Hi everyone! I just wanted to answer one of the most common questions I've been getting which is what to do if your cat needs the litter box. I spoke with my vet for her recommendation with Stella before an international flight when we moved abroad. So, I recommend that you speak to your vet as well but here's what I did: I bought puppy pads, lined her carrier with one and folded up another and put it in my carry-on. I also found a collapsible litter box (linked in the description box) for her to use during our layover and you should be able to bring a small Ziploc bag with a small amount of litter in it OR you can put the puppy pad down in the litter box. During your layover, try to find a 'family restroom.' Generally, these offer a bit more privacy so you can take your cat out of the carrier, allow them to walk around a bit, and try going to the bathroom. I hope this helps!
Hey Chelsea I bought two small carriers in the sherpa brand for my 10 pound cats. Im flying southwest in a few days. I see their height requirement is 8 inches on a carrier. My cat seems so crammed in there. Can you give me an idea if this is what your cat looks like in his carrier. Mine is in a ball . The medium carrier seemed to have room for him to stand and turn. The small just lets him rotate in a circle...not really standing. I almost want to take a chance on the medium. It's height is 11.5 inches though and the bottom of seat to floor measurement is just over 8 inches. what are your thoughts. I'm totally stressed and I've exchanger carriers 3 times. thanks for the video it's been soo helpful.
@@michellefabro7457 Yeah, it's a bit confusing because they say the carrier should be tall enough for your cat to be able to stand up but the dimensions from the bottom of the seat to the floor don't give you much extra space. I think I remember there being a little extra space above her carrier once I put it under the seat but it wasn't much so I can't say for certain whether the larger size would fit. I agree though that my cat unfortunately only had enough space in the carrier to rotate without standing up fully so that does sound right.
Thanks I'm really struggling me and my family to bring my kitten to Sweden with the paper and vaccination for her and that as its hard to find a way to make the cat do her business on board we were considering bringing her a diaper for cats and we are going to a clinic and see what we could do thanks for the help much love
To Chelsea: as a cat parent, socializer and vet tech, I recommend to people to leave their cat carriers available and comfortable for kitty, for example a fluffy towel on the bottom, with the end side door open, you can have it on your closet floor that way all the time, so kitty will hopefully use it at home to sleep in sometimes and therefore it won't be such a yucky place to be when they have vet visits, or in your case, on traveling days :)
I highly recommend asking for a private screening room so that you don't have to take your cat out of the carrier in the middle of a wide open public area! Taking them out in the private room will erase the danger of them bolting away down the terminal.
@@LeonardoReyes-ob7hv If they don't want to then just ask them if they prefer to have a frightened cat with sharp teeth and/or claws running around all over their terminal because it managed to escape and I guarantee that they will come up with a solution very quickly.
@@kayt2857 I think it would be the same amount of wait time either way (because the agents likely won't receive any updates about your request until they scan your ticket when you arrive anyways) so I would just let them know when you arrive at the airport. You can try calling ahead to notify them but it's not guaranteed that you'll be able to actually reach anyone or have your message passed on in a timely manner (if at all) to the appropriate person if you do. Make sure to arrive early either way to allow for the extra time.
I really cannot thank you enough for this!! I am moving cross country with my little girl and have been worrying, knowing it will be traumatic for her. Your step-by-step explanation has really helped me tremendously! Thank you so much!
To help cats in carriers, or at least what i did with mine, I keep mine out by my couch and open so my little guy is used to seeing it. He even keeps his toys in there and now i have no problem getting him in the carrier!
About to embark on a 35+ hour journey with my kitty that includes 5 flights and an overnight in a hotel. I'm nervous as hell, especially for the security part!
@@lawc6572 It was highly stressful but we survived. She managed to escape her carrier on the first plane(!) so I got some duct tape to secure it after that. She was fine in the airports during layovers but did not like the sound of the plane engine or being under the seat. I took her out once in a pet relief area with her leash on and offered her food and water but she was too keyed-up to eat or drink. So in the end she went probably 30 hours with food or water but it didn't seem to do any lasting damage, cats are pretty resilient.
@@maggiebookworm hey ! I’m about to go through the same with 35+ of flights, 5 planes and 1 hotel night, can you please tell me more, how much did it cost ? Did you get any hassles with security? Did you have to pay extras ? What about the litter ? Water ? Food ?
@@mateochacon4574 Hi! First of all, obviously make sure the hotel is allows pets. The places I stayed didn't have specific pet charges but they were more expensive than they would have been. I packed a large ziplock full of litter and then requested a cardboard box and newspaper at the hotel and that worked fine. I also packed her regular dry food and made it available along with water in the hotel room (but took it away 6ish hours before the flight- the water I took away a couple hours before). Like I said above, I offered her food and water during the journey but she didn't want it. I also packed wipes and extra blankets to line her carrier in case of accidents, but there were none. I had planned to keep a harness on her in order to keep a better hold on her when I had to take her out at security but it was too restricting and she was very distressed on the first flight with it on. If you can, try to go through security when it's relatively empty, my kitty was ok until there was a ton of action and then she want to escape my arms! Try to remain calm, your cat will pick up on your stress. I kept the carrier on my lap in the plane until right before take-off and that helped a little. As for cost, United Airlines charges a flat $150(?)USD fee per way, whereas Air Canada charged me $50CAD per flight. Bottom line, it's probably not gonna be fun for either of you but you'll get through it. Also check with your vet about getting medication/calming agents. It wasn't available to me since I was traveling from Ecuador but I know it's often available in other places. Good luck!
When I flew from DC to Miami a few years ago with my two cats, we asked for a private screening so that we could take the cats out in a more secured area.
@@StraightZzzStudent No extra cost. When you arrive at the TSA checkpoint, tell the officer that you want a private screening. Depending on how busy they are, you might have to wait a little longer, but otherwise they are obligated to grant your request. Go to the TSA web site for more information.
oof, yeah, that traumatises me too she HATES the car, not sure how she will deal with a train, but the airport... gah, but it has to be done x_x the ferry part is gonna be the easiest one (i hope) my vet gave me 3 sedatives ( worth for 6 days if utterly necessary, will only use 2 as our trip is two days long)
In almost all US airports, you have private screening rooms where you can take your cat out in a room, then they take the carrier through the xray. These rooms should be a must for all the airports in the world!!!
