Comfort of animals during travels??

Very good point about potential rabies getting out if they arent extra extra careful with the animals.  I like these logical reasons - they make me feel much better!  Even if they dont care about my dog, they sure care about rabies!

I'm comforted by this, too.  My dog is VERY good at getting out of whatever containment people set up for her. 

I haven't traveled yet, but I bought my cats Dry Fur pads.  They supposedly encapsulte the wetness and odor like a diaper would.  What I like about them is that they are stiff, and then have kind of wings all around the edge, so that they cover the whole of the crate floor and I know the cats won't be able to shove them in a corner.  The best price I found was at KV vet supply:
https://www.kvvetsupply.com/KVVet/product_style.asp?pf_id=80043&Show_by=Size&shown_by=2&gift=false&rp=P&qty=1&HavePromo=N&mscssid=0048679BAB9CE24E9EBC581CD0AE454B

My cats have flown to the UK and 3 years later flew back to the US, and we used the pads both times and neither time did they use it, they held it. They are high stress cats and both times did really well.

As for worrying about your pets getting out, they deal with pets every day and they know what they are doing, I wouldn't worry too much

I think you'll be surprised how much they care about your dog. I was so worried about my cats and the people working both ends (Newark and Gatwick) clearly cared about animals and their well being. They don't want anything to happen to your dog just as much as you don't! 

Yes, I found this too. In Houston international they were super-serious when checking in my cat. They clearly take their jobs and the welfare of the animal seriously, which I liked.

At Gatwick, there was just one young woman I spoke to over a little counter, who got my cat for me, and she was very sweet and remarked on how nicely my cat had behaved and that everyone in the back loved him!

I got just a great impression of the staff at both ends. I had been scared poo-less before doing all this, but now I know how great all the people involved are, I would do it again.

Well no actually I never want to do it again and probably nor does kitty, but you know what I mean, hahahah!

To be honest, I think my two cats handled the whole thing much better than I did.  It took me at least a week to ramp down from the emotions and stress and drama of their (and my) travel day, whereas within an hour of being let in the house, they were sitting in a window sunning themselves as if nothing had happened.

My one kitty peed in her kennel, and she smelled to high heaven until we got her home and washed (I think she had gone literally moments before we picked her up).  The other guy waited until he was "home" and then sounded like a fire hydrant.

Best of luck.

To be honest, I think my two cats handled the whole thing much better than I did.  It took me at least a week to ramp down from the emotions and stress and drama of their (and my) travel day, whereas within an hour of being let in the house, they were sitting in a window sunning themselves as if nothing had happened.

Hah, this was me too! My cat adjusted in an hour or two as if the whole journey had never happened. Me, not so much.

Has anyone transported a cat with urinary problems?  Ours had a bad incident a few years back (crystals in the urethra or something? pretty serious) and has been on a special diet since then.  Just thinking if he holds his pee that long will it harm him?  Also been meaning to check if his cat food brand is available in UK.

When an animal has urinary crystals, it isnt advised for them to hold their bladder for long periods b/c the crystals build up and are painful. But, if your cat is on a modified diet to adjust his pH (as was my dog for a long time for the same issue) and is ONLY eating that, the crystals shouldnt build back up in the 10-12 hours or so of travel time, and he will relieve himself if he is in pain, obviously.  It wont "harm" him anymore than perhaps making him uncomfortable if he doesnt want to go without his litterbox. 

You may want to look up the Kattovit brand of food available in the UK for special diets.

Thanks, mirrajay.  Just looked up the Hill's prescription diet food and looks like it is available in UK -- including at our old vet's!  Haven't heard of Kattovit.

Has anyone transported a cat with urinary problems?  Ours had a bad incident a few years back (crystals in the urethra or something? pretty serious) and has been on a special diet since then.  Just thinking if he holds his pee that long will it harm him?  Also been meaning to check if his cat food brand is available in UK.

Both of my cats have (*had   )urinary tract problems prior to moving them to England. They both did fine. They both had been on special diets for years before we moved and haven't had any problems since they've been on special food - Hill's Prescription Diet c/d.

BostonDiner - Hill's is available to purchase online and it's cheaper than the vet's office!


*Just wanted to make it clear that my cat didn't die from anything related to his urinary problems and he lived happily in England/Ireland for 2.5 years.