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Air travel can be stressful—even when you’re not trying to bring a cat along on the plane. While flying with a cat can be an intimidating thought, it’s often necessary for those moving long distances. It’s often the best, fastest way to get your kitty from one point to another.
To learn how to fly with cats and the steps you should take, we spoke with Dr. Shannon Vawter, veterinarian and medical director at Thrive Pet Healthcare Wedgewood in Nashville, Tennessee. We review everything you need to know to fly with a cat, including how to prepare your kitty for airplane travel, plus day-of travel tips to ensure you and your kitty have the best flight possible.
Steps To Fly With a Cat
To help you get ready for flying with your cat, we’ve created a list of steps to guide you in your preparation before, during, and after the flight.
- Schedule a vet visit to clear your kitty for flying and consider prescription sedatives.
- Choose the best cat-friendly airline, then buy tickets in the ideal seats and on the optimal flights.
- Prepare your cat’s supplies, which will include a carrier, pee pads, and pet wipes.
- Arrange for travel to the airport.
- Follow pet protocol through TSA screening.
- Learn how bathroom breaks work for a cat on a plane.
- Make landing and getting cozy in a new spot as smooth as possible.
1. Preflight Vet Visit
If you know you’re flying with your cat, the first thing you’ll want to do is schedule a vet appointment. A wellness check can clear your cat for flight, and it’s also a good time to ask about travel sedatives or anxiety medications.
According to Dr. Vawter, your vet is likely to give your cat the thumbs up. Most healthy cats are able to travel on planes, though your cat’s individual personality will truly determine if this is a safe option or not. “Overall, cats usually do well traveling on planes,” she explains.
The exceptions tend to be cats with health issues and brachycephalic (or flat-faced) kitties such as Persians and Himalayans that may have breathing problems.
Dr. Vawter says, “We want to make sure your pet is healthy and ready to fly. You may also need a health certificate or a letter of acclimation depending on where you are traveling and the airlines specific requirements.” That’s more likely to be the case if you’re traveling internationally; domestic flights within the US rarely require health certificates.
A veterinary visit is also a great time to discuss options for calming your cat. If you’re pretty sure your kitty won’t travel well, your vet can explore options for prescription sedatives.
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2. Choosing an Airline and Buying Tickets
Most major air carriers in the U.S. allow people to travel with cats. While some allow pets to be checked as cargo, your best bet for flying with a cat is to bring your buddy in the cabin with you.
Checking a cat as cargo is not recommended for a variety of reasons, including extreme temperatures, shifting baggage, and issues with cabin pressure. Keeping your companion by your side will make air travel less stressful for them and a safer and more comfortable experience for you both.
Which airline is best for flying with a cat?
Choose a cat-friendly airline that offers, if possible, a non-stop flight. Not only will this cut down on travel time, but it’ll also relieve you of the potential hassles of delays, long layovers, and even missed connections.
Below are airlines that allow you to bring your cat on flights as a carry-on, plus their fees.
- American Airlines charges $150 per kennel for carry-on pets.
- Alaska Airlines charges $100 each way.
- Delta Airlines charges a $125 fee domestically and $200 internationally to fly with a cat.
- Frontier charges $99 per pet, per direction.
- Hawaiian Airlines charges $125 for flights between North America and Hawaii and $35 for flights within the state of Hawaii.
- Spirit Airlines charges $125 per pet container (they limit 6 pets in cabin per flight).
- Southwest Airlines charges $125 for domestic/mainland flights.
- United Airlines charges $150 each way when traveling with a pet as a carry-on.
Once you have chosen an airline, place a direct call to reservations to check its policies concerning flying with a cat. Each carrier has different rules and regulations. While most publish their policies for traveling with pets on their official websites, calling to make your reservation and confirm policies will ensure there are no surprises on your day of travel.
What seat should I choose to fly with my cat?
A window seat is usually less stressful for cats, since it insulates them from the noise and visuals of busy aisles.
Can you fly with kittens?
Federal regulations require cats be a minimum of eight weeks of age to fly, but airlines can have different rules. American specifies eight weeks and older while Delta’s minimum age is 10 weeks.
Can cats share a carrier on an airplane?
If you’re flying with kittens or very small cats, most airlines will allow one person to travel with two cats sharing a carrier. If you’re flying with more than one adult cat, you’ll need to purchase another seat for a companion who can accompany kitty number two, as well as pay an additional pet fee.
Can you fly internationally with a cat?
Yes, but if you’re traveling outside of the continental U.S., be sure to check the policies for the territory or country you’re flying to, since each destination will likely have very different regulations than interstate travel.
3. What To Pack for Your Cat’s Plane Trip
When you fly with a kitty in the airplane cabin, their carrier is considered your “carry-on”—so plan ahead for what to pack in the one personal item you’re allowed. Consider upgrading from the usual purse or briefcase to a small backpack or duffel.