Another tip I wanted to add is to use nail caps on your pets claws to prevent scratches. My cats seem more relaxed when I put a sweater on them during cold season. Also pack lightly because carrying your cat around the airport can get heavy.
Omg no way, when you said “I have got someone special for you to meet” and you called Stella, I could hear my kitten in the kitchen doing something and I called her over , and my kitten’s name is Stella😁 such a coincidence
Chelsea Dinen thank you ❤️ luckily she'll be with me in the cabin and it's just a one way trip and I hope everything will be good. She's not quite at all ahaha hope to find cat people on plane too 😂
Maple Polygot I’m planning on traveling with a cat from Egypt to Canada early next year and I’m already worrying. Did you travel yet? How did it go? I’m worried about the length of the flight.
Extremely helpful!! Traveling for the first time with my cat in 2 weeks and your video was so informative and gave me the confidence I needed to bring the newest member of my family aboard a plane. Thank you for making this video, especially the "going through security" part as that is one of the things that I was most concerned about.
Another tip for security is you can ask for a private screening room to make it easier and less stressful!! 😁😁 Just make sure you arrive a little bit earlier just to have some wiggle room
Oh my gosh I’m so glad I’m watching this prior to my trip. I’m flying with my 6 month old kitten for the first time on a 3 hour non stop flight with southwest in two weeks. He’s been great on multiple road trips so far and is fond of his carrier, some times even chooses it as his nap spot. I had no idea I would have to hold him in the open during security and boy does it make me nervous! He’s an expert of getting out of his harness and while he’s very good with people, Im afraid this environment might be too much, plus he has his claws of course and I don’t want to be scratched up if he freaks. Luckily our flight is late at night (take off 9:50pm) so maybe security won’t be so busy, but im definitely going to look into the private screening like another comment suggested! I can’t imagine how stressful and awful it would be if he bolted in the middle of an airport.
In approx 20 days I'll be taking my first flight with with a pet. He's a very anxious kitty and I myself have severe social anxiety which I'm starting to feel already. I hope the vet will be able to give him something stronger than valerian. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the rundown.
You seem like an incredibly kind and empathetic person. I am so worried about my cat. She is a 5 lb rescue perma-kitty with tons of anxiety. This was really helpful!
We have been taking our cats ( sss ) to Europe with us since 2002. All that you have said is right on the point! The whole trauma crescendos at the Security area. Holding your cat FIRMLY and tell people NOT TO PET PLEASE and stick to what you are trying to get through! Ours react to the noise and chaos of the security area by jumping into the top of their carriers when they first appear after the X-Ray machine scans them. This makes matter much easier. Once through you just leave that area and quietly sit with your charges for a few minutes before proceeding to the gate. A fine video!
This video helped me a LOT!!! I am a Southwest person. Any time I fly, I use this airline and I have NEVER had an issue. Thank you for the detailed account of going through the TSA line. I don't go through the xray because I wear a medical device and I was just wondering how they are going to swipe my hands with my "daughter" Raven in my arms. You explained everything PERFECTLY and now I am not nearly as nervous as I was before I watched your video. Thanks again!
this was excellent. I just flew our cat from portland to San Luis Obispo and I wish I had watched this before hand. we had our vet prescribe gabapentin the night before and a couple of hours before the flight and I couldn't tell the difference to much. I can tell you the cat was terrified of the take off and landing although the rest of the flight was without to much stress. after take off I did take the cat out from under the seat in front of me and he hung out pretty good. lots of pettings etc., but not to much yowling, etc.. your vlog was really pretty much right on and as all situations are different you've give a good guideline to follow. thanks
Thank you so much for this video, I'll be moving to Los Angeles from Iceland in a few months with my cat and have been so worried about this trip for her, this really helped.
Thank you so much! I’ve been planning to move to Japan with my kitten Luna I’ve been thinking of it although I’m only 16, and this clears up so much I was terrified that I would have to be separated from her during flight cause from what I heard, she would have to be set down with luggage which I would absolutely refuse to do since her and I do have separation anxiety this makes me feel at ease with my plans and makes me even excited to bring Luna with me to to Japan!
Yes, many airlines do require pets to travel in cargo so be sure to check with each airline you could potentially fly with to see what their specific policies are for transport to Japan.
I’ve never gone that route as it’s a bigger risk in terms of their safety and well-being so I made sure to only fly with airlines that allowed pets in the cabin.
Thank you for this video!! Just watching it and thinking of travelling with my kitty just gives me such terrible anxiety. We had to go on a 10 hour road trip and he SCREAMED the whole way. I wish he could be the travelling type. We leave his carrier out all the time and he avoids it like the plague 🤣🤣
Thank gosh that my cat is calmer than any other cats I’ve owned. Going to the vets? Quickly jumps into her box and falls asleep. Car rides? She just looks out the window or sleeps. But if she wants something she is like the Flash, running across the room, jumping on things, scratching me (mostly on accident) and climbing everything. Thanks so much for the advice though, I’m planning on taking my little Eli with me to Sweden or another Turkish country.
This was super helpful! Thank you! I'm glad to know that people can travel with cats who don't love their carriers. My cat whines when she's in there longer than ten minutes.
I’m happy you found it helpful! I think she ends up feeling safe inside her carrier over time and the more we travel, the more she understands what is going on.
Thank you. Very helpful. We are moving to HI and are taking our kitties. Lots more paperwork with HI, but kinda knowing what to expect & the airport was very helpful!!
Quick tip! Instead of taking your kitty out of the carrier in the main security area, ask a TSA Agent for a private screening room! They are legally required to oblige if you just ask. You will be all by yourself and you will be away from all the noise and chaos of public security. They still wipe down your hands. They will have you take your baby out, they will take the carrier and any other bags and items out of the room to the machine, then bring them back and you should be good to go!
Thanks! I forgot to mention that in the video as I’ve never opted for that. I can see why that would be super helpful for any cats that get really scared and might try to run off!
When I called Tsa about a year ago they told me I can have the private screening room for them to pat down my cats (!) but I would have to go through the metal detector with them outside of their carriers in the wide open public airport where tons of people are. Does that sound right?
