Two cats in one carrier??

I am going to call BA cargo tomorrow morning, but I can't stop worrying about all these little details.

My main question is can I pack my two kitties in one large carrier? I had noticed references to this on a few websites, but haven't seen anything in this forum about it. Has anyone had any experiences with this?

I'm also wondering if anyone knows if BA cargo requires the APHIS 7001/ health certificate to travel (going from DFW to LGW)? I've noticed a few people on here saying they don't, and a few others who said they got it (but not whether they needed it). And if they do, do they require it to be sent off to the USDA vet or can my USDA affiliated local vet to the work. (This is a lovely link from the US department of State, which pretty much tells me nothing! http://www.state.gov/m/fsi/tc/34589.htm)

When my cats came over to the UK in March 2005 they each had to have there own carrier. the carrier's my cats had were big enough for the 2 of them but they still each had to have  there own carrier though.

Hi there.

I flew BA from ATL to LGW last October with my two cats (brothers who are virtually inseparable).  Unfortunately, your kitties will have to travel in separate crates - the only exception made is for related animals under six months of age. 

BA World Cargo did require me to have the APHIS 7001 health certificate, and it was one of the forms that had to be signed off on by the state USDA vet.

Hope this helps.   Good luck with everything!

Even when my brother in the States moved from Maryland to Texas, he and his wife had three cats, all of which had to have veterinary proof that they were fit to fly, had to have separate cages that allowed for food and water, etc. I wouldn't think they'd ever think of letting two animals in one carrier for an international flight. Plus, your cats are going to be traumatized enough. Get them some sedatives before you leave.

Get them some sedatives before you leave.

I was told that they will not accept an animal that is sedated. 

With a veterinary certificate, they will allow animals to be treated with mild sedatives before a move. I know because I've had it done before. Otherwise, cats in particular freak out.

Get them some sedatives before you leave.

Most vets won't recommend sedation because it can be really dangerous to your pet's health - there's a possibility of serious respiratory problems (due to changes in air pressure). The American Veterinary Association is strongly against sedation for that reason. And many airlines won't transport a sedated animal because they're not able to judge if it's OK or not. DEFRA will only permit sedation under a vet's supervision and only when absolutely necessary.

Well, otherwise your animal(s) is/are going to completely freak out, being in a cargo hold, as loud as a plane is.

Well, otherwise your animal(s) is/are going to completely freak out, being in a cargo hold, as loud as a plane is.

Which is worse? Freaking out or having an adverse medication reaction that could result in death? I agree that having a worried or anxious pet isn't a good thing but, to me, it's better than the alternative.

Which is worse? Freaking out or having an adverse medication reaction that could result in death? I agree that having a worried or anxious pet isn't a good thing but, to me, it's better than the alternative.

Well said.

My Bella (the kitty I adopted when I lived in Boston during grad school - the first kitty I ever had that was my very own) was a nervous girl.  I made the choice to sedate her when we moved via plane from Boston to Atlanta.  She never fully recovered from the experience - she stopped eating, developed kidney failure, and died three weeks later.  Do I know for sure that it happened because of the sedative?  No, but you can be sure that I won't EVER sedate another kitty.

My boys are virtually inseparable - each gets worried when he can't immediately locate the other - and yet they made the trip over with nary a lasting effect.

Which is worse? Freaking out or having an adverse medication reaction that could result in death? I agree that having a worried or anxious pet isn't a good thing but, to me, it's better than the alternative.

Well said.

I totally agree as well.  My 2 cats made the trip without any lasting effects.

I didn't sedate my kitty for the international flight - she's the type whose scared of everything, spends 20 hours/ day hiding under the bed, and only comes to eat if no one else is around.  Everything I read said not to give her drugs because she'd be able to react naturally rather than feeling out of control and her body not knowing how to react.   I personally can't imagine flying drunk so I'd imagine it's similar for her.

She made the trip okay.  Yes, it took a bit for her to recover from the flight, adjust to her new surroundings, and learn where she was allowed to be, but so far, we haven't found any lasting damage.

I do highly highly recommend feliway though - it's made the adjustment a bit easier on our super nervous kitty.

Meg, I think what happened with your cat was a fluke. Kidney failure is a sign of feline leukemia or feline infectious peritonis (which one of my cats died from at the age of five.) I would still recommend a light sedative for the flight. Vets know what they're talking about.

My Vet said she wouldn't recommend sedating a cat for a International flight. an she knew how nervous my female cat was & how nervous my Siamese could as well. but she still said she wouldn't recommend sedating cats regardless how nervous the cat might be. so I would rather have a nervous kitty for a while afterwards than the possibility of dead kitty.

Thats just my 2p though, everyone is entitled to there own opinion though.

Meg, I think what happened with your cat was a fluke. Kidney failure is a sign of feline leukemia or feline infectious peritonis (which one of my cats died from at the age of five.) I would still recommend a light sedative for the flight. Vets know what they're talking about.

I'm sorry; I misspoke.  She actually died of liver failure, not kidney failure; one of our other beloved kitties died of kidney failure a number of years ago, not Bella.

Cause of death aside, Bella spent the entire day of the flight foaming at the mouth, panting desperately, and vomiting.  She'd never exhibited those signs before.  Even if the sedative didn't lead directly to her death, the experience did.  I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

The fact of the matter is that most, if not all, airlines will not accept a pet that has been sedated for an international flight.  Most, if not all, of the pets brought across by folks on these boards were not sedated, and all (as far as I know) made the journey just fine.  There's no need to intentionally disorient an animal who's already going to be confused at what's going on. 

*shrugs*  Just my two cents.  The OP is perfectly capable of making her own decisions, and hasn't mentioned anything about sedatives one way or the other.