Has anyone been on a plane with their cat in the cabin before?

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I am flying with the cat (relocating) in a couple of weeks. He is booked into the cabin and I am getting a soft carrier to put him in. I am very stressed about it, but he is likely to be stoic and sleep for the journey. But I am worried about going through security with him - presumably I have to take him out of his carrier so that it can go through the x ray? He has had his jabs and will go to the vet for his health certificate the day before he flies, so that is all good. I am hoping that there will be a spare seat next to me so that I can talk to him.

For those with cat allergies you could always ask to go in the hold yourselves? Its nice and cold in there, so you would have other distractions like how to keep yourself from freezing.

@Rudgie47

I'm sympathetic to those with allergies, because I'm allergic to just about everything other than cats. People and environments set me off all the time though it's no one's fault.

Realistically, I think that airlines will continue to allow and prioritize animals. They can't easily refuse service animals and they make money off of pets.

I also think there's a valid point to be made about cat hair on people. I am so vigilant about cleaning because I know what it's like for people who are allergic. But it's inevitable that some cat hair will end up on passengers. A cat in a carrier could be less of an issue because the hair (and therefore saliva) is more contained.

If you have severe allergies, I'd absolutely have that be known to the airline. I'd rather miss a flight than have an allergy attack on board. It's also worth researching which airlines don't allow pets in the cabin.

I have asthma triggered mostly by cigarette smoke. Do I expect people not to smoke? No, because I'm not a selfish brat.

Bombardier - i have kept a close eye. I haven’t seen anyone who I had spotted with a pet carrier in th airport already get on a flight I was on. Obviously that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. I’m not bloody stupid. All I said was I have kept an eye out. And no I haven’t stood with the agents at the gate but thanks for the idea. I’ll do that next time.

MrsSchadenfreude - good luck with your move. We are done moving now but I sometimes think I’d like to do another overseas posting. Can’t say I miss Eastern European winters though! We had two Labradors to move last time. Thankfully it was Budapest to UK so they could come by road. We used a company called Pet Chauffers I think. Some friends with labs were moving back at the same time so they all travelled together. It was much cheaper than air transport. And it wasn’t exactly practical to have two full grown labradors in the cabin! Especially as one of them thinks she is a kangaroo!

I’m not sure about anyone else with a cat allergy but I don’t react to all cats. I had to leave my sister’s house once as her cats triggered my asthma. But other people’s houses with cats were fine.

Fifithefoof - thankfully these days you don’t have to put up with cigarette smoke on planes. Flying when smoking was allowed in planes could be pretty horrible. Especially if you couldn’t get a seat in Non Smoking. And many smokers actually deliberately chose to sit in non smoking and would get up and move to the smoking section and stand there and smoke!

@Peridot1 I can have an attack by being close to somebody who smokes without them smoking. I had a bad attack going to Florida once sat next to a heavy smoker.

I've been on smoking flights before, luckily before I was asthmatic!

I've been on a plane with a cat i a carrier.

The family got on, walked to their seats and put the cat carrier on the floor.

Didn't hear, see or small a thing.

We were coming back from Italy via Germany, the family were German but worked in Italy so did this every Friday evening.

Until this thread i didnt know animal were allowed in the cabin, other than assistance dogs.
My body knows when theres a furry animal around.
There have never been any on the many flights ive been on.
Avoiding the sniffer dogs at the airport is difficult enough, i dont ‘just’ itch wheeze and sneeze, anaphylaxis kills, I’d just like to stay alive.

Don’t think you would know there was a cat in here... gothim out at security and he was as good as gold and fussed over by the nice ladies. Now waiting to board...

What about those with dog allergies? They seem to be allowed everywhere these days, don't see why cats can't be in the cabin if dogs are allowed. Really though I don't think any animals should be in the cabin, but if you allow one kind then you can't ban others.

I haven't checked but I suspect that airlines state somewhere in the small print that you are flying at your own risk with regards to any allergies or conditions you haven't told them about in advance. So all the cat allergy sufferers will be stuck with any travelling cats that just happen to be on board on the day.

We are in the last row and have it to ourselves.

He fits neatly underneath in his Sleeypod.

Have a good flight PussSchadebfreude!

*Schadenfreude!

I have flown with my cat in the cabin. He was on my knee but he had to be in a rigid custom made carrier. He was totally ok with it and was very interested with the in flight meal. This was a while ago and he sadly passed away since.

I’ve flown with my cats both in the cabin and in the cargo hold. A lot of people are completely unaware of them however, because they aren’t allowed out of their carry cases and don’t look like anything special (usually a soft carry case).

I’ve heard that because planes have filters and air constantly circulated that there’s not a problem with allergies. At most, within a five row radius and people can usually be reseated if there’s an issue. This rarely happens as filters work pretty well.

Your cat will likely just sleep, they tend to be very quiet as the enclosed space is comforting to them. I like to use Calmex (your vet will have this) to further keep them quiet, it’s not a sedative which can be dangerous.

I’ve also never had them pee or poo inside the case, even on 14+ hour flights. It’s probably instinct not to. Keep a leash handy though for security hopefully they are somewhat leash trained.

He was as good as gold. Now exploring the apartment and has stuffed his face with cat food. Just hope he uses his box... it’s a new one, but it is in the ensuite, in the same place as at home...

Brilliant Mrs S.
Good news it all went well !