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Old April 23rd 06, 07:12 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
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Default Advice solicited about flying with cat

Yes, I've flown with a cat. Virtually every airline, with the one
exception of Southwest, will let you take the animal in the cabin with
you. But there is a restriction on the total number of animals in the
cabin for each flight, so it would have been better to have made the
reservation at the beginning. Callie's "ticket" cost $75 for a
cross-country flight. I did get tranquilizers for her, but ended up not
needed to use them as she was pretty okay. A little disturbed by the
security line coming in and the baggage claim wait going out - but who
isn't?

If you've got a confident cat, it should be fine. Just realize that you
will need to pick the cat up out of the case and walk through the
security gate with the cat in hand and then place them back in the
case. If your cat will be too difficult for you to handle in that way
(and one of mine is - not Callie, and she would need to be driven) then
flying may not be the right thing. A harness is not a bad precaution.

The odds are the cat will be pretty silent. Don't forget they are on
the floor under the seat and there is jet noise, so it would have to be
a fairly mighty meow for your neighbors to hear much of it.

You're the best judge of your cat, but it is a big deal to them (they
don't know if they've lost their entire territory forever or not) ...