crate size?

Greetings! I am new to this site and am eager to learn from this great community. I have a 10lb. cat I intend to take to Scotland with me next summer.  I have read the DERFA site and things seemed fairly straightforward, so I'm glad I found this site, b/c there are obviously a lot of things they don't mention!   
I will be getting the microchipping and vaccination done this month--I purposely waited so the shot schedule could be more in line with the travel plans.
My question relates to crate sizes...I gather from reading here that BA is not the way to go due to cost, so I am looking at flying Virgin. I can't find any specifics on their website for crate size.  My kitty LOVES his crate and sleeps and travels in it frequently--it is an old-style Doskocil Kennel Cab (small, 19 x 12.5 x 10, airline approved, metal bolts--not the new style that just has plastic latches). He streches out and turns around in it all the time, and it has a clippable food and water bowl, but I think I saw on here that the airlines require 3 inches of head clearance?  He has that lying down of course, but probably not standing up...does anyone know Virgin's requirements?  Is he going to have to give up his beloved crate for a new one?  Thanks for your help!

Hi. You can phone Virgin reservations and they can answer all your pet transport questions. When I worked for American I knew the rules were the animal must be able to stand up and turn around in it's crate to be accepted. I'm not sure if this rule applies to all airlines or just American. Chances are if your kitty is flying trans-Atlantic then he will probably require a crate in which he can at least stand up in.
Best of luck!

I flew BA and had to have room in my cat's crate for him to stand up as well. I agree with Pebbles - just phone up and ask. They're usually pretty helpful! 

I've talked to Virgin about this and yes, you do need three inches head clearance.  My 9 pound dog will be flying in a medium sized crate.  Not sure if it is different for kitties.  Just call and ask.

I flew my two cats (11lbs each) over in October, each in one of these:

http://petmate.com/Catalog.plx?ID=1515&SizeID=5 (medium)

They looked absolutely huge, until I thought about the fact that Toby and Xan would likely have more personal space than I would during the flight!

While your kitty's current crate is fine for domestic travel (I've flown with a 8lb kitty in one that size, under the seat, from Boston to Atlanta), your kitty will definitely appreciate the extra space during a transatlantic trip!

I'm curious. Would they let you put two cats in a single large crate or would the cats kill each other?

Each pet has to have their own crate to travel.  Safety rules. I was hoping I could put my two dogs in together for company, but, it isn't allowed.

Yeah, I was really hoping my guys could travel together too - they're brothers, have lived together since birth, and are generally inseparable - but no such luck. 

I flew my two cats (11lbs each) over in October, each in one of these:

http://petmate.com/Catalog.plx?ID=1515&SizeID=5 (medium)

They looked absolutely huge, until I thought about the fact that Toby and Xan would likely have more personal space than I would during the flight!

While your kitty's current crate is fine for domestic travel (I've flown with a 8lb kitty in one that size, under the seat, from Boston to Atlanta), your kitty will definitely appreciate the extra space during a transatlantic trip!


That crate size is about the same size my cats used when they flew over to the UK in March 2005. the carriers are perfect for when we need to take our cats to the vet we get alot of weird looks at the vet because the carriers are so big.

Oh boy, my cats are going to need huge crates!  We just had our big guy weighed yesterday and he weighs 17.4lbs!  He isn't terribly overweight, he is just the biggest cat I have EVER seen!  People ask me if he is a certain breed.  I don't think he is because he just came from the pet store.  I'm thinking I'll need a crate the size of a huge dog!  I have the same problem with our other two Meg, they are sisters that we got together when they were very little.  It will be really hard for them...

I just bought one at Petco today that, now that I look at it, is going to be totally inadequate.

I dug my old one out of the basement and had a look. I flew a cat in this one twenty years ago. It's much bigger and stronger than the one I bought today.

Shoot. I'm just going to be hemorrhaging money this year, aren't I?

Oh boy, my cats are going to need huge crates!  We just had our big guy weighed yesterday and he weighs 17.4lbs!  He isn't terribly overweight, he is just the biggest cat I have EVER seen!  People ask me if he is a certain breed. 

My cat weighed about 23 lbs when I brought him over, and I needed a dog crate.   

Oh boy, my cats are going to need huge crates!  We just had our big guy weighed yesterday and he weighs 17.4lbs!  He isn't terribly overweight, he is just the biggest cat I have EVER seen!  People ask me if he is a certain breed.  I don't think he is because he just came from the pet store.  I'm thinking I'll need a crate the size of a huge dog!  I have the same problem with our other two Meg, they are sisters that we got together when they were very little.  It will be really hard for them...

Xan was around 11 or 12lbs when we flew, but is now a bit over 16lbs - and he's still fine in the crate we bought, so your big guy should be okay in one that size.    As for the girls - we asked BA if the boys' crates could be placed nose to nose in the cargo hold, so that they could see each other at all times, and they readily agreed - and I think it probably helped the boys that they could see each other (and touch paws).  So you might want to mention that to the airline when you check them in.

My cat weighed about 23 lbs when I brought him over, and I needed a dog crate.   

I think the crates I used were technically dog crates....

I will definitly ask them to put ours as close as possible to eachother.  They will probably just sleep after they get settled a bit.  About these food and water things, how does that work??  I looked at Petco the other day and didn't see any that had a food or water dish with them.  Nor did I see one that would stand up to a long distance haul like this.