Help - I'm moving my cats to NYC from CA. I'm worried about flying, having a tiny place and a high balcony

Question

I'm taking 3 cats to NYC. I'm worried about getting them on the plane. One gets carsick after 2 blocks. One is very big and I will not be able to fit him under the seat for any period of time and they all are big babies.

I also just got a place that is much, much smaller than where I lived before (very expensive city) and I'm afraid they will be unhappy.

Finally my place has a balcony 6 floors up and I am terrified of them getting out or falling out. I'd love for them to get fresh air and sit outside but I'd die if anything happened to them.

I'd appreciate any constructive advice. I'm having a post-lease signing anxiety attack and can't sleep.

Answer 1

Tie them up while on the balcony for a few weeks, they will learn. Cats generally suffer no problems while flying, but try to make sure they don't have too much room to avoid injury. My own vet suggested putting a clothespin on the nape of their neck to keep them calm. Gravol for kids also works
A

Answer 2

ok well....most likely, you wouldn't be carrying your cats onto the plane with you. most airlines if they know what you're bringing before hand will accomodate you by safely storing the animals with the rest of the luggage below. (you'd need to contact the airline that you're flying for more details on it though).

i'm sure that as long as you don't stop giving them attention and love that they need, they won't really notice. yeah, they'll notice that it's a new place and might be kinda freaked out for awhile, so make sure all of their belongings, toys, litterboxes, food and any bedding or blankets that they use are there with them. they will eventually get used to the new home but i doubt that they'll notice the size difference from old to new.

as far as the balcony goes, my sister lived in a second story apartment. it had a balcony. she has a cat. the cat sat outside all the time, and never when base jumping. most of the time if there is a ledge that they can sit on, they probably won't. they'll just be happy to lay in the sun and they'll realize that they're much higher off the ground so won't attempt to do much. they don't want to get hurt, so if there aren't any trees or anything, which i doubt there are in nyc...at least not very many, you should have a problem with them diving off the balcony into nothing but air. if the balcony has wrought iron railing, you can put up something as a barracade around the lower part so they won't be tempted to stick their heads out to look over the edge.

congrats on the move and apartment. i'm sure you'll find that the cats won't be as stressed over any of it as you are. just make sure that nothing from you changes, and that you're still the same to them. i hope this helps you out, and good luck in the big apple from an oklahoma girl. i hope i get to new york one day. :)

Answer 3

Well, I have traveled all over the world with my 2 cats and dog. First, find a good airplane carrier that provides controled climate in the cargo area. I know Lufthansa and United provide these, you can also look into pet transportation service (expensive). Check and make sure of all the policies regarding transportation. Most carriers will not allow you to place an animal on a flight if they are sedated, and there are weather restrictions. I know for me to place my animals on a flight was abotu 125$ per animal, since they have to have their own indiviual carriers (hard plastic, no wire). As far as them going outside on your balcony, don't worry. Cats are a good judge of height and won't jump if they feel unsafe. If you are still worried you could always get some netting and place it around your balcony. This will allow them to get fresh air, but not go any further. If worst comes to worse you could always find a good home for your babies. Even though I wouldn't recommend this unless you are certain they will be unhappy. good luck!

Answer 4

I would see if anyone in your family could take them. Or any good friends. There is no way you could have them there if you want them to be outside sometimes unless you put them on a leash...and I doubt they would enjoy that. I know I have had a couple of cats that would walk on a leash. If you couldn't part with them at all...like no acceptions I would find somewhere else to live. Unless you would put like screen around your balcony so they couldn't fall. Like build your own private porch. I don't know what else to do. I hope I helped some

Answer 5

Get yourself and the cats some Rescue Remedy. From the sound of it you may need the large size.

If you drink bottled water put five or six drops in the bottle and just sip it throughout the day. You put the RR on the fur of the cats between the ears.

You need to shake the bottle really well before putting it in your water or on the cats. It can help them adjust to the trip and their new space.

You are an adult under stress, don't try to figure it all out ahead of time. Many people live in big cities in small apartments with cats.
Take one day at a time -- you can deal with the future when it arrives.

Get some sleep and stop by the health foods store tomorrow for the RR.

Answer 6

I used to live in Hawaii. When we left my cat flew with me under the seat in the most tiny cramped cage and he never said a word. We flew from Hawaii to California and then from CA to Denver and then Denver to Oklahoma. He was very cramped, but he was such a good cat. With 3 cats, you're going to have to put some of them in cargo.

I lived 8 stories up. My cat loved to go out and look around and we kept his litter box out there. He never attempted to jump. One day we came home and he was gone. I went looking for him everywhere.

Found him a few apartment buildings away, scared to death. Apparently he fell or jumped from the lanai. We had bushes under us though and it didn't hurt him at all. Just left him dazed and confused.

If you have nothing but cement below your balcony, I'd be a little concerned. I wouldn't let them out unless you were watching them. My brother had a beautiful siamese and lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment in D.C. He jumped for a bird and splattered on the cement. I couldn't stand the thought of that happening.

As far as being a small place. Cats adjust very easily. I've had apartments, houses and stayed with people for months at a time and my cat had to stay confined to a bedroom, but didn't bother him at all.

As long they know they are with you and that they are loved everything will be alright. Good luck with your move.

Answer 7

It will be ok. Most of the time we worry about stuff that doesn't turn out to be anything for us to worry about.

Call your vet and get his advice. There is probably some sort of sedative to give them for the trip.

Also, you can probably find some screen or something to put around the balcony to keep the cats from falling out or off. Try not to worry so much. I am sure it will be fine.

Answer 8

Another person answered this question well enough, but I wanted to point out that flying cats is expensive. Most likely, you'll have to fly the cats as cargo. You could also look for a pet mover on uship.com.

Answer 9

For your balcony, you can construct a barrier around it to protect the kitties from falling out. I did this a couple of times.

One place, I went to home depot and purchased some wooden trellis/ lattice work fencing and lined it up around the balcony. Plexiglas also works.

The next place I was able to make the balcony more enclosed. I took the trellis sheets and attached them just below the handrail and created a gazebo look.

My sister lives in SF. No balcony however she purchased a couple of the cat nap/ bed things that you hook up to your window sill and had them lie in the sun with the window open slightly.

Answer 10

Cats will ride in the luggage compartment, nothing you can do about that, talk to your vet, he can prescribe you tranquilizers for them.
Your cats will adjust to the small living space, trust me on this one, they love you and will be your support team as always.
They may bicker more than usual, you will just have to be creative and come up with something they deem worthy (their own play area, with toys everywhere,a aquarium, etc.)
Aside from having the balcony enclosed, you are just gonna have to keep them inside or trust they can handle it (while you are there with them - to be honest - the balcony would scare the hell out of me if it were my cats).
Bless you for not leaving them behind, so many would, bravo sweet person.