Pets as hand baggage?

[Mags 112]

I can only say that times have changed. You can now travel on ANY Delta flight with pets coming into the cabin as long as there are no other animals booked on before you. As mentioned before I think it is 2 in cabin and 1 in Business (although if you had two cats like me I guess they would let you). On the telephone I had to give the sizes of my carriers so they knew they were of the correct size.

Delta don't allow pets in the cabin between May and September. They said it is due to an embargo. I can also assume it is because it is the busiest time of year over the summer and the planes are more full (maybe that's the embargo? ).

[raphael7546 0]

there is an embargo but when we flew , we were told thsat it was from may to september that animals can't go in Cargo , not cabins. We flew done July 1st on Delta flight with no problems.

[Collie 122]

The embargo is actually because of heat as they won't allow pets to travel when its over 80F. Please do get a health check done prior to flying. Its important to be done for the kittys well-being to ensure she is fit to fly, in addition to the fact that you will most likely be asked for one and this should include that the kitty has been strategically dewormed and treated with flea preventative.

Additionally its better to get a rabies vaccine done before you go to the States as rabies is rife in certain states and its not a problem we deal with in the UK. It could only take one encounter with a rabid possum/racoon/pick your rabid animal and your kitty could be infected and there is no treatment for rabies once an animal is infected with the virus. You know hat you will have to get it done anyway as the majority of US cities have it as mandatory regardless if the kitty is indoor or not, so why not just have it done while you are in the UK, so you have 1 less thing to do when you get to the U.S. Another thing which is vitally important is to get your kitty onto heartworm preventative as soon as you get to the states. This is another disease that we don't have to worry about in the U.K but its all over the U.S. At the veterinary hospital where I work, we use Revolution which is a topical liquid and acts as a preventative for heartworm, fleas, gastro-intestinal parasites, ear mites, skin mites including demodectes and sarcoptes.

I hope your flight will be safe and calm with your kitty

Kat

[PlatyPius 5]

Revolution..... that's what it was. I was trying to remember what it was that Lyrus (my cat) was treated with at the vet.

I'm sure we'll get Elmo and Ziggy (Sian's cats) treated with it also. They are both indoor cats, as is Lyrus, so I doubt the risk of rabies is very high. I can't even remember when the last time I heard of a rabies case in this area was. I'm sure we'll probably still get them vaccinated, though.

[Mags 112]

The embargo is actually because of heat as they won't allow pets to travel when its over 80F. Please do get a health check done prior to flying.

That's cargo though...not in cabin where the temperature is controlled better. Delta actually don't fly pets in the winter either in some places due to the cold...so I'm sure the embargo is more related to planes being jam packed with people who may complain about dogs or cats being in the cabin. If it was due to temperature they'd never fly any animals at all....

Additionally its better to get a rabies vaccine done before you go to the States as rabies is rife in certain states and its not a problem we deal with in the UK. It could only take one encounter with a rabid possum/racoon/pick your rabid animal and your kitty could be infected and there is no treatment for rabies once an animal is infected with the virus. You know hat you will have to get it done anyway as the majority of US cities have it as mandatory regardless if the kitty is indoor or not, so why not just have it done while you are in the UK, so you have 1 less thing to do when you get to the U.S. Another thing which is vitally important is to get your kitty onto heartworm preventative as soon as you get to the states. This is another disease that we don't have to worry about in the U.K but its all over the U.S. At the veterinary hospital where I work, we use Revolution which is a topical liquid and acts as a preventative for heartworm, fleas, gastro-intestinal parasites, ear mites, skin mites including demodectes and sarcoptes.

I hope your flight will be safe and calm with your kitty

Kat

I would have got them vaccinated for rabies beforehand...but from start to finish it takes roughly 3 months. Initial injection, then 4 weeks wait, then blood test, which can take up to 4 weeks to get back the results. Time I do not have...

As Larry said (PlatyPius) we will get them done once I am over in the States but, as they are indoor cats, the risk is minimal.

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

The vets I worked with, didn't recommend the shots if the cat was strictly indoors. I have had cats for nearly 20 years, without giving them rabies shots they have all been just fine.

[Mags 112]

The vets I worked with, didn't recommend the shots if the cat was strictly indoors. I have had cats for nearly 20 years, without giving them rabies shots they have all been just fine.

Really? Well, that's something to think about! Thanks Bethanie.

[Collie 122]

The process involving blood work is actually for the PETS passport. The simple rabies vaccine can be given as a single dose or a 2nd dose can be given 2 weeks after the first. You don't need bloodwork unless you go for the PETS passport. As far as not vacinating indoor kittys or not treating them with preventatives, we just did testing on a kitty this week and the Feline Leukemia virus test was positive. This is a cat that hasn't been outside, but even through a screen door, the virus particles can travel from an infected stray kitty to the pet cat, so i strongly advise you to get all vaccines done. it only takes one chance encounter and your baby is worth more than that risk I'm sure.

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Do look into your local animal organizations. Many Humane societies do clinics, where you can get yearly shots done at a discount rate. Here locally I think it is only $5 for a rabies shot. The local paper prints when the clinics are going and where. You can also call the Humane society and find when they are having a clinic. This is a great money saver if you have healthy pets.

There are also 3 year rabies vaccines, this will save you two extra trips to the vet so long as the animal is otherwise healthy.

