Prepared by Kingstowne Cat Clinic
Invest in a good quality cat carrier. The rigid plastic type with metal fittings is the most durable and most easily cleaned. If you are traveling by air, be sure to follow the airline’s specifications regarding carrier size. When traveling by car, please keep your cat in the carrier at all times. It is safer for the cat, the driver, and the passengers. A towel or fleece pad in the carrier will keep things cozy. Because a nervous cat may soil its carrier, you should always carry paper towels, extra bedding, and a small garbage bag in the event the carrier needs to be cleaned.
Cats often travel best on an empty stomach. Withhold food for about 6-10 hours prior to travel to prevent the cat from vomiting or having a bowel movement. Allow access to water until departure time. Some medical conditions may make fasting unsafe: therefore, discuss this with the veterinarian.
Most cats do not need to be sedated for travel. The exception is the cat that becomes so panicked when placed in a carrier that he may injure himself. If sedation is needed, give the prescribed amount 1&1/2 to 2 hours before traveling.
We strongly suggest that your cat wear some form of identification while traveling. Prepare a collar with a tag listing your name and phone number where you (or a friend /relative) can be reached in case you become separated from your cat. If the cat is lost, be sure to contact all shelters and humane societies in the area. In the event of unexpected travel, a simple collar can be made out of masking tape folded in half and important information written with a permanent marker.
Many airlines will allow 1 to 2 pets per flight to travel in the cabin. The Sherpa canvas carriers are ideal for this and will fit under the airplane seat. If your cat is flying and will not be in the cabin with you, we suggest wrapping duct tape around the carrier to ensure the door cannot be opened. Airport security should allow you to carry a small pair of blunt tipped scissors to cut the tape upon arrival. Try to stay with your pet as long as the airline will allow. After boarding, ask the flight attendant to check to make sure your pet was loaded onto the plane. If there is any delay in taking off, have the flight attendant notify the pilot that there is a pet on board. The carrier should have identification and important information attached to it. Also check with the airline to determine if a health certificate is needed. Some foreign countries require special health certificates. Please check these details well in advance of your departure date.
Many hotels will allow cats, but plan ahead to secure cat-friendly lodging along your route. Inspect the room first to check that it is "cat-safe": i.e. no open windows, no dangling loops or curtain/shade pulls, and no hidden areas in the bed or furniture where the cat could stow away. If traveling by car, carry a litter box and the cat’s normal litter for use in the room. If you must leave the cat in the room alone, place the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door and consider leaving the cat in the carrier. If you stay with family or friends, initially confine the cat to one room with a securely shut door. If the stay is longer than a few days, gradually introduce the cat to the rest of the house. If other cats are present, the Feline Leukemia Virus status of each cat should be known.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave an unattended cat in a car on even a slightly warm day. Even with the windows open, the temperature in a car can climb rapidly and cause heat stroke and death.
For additional information, Please click below:
Visit the following sites to find pet friendly hotels and rentals.
Additional Links
International Travel With Pets (and travel to Hawaii)
Traveling With Pets - American Foreign Service Association
Travelers' Tips on Bringing Plants, Food, and Animal Products into the US
This page was last updated 08/20/2000