This was so helpful and well done!! I’m about to move cross country from Philly to Seattle with my old boy and have been so stressed about it. Your tips are excellent and Stella is adorbs!! 🥰🥰🥰
No, you are not screened with the body scanner when you are holding an animal. They have always had me walk through the metal detector when I've traveled with a pet and the pet's carrier goes through the X-ray machine once they are taken out of it. www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/small-pets
Every vet and airline says to never ever sedate a traveling animal. I was going to take possession of my brother's huge retriever years ago and it was going to require him to ride in a crate in the back of my pickup truck. He would not go in, so we took him to the vet for a shot. It was over 100 degrees for a 10 hour drive and terrible traffic so halfway through he had gotten sick. I got him out and let hime ride in the tiny cab with me. He lived a happy 15 years with me but it was a terrible trip.
Great video, thank you!!! I have an extremely chatty Bengal so feeling very anxious about the trip. But then, how many flights I have been on when a kid is kicking the back of my chair or screaming at the top of their lungs. Surely a bit of meowing is not the end of the world. 😅
@@PatriciaCV9 Due to the pandemic we are still yet to travel. But I also learned that UK is one of the very few countries in the world (I am in England) where NO PETS AT ALL are allowed in the cabin. Which scares me even more. 😭
@@moratniece I had to fly with a very young and chatty bengal kitten (6hr flight with a layover) 2 years ago. It was her first flight and no prep time with the new carrier. And let me tell you, she yelled pretty much the whole flight (and if she's stressed, she is almost as loud as a kid screaming at the top of their lungs). The attendants didn't allow me to pick up and hold the carrier, which would've kept her quiet. So I politely apologized to my seat neighbors, luckily they were very understanding. Genuinely seemed like they didn't mind. Every so often I would bend down and pet the carrier where she could smell my hand, that also helped. Also, now that she is older, we got her used to the pet carrier and very long car rides. She loves it. I bet if you get your cat used to a carrier and gradually car rides (loud noises), your gentle baby leopard won't mind the plane rides as much. Also getting them used to a harness is a great idea, since it's easier to hold on to than their slinky, slippery body. Hope you get to travel soon!
👏👏👏👏 hi what a lovely video and i can see how much you care from your eyes when you talk abut your cat 😊 i will be traveling with my cat and i was looking to know about the most important thing and that is air craft sound i want to find it and play that sound many time in the house before travel because that's the only thing it might scare my picasso
A few weeks before we moved , I bought new carriers for the flight and put nice little blankies in them. They loved the carriers so much that I’ve never put them away. They feel very secure in them.
My cat is perfectly behaved she’s a Devon Rex and happily travels on long drives like 7 + hours without any fuss I just hope when I travel I can take her in cabin I don’t fancy her being on the hold
Thank you so much for the video. Now I already idea for how to travel with the cat. Please tell me how to get passport for the cat? Maybe you called make video for it. Thank you so much. God bless you 😻😻😻😻
Hey I really enjoyed your video it put me a bit more at ease about my flight next week. I'm going from LAX to JFK, roughly 5 1/2 hours. Idk if you've ever dealt with this, but I'm really anxious about other people's reaction to seeing a cat, and I'm not talking about the nice ones. How would you handle someone complaining about your kitty? I'm scared of triggering someone and also, do you have any additional tips on maybe reducing your cats stress levels while traveling? Thank you so much, hope to hear from you ❤️
It's a bit late, but for anyone reading this now, the chances are VERY low that anyone will even know you've got a cat. Really. Cats are 1) in carriers, unlike dogs, and 2) actually quiet during a plane trip, unlike in cars. I've been walking off a plane with my 2 cat carriers and people also disembarking have said to me, with surprise, "Are those animals? I didn't know we had animals on board".
Thank you so much for this video. I'll be traveling to Alaska with my cat because we'll we're moving lol. I'm nervous about the TSA I hope it goes smooth
Hi, what do you do if she needs the toilet ? I can never find an answer for this anywhere! Even for most short flights I need at least an hour to get to and from the airport, have to wait a long time for my luggage and so on. Does anyone have experience with a travelling cat needing to go?
thats what im wondering as well! I've taken my cat out for all day trips twice, once in a cat pushchair and once in his carrier in the car, he never peed or pooed bless him but as soon as we got home he ran to his tray so he was obviously holding it in! But what if the flight is super long and taking into account the journey to anf from airport and the wait time and the flight and security i dont think my kitten will be able to hold that long. Have you found an answer?
The vet told me to put puppy pads under the cat in the carrier and then that way if they do pee/poop in their carrier you can slide one out. (make sure to have multiple pads in there) also get them a cat harness so you can hook them to the carrier so they dont run when you open the carrier!
Thanks for your video. I have always traveled with my cats in my SUV or car. I have only flown with one of my cats...I purchased a hardshell carrier...poor Rascal went into the cargo area crying...then for the second flight leg live reptiles were loaded onto the plane. Finally when I rushed to bagage claim I told a worker that I was looking for my cat in its hard carrier. When the worker returned a lady next to me tried to claim him...I quickly grabbed the carrier. I turned around and the lady was gone. If I had been at the claim area a few minutes late...that lady would have stolen my cat . I learned a lesson...always use an under the seat carrier.
Thank you for this video. Which seat do you recommend? The middle & window seats tend to have a larger under-seat storage area. Does that carrier fit well under an aisle seat (thinking easy access to restroom)?
I would usually sit in the window seat which was fine but also sat in an aisle seat for an international flight and the carrier did fit there too. I suppose it depends on the aircraft/airline!
I have two senior cats (15 years old) and my husband and I are planning on moving across the country. The thought of flying with them on the plane is terrifying to me. One of my cats is scared of everything, and I know she is not going to do well with travel. (I can't even take her to the vet without the drama, she screams loudly the ENTIRE time). My other cat will also be scared, but probably not as bad as my other cat. I can't imagine either one of them on a plane though. 😩 I don't know what would be worse, flying on the plane, or driving for 2-3 days.
@@ardaaksoy9161 We didn't move yet. Sadly, one of my cats recently passed away, so I don't have to worry about moving her anymore. She was the more difficult one.
@@ambergreene5985 i am very sorry for reming you of her passing away :( I have a senior cat too, that's why i had wondered, hopefully this move will turn out to be easy, sending good energies to your family!
