to me so I could have her on the seat like how I did with Captain.

Between the two flights, I didn't want to keep her cooped up so much, so I found a pet relief area which are located in most airports, and was able to let her out of the carrier. 

It's important to give your pet a break to stand up and stretch. Just like how your legs hurt after a long car ride, I'm sure any pet would appreciate a little freedom. 

I gave her lots of brushes, and started to play with her a little, but thought better since I didn't want her jumping around while being under the influence of the Gabapentin and land poorly. As she was allowed to have up to 4ml of Gabapentin, and I had only given her 2ml earlier, I administered a 1.5ml more of gabapentin, along with another Churu to help ease her during the next 5 hour flight. 

Since I as flying from Orlando the LA (for roughly 5 hours) I opted to get the window seat once more since I knew that my chances of an open middle seat was slim, and I was right. The flight was full, and I'm glad I was able to provide her the least disturbance possible. Thankfully Jojo was able to sleep for most of the trip!

Once I landed, instead of going to any baggage claim, I went to the nearest Pet relief area and let her out to shake off the travel once more! She was almost home! I could tell she was grateful to be out of the carrier, and I gave her Churu along with more brushes! We were almost home!!

My husband picked me up and we drove to drop her off back at her home with her meowmmy! She was happy to be reunited! 

Two cats delivered to two great homes successfully!

Thanks for reading my overview and tips about my trips! I hope it was informative and helps you better plan for your first or next flight with a pet companion!

Give your kitties some love for me!