Can I send my cat on a plane without flying myself?

Question

I am driving to Alaska from Fresno, CA and would rather send my cat on a plane to be picked up by someone there rather than have her in my car with me. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Yes you can!!! Continental Cargo has a service for animals.

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/default.aspx

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Yes, but she'd have to go in the cargo section. Most airlines won't allow unattended animals to fly in the passenger cabin of the plane. I considered this option when I moved from NY to FLA, but it was August, and I was concerned about heat stroke, if the plane sat in the summer heat, while boarding or unloading, and I could get no clear answers re climate control. Do some research- I don't remember how much it was, but for 2 cats from NYC to Fl Lauderdale in 1992 was several hundred dollars, so it's not a cheap route either.

Answer 3

You can do this, but check out the airline first. A lot of animals get injured or end up dead. Some of the airlines treat them as ordinary cargo. The animals get tossed around. I know that they have special places on the planes for animals, but that doesn't mean that the people handling your pet will be careful. Breeders who ship their animals cross country would be able to answer your questions.

Answer 4

GeeGee has the most logical answer yet. Since you are going TO Alaska, you are still looking at freezing conditions!
The cargo section in planes is NOT warmed/cooled (depending on the season) -- it could freeze him to death.

I would really suggest that you just keep her/him in a carrier and take them in the car -- make sure you have a harness/leash so you can 'walk them' from time to time.

Answer 5

You may want to try to take them with you. It's not that hard. Get two crates (as large as your car will allow) and place them so that the doors face each other. Use one side for the cat litter (I used shredded paper) and the other side for them to rest. The litter can be changed at every rest stop. It worked fine for me.

Actually,I had harnesses on them with my name and cell phone number. I used a leash so at times I could let them roam around the car, but had them tied so they could not interfere with my driving. I would never trust them on a leash outside of the car or motel. It is amazing what a cat can get out of.

If you stop at a motel, keep them on a leash and tie them so they cannot get under the bed. It is really hard to get them out of that type of bed. It happened once, and I worried that they might get into something bad for them.

I also had my small dog with me and they were all lots of company, and my trip was about twice as long as yours.

The only drawback is you can't leave them in the car, so you need to use fast food.

Answer 6

I believe so. I think that it is like sending your child on a plane by themselves, you just have to make sure that you have someone waiting there for the cat. But it does put a lot of stress on an animal like that, just leaving it.

Answer 7

I was under the impression that you can ship only when the temperature is reasonable. No shipping in temperature extremes. But I would be very careful and check with airlines. Also, some airlines probably require a form from your vet so check immediately with both the vet and the airline.

Answer 8

Yes you can! We had one of our show cats flown in from Minnesota to Ohio. You need to discuss the details with the airlines but I know it is possible. He flew as a carry on I believe, best bet would be to ask the airlines you plan on using, but I am positive that it can be done without you flying too.

Answer 9

I believe you can, but DO think carefully about this! There are risks associated with shipping an animal by plane. Make sure you do your research. Also make sure the carrier is very strong. Wire it shut to provide extra protection.

Answer 10

Sure...if you want the cat to end up in Florida. Think of how bad it is to get your luggage to the right destination when traveling. Now imagine a cat.