Thank you so much for the play-by-play details on what to expect. This past week, I traveled on an overnight business trip from NJ to Ottawa so, I left my 2 cats home, with enough food and water (dry, wet and frozen wet to thaw) for 3+ days and I used the PetCube Bites and PetCube Play to check in and talk to them, in the event there'd be a delay in my return or anything worse. But, I've considered traveling with them, as well. I can see where more than one would be an issue though and I do worry about bathroom issues. After all, in one end and out the other, at some point. Bt, now that I have a passport for the first time, I'll at least consider flying to Canada again.
Thank you for this video, will ease my nightmare thinking how will be our moving to Europe this year. The trip will be around 20 hours long, house to house and he is a spoiled baby who cannot take even 5 min. trips without screaming. He got hit by a car 12 years ago and got surgery on his leg, he has a plate, wires and screws in his little femur. I will take his Xray after the surgery, hope we will not have any issue with security. This was the most helpful information that I found , I know for years that we have to move to Europe and I searched a lot. I wish you and your beautiful Stella the best and thanks again.
Thank you so much for your kind comment and positive feedback! That really means a lot. Aww, your poor baby! He sounds lucky to have you spoiling him :) A while after I created this video, Stella and I moved to Europe! The hardest part was finding the right airline and making sure we had the correct paperwork for her to get into the EU. Though it was a very long journey, everything worked out just fine so I’ll be sending wishes for the same for you! It might be worth asking for a private screening when you go through security! Wishing you and your little one the best of luck on your move! ❤️
@@iamchelseadinen Thank you. I put the private screening on my "to ask" list. Usually I fly with Lufhtansa , hopefully they can accommodate us. Hope you like Europe, that is my home-home.
I haven't seen one person mention taking a STICKY ROLLER!!! I even take one to vet appts...she loves it while we w a I t..and my cat will ride at least 12hrs in her carrier w/o eating or Drinking & only uses the litter box when we get to the hotel ASAP (She's too pissed or stressed to eat while traveling) Flying should be a breeze,fingers crossed
I’m traveling with my cat soon. Did you need a CVI(certification of veterinary inspection), every where I look I see it. However my vet didn’t have one. Have you ever been asked for one?
thank you very much for this video.. i'm going to be moving in over a year and we don't know if we should fly or drive with our cat and dog. it's very nerve wracking but seeing how brave stella was gave me some hope! it's scary but i think i might be leaning towards flying, instead of multiple days being carsick and stuff this seems easier for him
This was super helpful, thank you so much! Traveling with my cat for the first time next month (she drove cross country and was fantastic but this is our first flight) so this was really awesome.
from my experience technically youre not allowed to have they between your legs if the carrier doesnt fit under the seat but i normally just push it as much under the seat as i can and once were in the air i pull it our a bit so that my cat has more room.
Hi everyone! I just wanted to answer one of the most common questions I've been getting which is what to do if your cat needs the litter box. I spoke with my vet for her recommendation with Stella before an international flight when we moved abroad. So, I recommend that you speak to your vet as well but here's what I did: I bought puppy pads, lined her carrier with one and folded up another and put it in my carry-on. I also found a collapsible litter box (linked in the description box) for her to use during our layover and you should be able to bring a small Ziploc bag with a small amount of litter in it OR you can put the puppy pad down in the litter box. During your layover, try to find a 'family restroom.' Generally, these offer a bit more privacy so you can take your cat out of the carrier, allow them to walk around a bit, and try going to the bathroom. I hope this helps!
Hey Chelsea I bought two small carriers in the sherpa brand for my 10 pound cats. Im flying southwest in a few days. I see their height requirement is 8 inches on a carrier. My cat seems so crammed in there. Can you give me an idea if this is what your cat looks like in his carrier. Mine is in a ball . The medium carrier seemed to have room for him to stand and turn. The small just lets him rotate in a circle...not really standing. I almost want to take a chance on the medium. It's height is 11.5 inches though and the bottom of seat to floor measurement is just over 8 inches. what are your thoughts. I'm totally stressed and I've exchanger carriers 3 times. thanks for the video it's been soo helpful.
@@michellefabro7457 Yeah, it's a bit confusing because they say the carrier should be tall enough for your cat to be able to stand up but the dimensions from the bottom of the seat to the floor don't give you much extra space. I think I remember there being a little extra space above her carrier once I put it under the seat but it wasn't much so I can't say for certain whether the larger size would fit. I agree though that my cat unfortunately only had enough space in the carrier to rotate without standing up fully so that does sound right.
great idea with the family restroom to let them stretch their legs and use the bathroom! never thought of that
Thanks I'm really struggling me and my family to bring my kitten to Sweden with the paper and vaccination for her and that as its hard to find a way to make the cat do her business on board we were considering bringing her a diaper for cats and we are going to a clinic and see what we could do thanks for the help much love
To Chelsea: as a cat parent, socializer and vet tech, I recommend to people to leave their cat carriers available and comfortable for kitty, for example a fluffy towel on the bottom, with the end side door open, you can have it on your closet floor that way all the time, so kitty will hopefully use it at home to sleep in sometimes and therefore it won't be such a yucky place to be when they have vet visits, or in your case, on traveling days :)
I highly recommend asking for a private screening room so that you don't have to take your cat out of the carrier in the middle of a wide open public area! Taking them out in the private room will erase the danger of them bolting away down the terminal.
Thanks for the info but do they allow you to do that often or is it only if they want to?
@@LeonardoReyes-ob7hv If they don't want to then just ask them if they prefer to have a frightened cat with sharp teeth and/or claws running around all over their terminal because it managed to escape and I guarantee that they will come up with a solution very quickly.
Oh god imagine that
When do you ask them? At the time of booking your flight? Or at the tsa line?
@@kayt2857 I think it would be the same amount of wait time either way (because the agents likely won't receive any updates about your request until they scan your ticket when you arrive anyways) so I would just let them know when you arrive at the airport. You can try calling ahead to notify them but it's not guaranteed that you'll be able to actually reach anyone or have your message passed on in a timely manner (if at all) to the appropriate person if you do. Make sure to arrive early either way to allow for the extra time.
I really cannot thank you enough for this!! I am moving cross country with my little girl and have been worrying, knowing it will be traumatic for her. Your step-by-step explanation has really helped me tremendously! Thank you so much!
