Which one would be best for my cat, traveling with me in the car 8 to 10 hours a day for 6 days or an 18 hour plane trip?. Cat goes nuts everytime she has to be moved from house. So it doesn't really matter, she will go bananas no matter which one I choose. My main concern with the plane travel is that I would have to carry her in my arms to pass the metal detector and the meowing on the plane, passengers might kill me... Any experiences that you guys might want to share?. Also, when airlines say the carrier has to be small enough to fit under the seat what do they mean?. the space under the seats is so tiny !, I have a 2 year old female cat, normal size. Is she gonna fit under the seat?. Thanks!.
lilredhead2008-05-21T10:40:02Z
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Personally , I would Drive an get her some Pills from the Vet. The pills to calm / make her sleep would even work well on the plane.
The girl above me said a Mesh carrier .. very good Idea !! I would really suggest going to the vet an getting the cat pills to knock her out for the trip.
Where are you driving to that is an 18 HOUR plane trip? Sorry, just curious.
Anyhow, that's a tough call.. I've had friends take their pets on a plane before, and the vet has always given them sedatives to keep them calm and relaxed throughout the trip- But there is obviously some risk there giving her medication (I personally wouldn't do it). As far as fitting under the seat, yes, the smaller carrier (smallest for a cat, IMO) will. But for 18 hours.. That's WAAAY too long to be without a litterbox or food, or water... And to be enclosed in such a small space.
On the flip-side, being in the car for 6 days would be very rough- You would HAVE to keep her in a carrier. If you plan on going that route, get a larger dog cage so you can put a littlerbox, the food, and a bed in there. That's what we do when we travel with our cats.
Sorry I don't have a direct answer for you- There are pros and cons to both..
Personally, I would do the plane trip. A few years ago, my friend was moving from one end of Canada to the other (long trip) and she drove, but sent the cat to me by air. She gave him a sedative just before boarding and he was still sleepy when I picked him up on this end. If you take your kitty in the cabin with you, try the sedative from your vet (too sleepy to meow). Bring an empty water dish and an empty water bottle and ask the flight attendant to fill your bottle once you are in the air (no liquids go past security these days) and give her water if she wakes during the flight. Your cat must be in a carrier in the airport. One, they will require it for health & safety reasons, plus you don't want your cat to freak out & run off. Phone ahead and ask the airline for the exact maximum dimensions for a carrier to be able to fit under the seat, and make the rounds of the pet stores with a tape measure. The soft carriers are best, they will have more give to fit under the seat, but include any trim in your measurements. I have known people to be turned away at the gates because the leather trim on the carrier made it a teeny bit bigger than the maximum. Bring your vet's info and proof of vaccinations, especially if you are crossing any county's borders. Good luck, hope it goes well!
Well, first off, yes, I think they'll let you take her on the plane.. If you have to, buy another carrier that isn't SUPER huge or anything." But yes, she'll fit.. They'll let you take her.
BUT are you sure about the LENGTH of the plane trip? I've travelled across the U.S. alot, by plane AND car, and I know it very well takes about 6 days to travel from one end of the U.S. (for example) to the other.. but it wouldn't take NEARLY 18 hours to make the same trip by plane.. It would be more like 5 or 6, possibly not including a 2 hour lay over. I just find it hard to believe that it would take 18 hours by plane to make the SAME trip that it would take 6 days to make by car.. I'm not sure where you are, But I've travelled across the U.S. By car and plane, several times, so I have a pretty good idea about how long it takes.. The only time a plane trip has ever taken me 18 hours is when I went from Detroit Michigan to BANGKOK, THAILAND...
You can get sedatives from the vet that should keep her kinda sleepy and help her be quieter..
IF you are mistaken about the plane trip and it is 6 hours rather than 18, then I say get a sedative and go with it. Keep kitty on your lap (in her carrier) when you're allowed and you can open the front gate and pet her.. She should stay reasonably quiet..
IF the trip for some reason really is 18 hours by plane, then car might be preferrable simply because you can stop for the nights and let her out in the hotel room and give her a chance to stretch her legs and use the litterbox/eat
I have alot of experience traveling by car with cats, so if you want, I can give you a whole list/lecture of ways to make the trip more pleasant.. Just ask..
The 18 hour plane trip is definitely the better choice if you can afford it. The longer you make the trip, the more stressed out the cat will get. You can buy soft carriers at a place like Wal-Mart that is basically a bag with mesh windows. That might make it a bit easier to fit under the seat. I hope that helps!