flying with a cat please please help

[dublingirl48653]

it is a one hour flight with my cat to Ireland
so dreading it - but I have no other choice

any tips please??

[Fluffycloudland77]

An hours not so bad for her. A few days of zylkene to keep her chilled beforehand might help.

I think it's you we need to worry about

[dublingirl48653]

thank you

dont think we will sedate
just want to make sure she will be ok

[MissTeriName]

She will be fine. Mine have been on much longer flights. A cat's reaction to stress is usually to fall fast asleep! Put something with your scent on in the box - jumper, t shirt etc, and if she has a fave blanket or toy, out that in there too.
Just make sure when you get to your destination that all doors and windows are closed before letting her out of the crate!

[cozietoesie]

Done it several times without a problem. Is the cat travelling in a special compartment in the hold while you travel in the main body of the plane?

[cozietoesie]

Oh - and no sedation.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I don't think you can sedate, a vet wouldn't prescribe for flying.

Zylkene just takes the sharp edges off. Like a double gin and tonic after a hard day.

[dublingirl48653]

thank you guys
that is very useful

[cozietoesie]

Your biggest issue is likely to be being treated as an adjunct to the cat!

Airline staff seem to regard cat passengers as much more important than human passengers so be sure that you have any required documentation that they need and that her crate is 'airline-approved'. (ie to the individual airline's requirements.) They are highly likely to check that everything is tickety-boo with her. You, on the other hand, could be an incipient coronary patient and still be waved through but Hey Ho.

[dublingirl48653]

haha cozietoesie!!!
my goodness

[cozietoesie]

It's the glares from the other passengers when you're waved through the barriers like royalty!

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Assuming you have rabies vaccination and passport all sorted.
Have you got all the details of the airlines requirements, do you need a fit to fly certificate how many hours prior to flight can it be completed? Do you gave box that meets the international standard and the individual airlines standard?
Is the cat travelling cargo or in the cabin? If cargo do you how long prior to flight it needs to be checked in? If cargo have three copies of paperwork one sent ahead to destination, one travels with cat and one travels with you.
Consider starting Zylkene 7 days prior to travel, pretreat carrier with Feliway Classic 15 minutes before cat gets in to box.

[dublingirl48653]

thanks so much
great tips will do extra research tomorrow

[cozietoesie]

And Lone's advice is from an experienced vet who used to be involved in animal cargo handling and quarantine if I recall.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Yes Cozie 10 years as a quarantine vet.

[MrsNathanDrake]

Mine would insist on travelling first class and fed freshly peeled prawns and champagne!

[dublingirl48653]

Hahaaaa mine may demand the same