To help cats in carriers, or at least what i did with mine, I keep mine out by my couch and open so my little guy is used to seeing it. He even keeps his toys in there and now i have no problem getting him in the carrier!
About to embark on a 35+ hour journey with my kitty that includes 5 flights and an overnight in a hotel. I'm nervous as hell, especially for the security part!
How was it?
@@lawc6572 It was highly stressful but we survived. She managed to escape her carrier on the first plane(!) so I got some duct tape to secure it after that. She was fine in the airports during layovers but did not like the sound of the plane engine or being under the seat. I took her out once in a pet relief area with her leash on and offered her food and water but she was too keyed-up to eat or drink. So in the end she went probably 30 hours with food or water but it didn't seem to do any lasting damage, cats are pretty resilient.
@@maggiebookworm hey ! I’m about to go through the same with 35+ of flights, 5 planes and 1 hotel night, can you please tell me more, how much did it cost ? Did you get any hassles with security? Did you have to pay extras ? What about the litter ? Water ? Food ?
@@mateochacon4574 Hi! First of all, obviously make sure the hotel is allows pets. The places I stayed didn't have specific pet charges but they were more expensive than they would have been. I packed a large ziplock full of litter and then requested a cardboard box and newspaper at the hotel and that worked fine. I also packed her regular dry food and made it available along with water in the hotel room (but took it away 6ish hours before the flight- the water I took away a couple hours before). Like I said above, I offered her food and water during the journey but she didn't want it. I also packed wipes and extra blankets to line her carrier in case of accidents, but there were none. I had planned to keep a harness on her in order to keep a better hold on her when I had to take her out at security but it was too restricting and she was very distressed on the first flight with it on. If you can, try to go through security when it's relatively empty, my kitty was ok until there was a ton of action and then she want to escape my arms! Try to remain calm, your cat will pick up on your stress. I kept the carrier on my lap in the plane until right before take-off and that helped a little. As for cost, United Airlines charges a flat $150(?)USD fee per way, whereas Air Canada charged me $50CAD per flight. Bottom line, it's probably not gonna be fun for either of you but you'll get through it. Also check with your vet about getting medication/calming agents. It wasn't available to me since I was traveling from Ecuador but I know it's often available in other places. Good luck!
If you're nervous about the security part you can ask for a private screening room
When I flew from DC to Miami a few years ago with my two cats, we asked for a private screening so that we could take the cats out in a more secured area.
Does that cost money? How do you arrange it
yes how do you do this? is tsa flexible?
What's that? 😅😅😅
@@StraightZzzStudent No extra cost. When you arrive at the TSA checkpoint, tell the officer that you want a private screening. Depending on how busy they are, you might have to wait a little longer, but otherwise they are obligated to grant your request. Go to the TSA web site for more information.
I'm so afraid that my cat will start screaming during take off 😖
Anna I feel you! My boy is a bit wild and I’m soo scared of doing this with him 😩
Same, my cat is scared of everything, and the flight is LOONG
@@paulinedido1680 how did it go?
oof, yeah, that traumatises me too
she HATES the car, not sure how she will deal with a train, but the airport... gah, but it has to be done x_x the ferry part is gonna be the easiest one (i hope)
my vet gave me 3 sedatives ( worth for 6 days if utterly necessary, will only use 2 as our trip is two days long)
Same cuz she's a kitten
In almost all US airports, you have private screening rooms where you can take your cat out in a room, then they take the carrier through the xray. These rooms should be a must for all the airports in the world!!!
Another tip I wanted to add is to use nail caps on your pets claws to prevent scratches. My cats seem more relaxed when I put a sweater on them during cold season. Also pack lightly because carrying your cat around the airport can get heavy.
Omg no way, when you said “I have got someone special for you to meet” and you called Stella, I could hear my kitten in the kitchen doing something and I called her over , and my kitten’s name is Stella😁 such a coincidence
This video made my day! I dont even plan on traveling with my cat 🤣
Haha, yay! That’s wonderful :)
I'll bring my cat from Italy to Canada and I'm soooo nervous. I hope she'll be okay!
This video was very helpful, thank you ☺️
I just brought mine from the U.S. to Germany and she was just fine (she was in-cabin with me). Best of luck to you and your cat! :)
Chelsea Dinen thank you ❤️ luckily she'll be with me in the cabin and it's just a one way trip and I hope everything will be good. She's not quite at all ahaha hope to find cat people on plane too 😂
Maple Polygot I’m planning on traveling with a cat from Egypt to Canada early next year and I’m already worrying. Did you travel yet? How did it go? I’m worried about the length of the flight.
Nanees D. I'm travelling tomorrow :) I'll let you know :)
Maple Polygot thanks!
Extremely helpful!! Traveling for the first time with my cat in 2 weeks and your video was so informative and gave me the confidence I needed to bring the newest member of my family aboard a plane. Thank you for making this video, especially the "going through security" part as that is one of the things that I was most concerned about.
How did it go??
Another tip for security is you can ask for a private screening room to make it easier and less stressful!! 😁😁 Just make sure you arrive a little bit earlier just to have some wiggle room
Oh my gosh I’m so glad I’m watching this prior to my trip. I’m flying with my 6 month old kitten for the first time on a 3 hour non stop flight with southwest in two weeks. He’s been great on multiple road trips so far and is fond of his carrier, some times even chooses it as his nap spot. I had no idea I would have to hold him in the open during security and boy does it make me nervous! He’s an expert of getting out of his harness and while he’s very good with people, Im afraid this environment might be too much, plus he has his claws of course and I don’t want to be scratched up if he freaks. Luckily our flight is late at night (take off 9:50pm) so maybe security won’t be so busy, but im definitely going to look into the private screening like another comment suggested! I can’t imagine how stressful and awful it would be if he bolted in the middle of an airport.
Hi, I’m going to fly with my cat on Southwest in a few weeks. Did you run into any issues?
In approx 20 days I'll be taking my first flight with with a pet. He's a very anxious kitty and I myself have severe social anxiety which I'm starting to feel already. I hope the vet will be able to give him something stronger than valerian. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the rundown.
yea my cat is also very anxious so while were in the air i like to put my hand in his carrier so he feels more comfortable, good luck!