[Mags 112]

The process involving blood work is actually for the PETS passport. The simple rabies vaccine can be given as a single dose or a 2nd dose can be given 2 weeks after the first. You don't need bloodwork unless you go for the PETS passport. As far as not vacinating indoor kittys or not treating them with preventatives, we just did testing on a kitty this week and the Feline Leukemia virus test was positive. This is a cat that hasn't been outside, but even through a screen door, the virus particles can travel from an infected stray kitty to the pet cat, so i strongly advise you to get all vaccines done. it only takes one chance encounter and your baby is worth more than that risk I'm sure.

My cats are already immunised against leukaemia and cat flu et al. My vet would not sign them off as rabies vaccinated without the follow up work being done. Pretty sensible I think. It is best to be sure that the vaccine has done it's job rather than just assume it has...

Just out of interest, I thought leukaemia could only be transferred through cat saliva. I found this below on the FabCats website http://www.fabcats.org/felv.html. Which incidentally, is a pretty good website for feline information.

The major source of virus is in saliva from a persistently infected cat. Virus is spread by activities where saliva is exchanged between cats, such as mutual grooming or sharing of food bowls. Alternatively, FeLV infection of other cats may be caused by biting or contact with urine and faeces containing the virus. It is also possible for virus to be passed from a queen to her kittens either in the womb or after the kitten is born, via infected milk. However, it is uncommon for FeLV-infected cats to give birth as FeLV usually causes pre-natal death of the kittens which results in resorption or abortion.

Edited November 19, 2006 by mags

[meauxna 15]

Okay, I move to the USA next month and am taking my cats with me. I have two of them and am looking into taking them as hand baggage on my Delta flight...

Yeah, but how much stuff could you possibly get inside a cat. I suggest a travel bag. LOL

You stole my line. I'm not even gonna read the rest of this thread!

[pucklechurch 0]

I was the one quoted earlier. Took United with my cat after he had his blood tests and received his pet passport. There is an option to have a photograph of the pet done as well but I didn't go that far. I paid my additional fee at my departing airport and not to United online where I initially bought my ticket. Once the 'excess baggage' fee was paid we checked in normally. The only time he was taken from me was at Heathrow when he went into a separate area (presumably where they keep bags) and I went through security and boarded later to find him sitting in first class waiting for me. Sadly our designated seats were in steerage so we moved back there before departure.

He was quiet all flight and his heart seemed to beat quite fast. He was not sedated as I was told not to do this. His nose was quite dry and he didn't want water or food. I dabbed his face with water now and again. Occasionally I'd zip open the sherpa bag and he'd stick his head out then pop it back in again. The only major problem was at Chicago. Got through immigration with just a simple check and a look at his pet passport then headed for a connecting flight. To get through to the domestic terminals we had to go through security again and this time I was told to take him out of the bag which he didn't like, the claw marks were with me for the next two weeks. We did have someone near us on our second flight who had mild cat allergies but it wasn't a major issue.

Since then we have flown two more cats from California. We now have four rescued cats (one local, two from the West Coast and one from Berkshire) plus a Golden Retiever that was found abandoned and hungry just before the winter set in two years ago. All are doing well and one day, if circumstances change some of them (if not all) will make the journey back to the UK, although we may have to do it in stages.

[missy_antha 0]

Pucklechurch I just want to say what a lovely person you sound and send you a big well done for taking in abandoned and rescued cats and a dog!

If only more people were willing to do that rather than buying kittens and puppies

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

Incidentally how is the english cat settling into the neighbourhood? Is he getting beaten up by the local cats or totally holding his own?

[pucklechurch 0]

Thanks for the kind words, missy antha.

All my cats are doing fine but their friendship can be a little strained at times. Two of them (including the one from England) have FIV so we need to keep a close eye on them as they are quite vunerable. With the right care I hope they stay with us for a long time. My dog is ten years old and, when we were alerted to where he was, he'd been roaming around a local farm for a week and the owner wanted to shot him. It was over Thanksgiving dinner that the discussion came around to this so we went the next day and picked him up. We did alot of advertising in the papers and the Golden Retreiver rescue centres but after two months we knew he was here to stay. I'd love to know his past, who he belonged to and what his name used to be.

[Mags 112]

Thanks for the kind words, missy antha.

All my cats are doing fine but their friendship can be a little strained at times. Two of them (including the one from England) have FIV so we need to keep a close eye on them as they are quite vunerable. With the right care I hope they stay with us for a long time. My dog is ten years old and, when we were alerted to where he was, he'd been roaming around a local farm for a week and the owner wanted to shot him. It was over Thanksgiving dinner that the discussion came around to this so we went the next day and picked him up. We did alot of advertising in the papers and the Golden Retreiver rescue centres but after two months we knew he was here to stay. I'd love to know his past, who he belonged to and what his name used to be.

If you don't mind me asking, how do you stop your uninfected cats getting FIV from the infected ones? Do you keep them all apart?

I had a cat that had FIV; he had it from birth. When he reached about 3 years old he became so ill I had to have him euthanised. I had two other cats that had to be tested for FIV, luckily they were clear.

I am also wondering how you managed to get a pet passport for a cat that has FIV.

Thanks for putting up with my questions. I'm just a bit curious! Or nosey, take your pick!

Edited November 23, 2006 by mags