You’ll also want to make sure you have the following accessible during the flight:
- Treats
- Harness/leash
- Pet-safe wipes
- Any routine medications
- Pet pee pads
Dr. Vawter suggests foregoing a litter box in favor of pee pads. “Often litter boxes are difficult to use on the plane,” she says. “A pet pee pad can be used to line the bottom of the carrier in case of mistakes. They also make a collapsible cat litter box if your cat can’t hold its urine for several hours.” Latex gloves can also be convenient to have on hand if you need to clean up after an accident.
Other documents and essentials Dr. Vawter suggests you pack on your flight include:
- Your cat’s medical information
- Boarding/travel documents
- A TSA-approved carrier
- Feliway Calming Spray for anxious cats
- Bringing blankets and toys to help keep your cat calm in their carrier
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What’s the best TSA-approved cat carrier?
An essential item you’ll need to bring your cat as a carry-on is a cat carrier. Of course, you want the roomiest carrier possible for flying with your cat.
While many carriers are advertised as being sized for air travel, it’s extremely important to ensure the dimensions of a carrier do not exceed those of your specific flight. Be sure to get the exact carrier dimensions allowed on your flight when making your reservation. For example, Southwest Airlines’ published maximum kitty carrier size of 18.5” long x 8.5” high x 13.5” wide may not be the same as another airline’s restrictions.
Once you have confirmation on the dimensions, it’s time to choose a kitty carrier. Dr. Vawter recommends choosing a TSA-approved carrier. All airlines require that carriers have adequate ventilation and provide enough room for your kitty to stand up and turn around with ease.
Before your trip, getting your kitty familiar with and comfortable in the carrier is important. “Keeping the carrier out in the open for a month prior to the flight will help the cat become comfortable with its new travel surroundings and lower the stress when it is needed for use,” explains Dr. Vawter. A soft blanket, catnip, treats, and a toy or two could also help (both pre-flight to familiarize them and during).
4. Travel to the Airport & TSA Screening
It’s the day of your trip, and you and your kitty are ready to take flight. What next? Plan to arrive early enough at the airport to check in at your airline’s ticket counter. This is where you’ll pay pet fees as well as have your carrier inspected to ensure it’s within the airline’s required dimensions.
At the TSA checkpoint, you’ll be required to remove your cat from their carrier and carry them through TSA screening. If your kitty is having a rough go of it and you’re concerned for your kitty’s safety (or yours), you can request a special TSA screening in a private room.
Most kitties will be overwhelmed enough by the experience to go into what many call “freeze kitty” mode, which makes carrying them through screening much easier. If possible, wrap your kitty in a light blanket, safely covering their face to get through this hurdle.
If your kitty is harness-trained, be sure to have their harness on for this step. You can always remove it later in an airport pet relief area.
5. What To Expect During the Flight
When boarding your flight, don’t expect special treatment because you’re traveling with a kitty. You will board, as usual, with the group you’re assigned.
Your pet will spend the entirety of the flight under the seat in front of you unless you’ve discussed alternate arrangements when making your reservation.
In very rare cases, such as flying in business class of an American Airlines A321T airplane, pets will be taken from you and stored in a specific “pet-friendly” pet holding area during takeoff, landing, or turbulence. If this hasn’t been specified in advance and someone asks you to put your cat elsewhere, such as in an overhead bin, you’ll want to speak immediately with a flight supervisor.
While you may want to open a carrier in the airport or in flight to check on your buddy, resist the urge. Not only is this against federal regulations, but it’s also unsafe for your kitty.
If your kitty has an accident on the plane, you’ll want to take them in the carrier, along with your stash of wet wipes, to the airplane restroom. Once the door is locked and you’ve ensured the toilet seat is closed, you can remove your cat from the carrier for clean-up. They’ll thank you, and so will your fellow passengers.
6. Potty Breaks
To avoid accidents, don’t feed your cat before you travel. If you have an early flight, you’ll want to remove food and water between 9 pm and midnight. If your flight is later in the day, you can feed your kitty a small, early breakfast but will want to remove food and water after that.
Before arriving at the airport, it’s a good idea to check ahead for the location of airport pet relief areas. “Researching these and finding their locations prior to travel can help you prevent being late for boarding,” says Dr. Vawter. It’s also great to know where these are in case of an accident or if you end up with a long layover or missed connection.
7. Landing and Recovery
Overall, Dr. Vawter says it’s important to keep calm for you and your feline. “Make sure you relax and don’t stress,” she says. “If you stress, your cat will pick up on this and become stressed.”
“Your cat will most likely endure some degree of stress during travel,” says Dr. Vawter. “You know your cat best, so to help reduce stress pre- and post-flight, make sure to pack their favorite snacks, blankets, and bowls.”
It’s important not to let your cat out of their carrier until you get to a secure location. If possible, have a friend set up a safe place for your cat in your new home. This should include a litter box, food, water, toys, and a comfy bed. If you don’t have anyone who can set up beforehand, consider ordering the above items online and sending them ahead to arrive before you do.