How did it go
You seem like an incredibly kind and empathetic person. I am so worried about my cat. She is a 5 lb rescue perma-kitty with tons of anxiety. This was really helpful!
Thank you! Wishing you a safe journey. I know how daunting it can be ❤️
We have been taking our cats ( sss ) to Europe with us since 2002. All that you have said is right on the point! The whole trauma crescendos at the Security area. Holding your cat FIRMLY and tell people NOT TO PET PLEASE and stick to what you are trying to get through! Ours react to the noise and chaos of the security area by jumping into the top of their carriers when they first appear after the X-Ray machine scans them. This makes matter much easier. Once through you just leave that area and quietly sit with your charges for a few minutes before proceeding to the gate. A fine video!
You can request a private screening room! Much less chaos and a much safer and calmer experience for both you and your baby.
love your cat she is so well behaved and of course cute x
Thank you! Though, she does have her moments. Don’t they all? ;)
This video helped me a LOT!!! I am a Southwest person. Any time I fly, I use this airline and I have NEVER had an issue. Thank you for the detailed account of going through the TSA line. I don't go through the xray because I wear a medical device and I was just wondering how they are going to swipe my hands with my "daughter" Raven in my arms. You explained everything PERFECTLY and now I am not nearly as nervous as I was before I watched your video. Thanks again!
I’m so glad that it was helpful!
this was excellent. I just flew our cat from portland to San Luis Obispo and I wish I had watched this before hand. we had our vet prescribe gabapentin the night before and a couple of hours before the flight and I couldn't tell the difference to much. I can tell you the cat was terrified of the take off and landing although the rest of the flight was without to much stress. after take off I did take the cat out from under the seat in front of me and he hung out pretty good. lots of pettings etc., but not to much yowling, etc.. your vlog was really pretty much right on and as all situations are different you've give a good guideline to follow. thanks
thank you for this! (: i have to fly my cat out to Belize from the US & was really nervous about it. this video helped a lot! thank you!!
Oh that’s wonderful! Have a great trip! :)
I’m flying out there too!! Can you let me know how it goes so I can be ready for when I go?
Oh Stella is such a pretty girl. Her mom looks great too!
Thank you so much for this video, I'll be moving to Los Angeles from Iceland in a few months with my cat and have been so worried about this trip for her, this really helped.
Aw Stella :3 She is so cute! You aré so breve for travel together and I love it
Stella and I both appreciate that :) She is such a good travel companion! ❤️
I just hope my cats won’t scream in the cabin, fingers crossed
Thank you so much! I’ve been planning to move to Japan with my kitten Luna I’ve been thinking of it although I’m only 16, and this clears up so much I was terrified that I would have to be separated from her during flight cause from what I heard, she would have to be set down with luggage which I would absolutely refuse to do since her and I do have separation anxiety this makes me feel at ease with my plans and makes me even excited to bring Luna with me to to Japan!
Yes, many airlines do require pets to travel in cargo so be sure to check with each airline you could potentially fly with to see what their specific policies are for transport to Japan.
@@iamchelseadinen Aaaa how do the pets get treated with cargo though? I feel as if its a little unsafe for that
I’ve never gone that route as it’s a bigger risk in terms of their safety and well-being so I made sure to only fly with airlines that allowed pets in the cabin.
@@iamchelseadinen yeah, I always wanna out my pet first cause I know she wouldn’t like the flight at all
Yes! I fly with southwest so this video was exactly what I needed. Im getting a service cat so all this is new to me. Thank you so much.
Thank you for this video!! Just watching it and thinking of travelling with my kitty just gives me such terrible anxiety. We had to go on a 10 hour road trip and he SCREAMED the whole way. I wish he could be the travelling type. We leave his carrier out all the time and he avoids it like the plague 🤣🤣
Thank you so much! I have some anxiety traveling with my cat in cabin for a two hour flight tomorrow
and this video put me at some ease.
This was super helpful! Thank you!!!
I’m happy to hear that! Thanks for watching :)
She’s so cute!! ❤
Thank gosh that my cat is calmer than any other cats I’ve owned. Going to the vets? Quickly jumps into her box and falls asleep. Car rides? She just looks out the window or sleeps. But if she wants something she is like the Flash, running across the room, jumping on things, scratching me (mostly on accident) and climbing everything. Thanks so much for the advice though, I’m planning on taking my little Eli with me to Sweden or another Turkish country.
This was super helpful! Thank you! I'm glad to know that people can travel with cats who don't love their carriers. My cat whines when she's in there longer than ten minutes.
I’m happy you found it helpful! I think she ends up feeling safe inside her carrier over time and the more we travel, the more she understands what is going on.
Thankssss! I am watching vids like this to prepare for my Christmas holiday flight with kitten in business class plane cabin. First flight with him.
Check with the airlines first, a lot of airlines don't allow pets in business!
omg this video is super useful. Moving cross country with my furry dude next month. You are an excellent cat mom!
Great video thanks for the info, i'm so nervous cuz it's gonna be my first time traveling with my cat but your info definitely helped
Thank you. Very helpful. We are moving to HI and are taking our kitties. Lots more paperwork with HI, but kinda knowing what to expect & the airport was very helpful!!
Wishing you a safe journey :)
This was incredibly helpful and really put my mind at ease! Thank you
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for the lovely feedback ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing this information. I really enjoyed your clarity of communication and humor.
That really means a lot! Thank you so much for watching :)
Hi Stella...nice to see ya being taken care of by an Angel...
Quick tip! Instead of taking your kitty out of the carrier in the main security area, ask a TSA Agent for a private screening room! They are legally required to oblige if you just ask. You will be all by yourself and you will be away from all the noise and chaos of public security. They still wipe down your hands. They will have you take your baby out, they will take the carrier and any other bags and items out of the room to the machine, then bring them back and you should be good to go!
Thanks! I forgot to mention that in the video as I’ve never opted for that. I can see why that would be super helpful for any cats that get really scared and might try to run off!
When I called Tsa about a year ago they told me I can have the private screening room for them to pat down my cats (!) but I would have to go through the metal detector with them outside of their carriers in the wide open public airport where tons of people are. Does that sound right?
