Cats on a Plane?

Question

I am moving to Qatar (Middle East) from Canada, and plan on taking my two cats. Has anyone ever moved cats such a distance on a plane? Does anyone know what is best: Cargo or Acompanied baggage?

Answer 1

Accompanied baggage, definitely. You need to find out if Qatar has quarantine laws in place. Get your cats vaccinations up to date and a week before the flight, get a Crtificate of Health from a recognized vet for BOTH cats. I have flown with my cat over the Pacific to Asia - a 17 hr flight. With the drive to and from the airport, the check-in, wait, customs, etc. , total time my cat spends in his kennel is more than 20 hrs. But each time, he is fine. Mind you with a little help from a 1/4 of a calming pill from the vet.

When you book your ticket, you have to tell the airlines that you are taking your cats with you. They will give you specifications on size, etc of the pet carrier or kennel. They'll need to know before hand that you are taking your pets becuase many airlines who accept pets in cargo have room only for three or four live animals in the special pressurized cargo bay kept for the purpose. At the airport, you check in your cat carriers (with the cats in them) as accompanied luggage and you may elect to keep them with you until boarding time at which time, you have the chance to hand the kennels personally to a waiting steward and tell him or her to remind the captain that there are live animals on board. I always keep hold of my cat's kennel up to boarding time - well I board the plane with the kennel in my arms, then hand it to the steward, watch her or him take the kennel downstairs to the live animal compartment in the cargo bay and wait for her to emerge again and request that she go and remind the pilot that there is a live animal on board. After I see her do that, I go to my seat and relax. At the other end of the flight, I go through customs then go collect my baggage. Sometimes the cat kennel is already there by the baggage claim, sometimes I wait a little while before someone emerges frm a room hand carrying the kennel. I load everything up in my trolley and me and my cat are good to go.

Answer 2

Excess baggage or cargo are both the same with the exception you know for sure they are on the same plane as you. You may feel a little better if they are on the same flight and you can alert the captain in person while you board the plane that there is LIVE ANIMALS in cargo. Just so you know Contintal and many other airlines have a policy Pets in cargo are the last to go on to the plane and the first to come off. So they will be fine. They will not be left in the cold or heat. They have a special 2nd cargo buiding right on the run way were the animal will stay until the very last minutes.

You may want to go to this page and look at a First Class Pet Airline Kit to keep them safe dry and comfortable while traveling such long distance. http://www.dryfur.com/airline_checklist.htm

Answer 3

They HAVE to go in the cabin. Cats in the cargo or baggage compartments die! The airline may tell you that the compartment is pressurized or climate controlled but they don't account for times the plane sits on the runway, when many animals roast or freeze to death. I have heard far too many horror stories (including stories in which the baggage compartment was not pressurized after all, and animals died a gruesome death), and I would never, ever place my cat anywhere except in the cabin. You will need to make prior arrangements with the airline -- most only allow a very limited number of animals in the cabin per flight. They will also require you to have a carrier that fits under the seat.

Answer 4

I took a cat on the plane. I had a carrier that was low enough to be placed under the seat and it has to have a tag on it saying it is appoved by the airline. go check with the pet store and then check with the airline. It is best to have it on the plane with you. It may cost more because you have to buy tickets for the cats and it is around 75.00 or more but it is worth it. I would never put a cat or a dog in cargo.

Answer 5

Accompanied baggage would definitely be better for such a long flight.

Also, a friend of mine just moved cross country and he was in the car with his cat for almost 24 hours. His vet told him to give the cat the medicine Benadryl...the one for babies (human babies). Its an allergy medicine, but my friends vet said it was safe for cats and that it would calm the cat down if he got scared or wild during the car ride. He never had to use it, the cat was calm for the entire drive.

Please check with a vet first if you want to give your cat baby Benadryl.

Answer 6

i was in virginia and moved to texas. i had 3 cats, the best thing that i found was to put them in crates, like the ones you'd bring when going to the vet. and just try not to move the crates around much, and if you are there next to it, it should feel safer

Answer 7

I never have