Pets as hand baggage?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I'm so happy this thread was resurrected! I am thinking of taking my cat with me to my travel to New York and I am concerned on how stressful it can be to her.. My cat is pretty anti-social and gets nervous around people other than us.. and I'd be staying in New York for 6 days in a hotel. My husband and I thought about boarding options in a VCA hospital near us but after hearing about other people's review of their own pets--going crazy and not the same temperament as they were before they were left for boarding, etc--that I can't leave her any place safer but to be with me.

My question is:

How were the cats during the flight? And after the flight? I need to reassure myself that my cat will be fine, I guess. Or I'm just a worry-wart.

Quite seriously - your cat would find flying twice and staying 6 days in a hotel absolutely more upsetting than a short car ride to a boarding facility for 6 days. If you are willing to spend that kind of money, seriously look into getting a pet sitter. Leave your cat in her home environment where she is happy, leave the radio on, and arrange to have someone come and visit her twice a day to feed, clean out the box, and just to check that she is ok. She will be a bit lonely, but she will not be nearly as stressed out as she would be flying! It is not being with you that will keep her feeling safe - it is being totally uprooted and away from her home environment plus the stress of the flight - and - what happens if she manages to get out of the hotel room while you are there? What if housekeeping comes by to drop off more towels when you are not present and just leaves the door open while they quickly come in and leave - and your cat decides to go out the door? You would never even know what happened or where she was. Seriously, give 2nd and 3rd thoughts to having your cat travel with you for such a short period, especially as she is anti-social! A qualified pet-sitter - and your veterinarian may be able to recommend a good one - is a far, far, far better option.

My cats and their well-being are very important to me as well and that is why I make sure I have a responsible pet sitter looking after them while we are away - I know they are much, much, much happier and safer that way - even though I miss them. They are too important to me for me to take a risk with them.

Edited July 9, 2008 by Kathryn41

[Jeraly 4]

How were the cats during the flight? And after the flight? I need to reassure myself that my cat will be fine, I guess. Or I'm just a worry-wart.

I posted a full report in the UK sticky thread. Daisy was in her carrier for 24 hours and only got a bit noisy about 2 hours before landing (on an 11 hour direct flight).

We opted for a direct flight to make the time she was in the carrier as short as possible and she was really as good as gold - I was really worried as well but things like getting her out in the airplane toilets then getting her back in her carrier (normally she struggles and won't go in) were really simple - she saw it as her "safe" place I guess away from all the crazy things she was going through. She sulked for a day and hid lots but now she is fine again and has even started scratching the furniture (now I KNOW she is back to normal! )

[Mags 112]

Quite seriously - your cat would find flying twice and staying 6 days in a hotel absolutely more upsetting than a short car ride to a boarding facility for 6 days. If you are willing to spend that kind of money, seriously look into getting a pet sitter. Leave your cat in her home environment where she is happy, leave the radio on, and arrange to have someone come and visit her twice a day to feed, clean out the box, and just to check that she is ok. She will be a bit lonely, but she will not be nearly as stressed out as she would be flying! It is not being with you that will keep her feeling safe - it is being totally uprooted and away from her home environment plus the stress of the flight - and - what happens if she manages to get out of the hotel room while you are there? What if housekeeping comes by to drop off more towels when you are not present and just leaves the door open while they quickly come in and leave - and your cat decides to go out the door? You would never even know what happened or where she was. Seriously, give 2nd and 3rd thoughts to having your cat travel with you for such a short period, especially as she is anti-social! A qualified pet-sitter - and your veterinarian may be able to recommend a good one - is a far, far, far better option.

My cats and their well-being are very important to me as well and that is why I make sure I have a responsible pet sitter looking after them while we are away - I know they are much, much, much happier and safer that way - even though I miss them. They are too important to me for me to take a risk with them.

I have to agree with Kathryn here. Uprooting cats can be traumatic for them, it's best to do it only if you have to. I.E. locating to a new home. I certainly don't recommend it for a simple vacation (as I think that's what you are doing).

[Nasturtium 500]

My cats are howlers in the car. I am so scared if I took them in-cabin that they would howl the whole way. I want to move them with em when we leave the country-- but I may just check them. I have 3 anyway, and there is only 2 of us