This was so helpful and well done!! I’m about to move cross country from Philly to Seattle with my old boy and have been so stressed about it. Your tips are excellent and Stella is adorbs!! 🥰🥰🥰
thank you for this video! also my cat was on my lap this whole video :)
Gorgeous mine is ginger and black too 😊
tysm for making this video i am traveling with my therapy cat and its his first time on a plane!
Thank you for this video, such a help !
Thank u for telling what animals go thought when they go on the plane, very helpful
thank you so much for this! you eased my worries! I am traveling with two cats so this really helped me, thank you!
Thank you so much 🥰
You just explained like a expert🥰🥰
Thanks for the video, I think I'm ready for my flight now, hope my little kitty is.
I’m happy to hear it! Have a safe journey!
This video is so helpful! It covers everything I could think of. Thank you for it, especially since I will be flying Southwest!
I’m so glad that it helped! Safe travels :)
I'm flying with my kitty on Southwest this week! I'm so nervous but your video was super helpful, tysm
Wishing you both safe travels :)
Flying with my kitten, Latkah, tomorrow! This definitely helps. Thanks!
Super helpful!
Very relieved to hear you say "metal detector"... because in another person's video, they said "X-ray"!
Dizzy Derwish they’re a body scanner, not a metal detector. it can detect anything on you not just metal things
No, you are not screened with the body scanner when you are holding an animal. They have always had me walk through the metal detector when I've traveled with a pet and the pet's carrier goes through the X-ray machine once they are taken out of it. www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/small-pets
Chelsea Dinen oh i forgot you meant by yourself because i’ve seen people request separate rooms for a search so it doesn’t stress the anima
You invited to Brussels with Stella to make a beautiful video with us, me and Aris 😍
I’m so grateful for you
I feel so much better but still stress out about it haha moving from OR to FL. thanks for the video!
Every vet and airline says to never ever sedate a traveling animal. I was going to take possession of my brother's huge retriever years ago and it was going to require him to ride in a crate in the back of my pickup truck. He would not go in, so we took him to the vet for a shot. It was over 100 degrees for a 10 hour drive and terrible traffic so halfway through he had gotten sick. I got him out and let hime ride in the tiny cab with me. He lived a happy 15 years with me but it was a terrible trip.
Thank u this was very helpful since I'm going to my home country and I want to take my cat
You are such a darling. Thank you so much for all the information. ❤️😇
Aw thank you for watching! ❤️
Great video, thank you!!! I have an extremely chatty Bengal so feeling very anxious about the trip. But then, how many flights I have been on when a kid is kicking the back of my chair or screaming at the top of their lungs. Surely a bit of meowing is not the end of the world. 😅
How did it go? I’m next 😩
@@PatriciaCV9 Due to the pandemic we are still yet to travel. But I also learned that UK is one of the very few countries in the world (I am in England) where NO PETS AT ALL are allowed in the cabin. Which scares me even more. 😭
@@moratniece I had to fly with a very young and chatty bengal kitten (6hr flight with a layover) 2 years ago. It was her first flight and no prep time with the new carrier. And let me tell you, she yelled pretty much the whole flight (and if she's stressed, she is almost as loud as a kid screaming at the top of their lungs). The attendants didn't allow me to pick up and hold the carrier, which would've kept her quiet. So I politely apologized to my seat neighbors, luckily they were very understanding. Genuinely seemed like they didn't mind. Every so often I would bend down and pet the carrier where she could smell my hand, that also helped. Also, now that she is older, we got her used to the pet carrier and very long car rides. She loves it. I bet if you get your cat used to a carrier and gradually car rides (loud noises), your gentle baby leopard won't mind the plane rides as much. Also getting them used to a harness is a great idea, since it's easier to hold on to than their slinky, slippery body. Hope you get to travel soon!
👏👏👏👏 hi what a lovely video and i can see how much you care from your eyes when you talk abut your cat 😊 i will be traveling with my cat and i was looking to know about the most important thing and that is air craft sound i want to find it and play that sound many time in the house before travel because that's the only thing it might scare my picasso
Oh I loved this!! You obviously love your cat
Exceptional video, thank you!
A few weeks before we moved , I bought new carriers for the flight and put nice little blankies in them. They loved the carriers so much that I’ve never put them away. They feel very secure in them.
Aww, that’s amazing!
Your video is great! Thank you so much, it has helped me a lot.
I got my very first cat and I took care of it when I was 12
My cat is perfectly behaved she’s a Devon Rex and happily travels on long drives like 7 + hours without any fuss I just hope when I travel I can take her in cabin I don’t fancy her being on the hold
Thanks for this ! Stella is too cute !
I hope it helped! Stella says hi :)
That was great, very informative, very helpful. THANK YOU!!
I’m glad it helped :) Safe travels!
Cute tortie!
Thank you so much for the video. Now I already idea for how to travel with the cat. Please tell me how to get passport for the cat? Maybe you called make video for it. Thank you so much. God bless you 😻😻😻😻
Hey I really enjoyed your video it put me a bit more at ease about my flight next week. I'm going from LAX to JFK, roughly 5 1/2 hours. Idk if you've ever dealt with this, but I'm really anxious about other people's reaction to seeing a cat, and I'm not talking about the nice ones. How would you handle someone complaining about your kitty? I'm scared of triggering someone and also, do you have any additional tips on maybe reducing your cats stress levels while traveling? Thank you so much, hope to hear from you ❤️
It's a bit late, but for anyone reading this now, the chances are VERY low that anyone will even know you've got a cat. Really. Cats are 1) in carriers, unlike dogs, and 2) actually quiet during a plane trip, unlike in cars. I've been walking off a plane with my 2 cat carriers and people also disembarking have said to me, with surprise, "Are those animals? I didn't know we had animals on board".
Omg!! She’s soooo cute! 😭
So helpful. Thanks!
There is no way you could fly with an oriental shorthair twice. 😂😂😂. Stella is so sweet.
Thank you so much for this video. I'll be traveling to Alaska with my cat because we'll we're moving lol. I'm nervous about the TSA I hope it goes smooth
Do you recommend a glass of wine.....before going through security? For the human....not for the cat. This is the part I’m most worried about.
Hi, what do you do if she needs the toilet ?
I can never find an answer for this anywhere! Even for most short flights I need at least an hour to get to and from the airport, have to wait a long time for my luggage and so on. Does anyone have experience with a travelling cat needing to go?
Buy puppy pads, they absorb urine. Bring plastic bags to scoop poop immediately if they poo and wet wipes.
thats what im wondering as well! I've taken my cat out for all day trips twice, once in a cat pushchair and once in his carrier in the car, he never peed or pooed bless him but as soon as we got home he ran to his tray so he was obviously holding it in! But what if the flight is super long and taking into account the journey to anf from airport and the wait time and the flight and security i dont think my kitten will be able to hold that long. Have you found an answer?
Yes, please answer this!
The vet told me to put puppy pads under the cat in the carrier and then that way if they do pee/poop in their carrier you can slide one out. (make sure to have multiple pads in there) also get them a cat harness so you can hook them to the carrier so they dont run when you open the carrier!
I also wondered the same thing all you need is that sheet
Thanks for your video. I have always traveled with my cats in my SUV or car. I have only flown with one of my cats...I purchased a hardshell carrier...poor Rascal went into the cargo area crying...then for the second flight leg live reptiles were loaded onto the plane. Finally when I rushed to bagage claim I told a worker that I was looking for my cat in its hard carrier. When the worker returned a lady next to me tried to claim him...I quickly grabbed the carrier. I turned around and the lady was gone. If I had been at the claim area a few minutes late...that lady would have stolen my cat . I learned a lesson...always use an under the seat carrier.
Random people claiming kitties that’s scary!
Lufthansa airline from Germany. Very good with this service.
That cat was almost born a full "chimera", like many other cute calico chumpy-chumps!
Thank you for this video. Which seat do you recommend? The middle & window seats tend to have a larger under-seat storage area. Does that carrier fit well under an aisle seat (thinking easy access to restroom)?
I would usually sit in the window seat which was fine but also sat in an aisle seat for an international flight and the carrier did fit there too. I suppose it depends on the aircraft/airline!
You and your cat are so pretty
Great video! Thank you so much! 💕🐱🐾
I have two senior cats (15 years old) and my husband and I are planning on moving across the country. The thought of flying with them on the plane is terrifying to me. One of my cats is scared of everything, and I know she is not going to do well with travel. (I can't even take her to the vet without the drama, she screams loudly the ENTIRE time). My other cat will also be scared, but probably not as bad as my other cat. I can't imagine either one of them on a plane though. 😩 I don't know what would be worse, flying on the plane, or driving for 2-3 days.
hi, could you move with your cats with no problem?
@@ardaaksoy9161 We didn't move yet. Sadly, one of my cats recently passed away, so I don't have to worry about moving her anymore. She was the more difficult one.
@@ambergreene5985 i am very sorry for reming you of her passing away :( I have a senior cat too, that's why i had wondered,
hopefully this move will turn out to be easy, sending good energies to your family!
arda aksoy Don’t worry, it’s ok. 🙂 Good luck with moving your cat! I hope it goes well.
@@ambergreene5985 thank you! 😊 i hope that too
Bless you for this video! 🙏🏻
Such a cute cat 😍😍😍
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much for the play-by-play details on what to expect.
This past week, I traveled on an overnight business trip from NJ to Ottawa so, I left my 2 cats home, with enough food and water (dry, wet and frozen wet to thaw) for 3+ days and I used the PetCube Bites and PetCube Play to check in and talk to them, in the event there'd be a delay in my return or anything worse.
But, I've considered traveling with them, as well. I can see where more than one would be an issue though and I do worry about bathroom issues. After all, in one end and out the other, at some point.
Bt, now that I have a passport for the first time, I'll at least consider flying to Canada again.
Thank you for this video, will ease my nightmare thinking how will be our moving to Europe this year. The trip will be around 20 hours long, house to house and he is a spoiled baby who cannot take even 5 min. trips without screaming. He got hit by a car 12 years ago and got surgery on his leg, he has a plate, wires and screws in his little femur. I will take his Xray after the surgery, hope we will not have any issue with security. This was the most helpful information that I found , I know for years that we have to move to Europe and I searched a lot. I wish you and your beautiful Stella the best and thanks again.
Thank you so much for your kind comment and positive feedback! That really means a lot. Aww, your poor baby! He sounds lucky to have you spoiling him :) A while after I created this video, Stella and I moved to Europe! The hardest part was finding the right airline and making sure we had the correct paperwork for her to get into the EU. Though it was a very long journey, everything worked out just fine so I’ll be sending wishes for the same for you! It might be worth asking for a private screening when you go through security! Wishing you and your little one the best of luck on your move! ❤️
@@iamchelseadinen Thank you. I put the private screening on my "to ask" list. Usually I fly with Lufhtansa , hopefully they can accommodate us. Hope you like Europe, that is my home-home.
@@iamchelseadinen What airline did you fly? I'm moving to Europe as well, which is why I'm asking.
Condor and Lufthansa.
thank you!
I haven't seen one person mention taking a STICKY ROLLER!!! I even take one to vet appts...she loves it while we w a I t..and my cat will ride at least 12hrs in her carrier w/o eating or Drinking & only uses the litter box when we get to the hotel ASAP (She's too pissed or stressed to eat while traveling) Flying should be a breeze,fingers crossed
I’m traveling with my cat soon. Did you need a CVI(certification of veterinary inspection), every where I look I see it. However my vet didn’t have one. Have you ever been asked for one?
Hey, nice video. What is the post landing paperwork procedure. What all do they check once you land at the airport.
Fantastic! Thank you for the share!
thank you very much for this video.. i'm going to be moving in over a year and we don't know if we should fly or drive with our cat and dog. it's very nerve wracking but seeing how brave stella was gave me some hope! it's scary but i think i might be leaning towards flying, instead of multiple days being carsick and stuff this seems easier for him
This was super helpful, thank you so much! Traveling with my cat for the first time next month (she drove cross country and was fantastic but this is our first flight) so this was really awesome.
I’m so happy to hear that! It sounds like she will be a pro ;)
this is great information , we have a 8 hour flight soon
I hope it goes well!
Can you keep the carrier between your legs if it does not fit under the seat ? ❤️❤️ Please reply
from my experience technically youre not allowed to have they between your legs if the carrier doesnt fit under the seat but i normally just push it as much under the seat as i can and once were in the air i pull it our a bit so that my cat has more room.