cats in the cabin?

Hi!

I have three cats that my husband and I plan to move to England with us in a few years after I graduate. I've read about the PETS scheme, which is awesome, and I've read that continental allows cats (and small dogs, possibly) to be in the cabin (up to four animals per flight) with you. I know that since I have three - and you can only take one per person, I will need to get another person to come with us (probably my sister). My question is - has anyone done this before?

I'm worried about them meowing in the cabin etc, but equally worried about them being uncomfortable/lost as "cargo". sigh.

Also, I would likely be paying for my sisters flight if she comes to help with one of the cats - would it be more expensive that way or to send the three as "cargo"? It seems that most people on this forum have sent their pets the cargo way and they have come out ok...I'm just a paranoid type of person!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Unfortunately the PETS scheme says that the pets need to be in the cargo area of the plane.

Have you read all of the information in PETS Scheme for Dummies here and the DEFRA site? If not, I can find some links for you.

Unfortunately the PETS scheme says that the pets need to be in the cargo area of the plane.

Have you read all of the information in PETS Scheme for Dummies here and the DEFRA site? If not, I can find some links for you.

Oh no, yes if you could find some links for me that would be fab! I've tried to get through most of the PETS site that is run by Defra, and I was just under the impression that Continental airlines was an approved route (and they offer the animals in the cabin thing). I didn't personally see anything that said that they had to go as cargo, but I could be wrong of course. Thanks for replying!!

I think Continental is approved for some routes (I'm in MA and it's just BA and Virgin here) but it's their cabin service that isn't allowed for the PETS Scheme.

Here is Pets Scheme for Dummies:
Part 1 http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=22296.0;all
Part 2 http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=22297.0;all

Here is the DEFRA site:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/regulation/eu_reg.htm

Here is the page on the DEFRA site that mentions that pets need to travel as cargo:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/routes.htm

It's not made very clear on that site, but here's the part that specifically mentions cargo (only registered assistance dogs are allowed in cabin and even those are only allowed when the airline allows it):

Routes may change and new ones may be added. Check the lists below for the latest information. Some routes may be irregular and some may only operate during certain times of the year. You are advised to check this and all your other proposed travel arrangements with the transport company, including how they will transport your pet, before booking your trip to the UK as they may have their own additional conditions of travel. These conditions may include a health declaration for your pet. Pets travelling to the UK by air will travel as cargo, unless they are a registered assistance dog entering with an approved airline, on a route that permits them to travel in the cabin. Check the costs, requirements and procedures with your transport company well before you travel.

(Bolding added by me.)

Bookmark those links, they will become your best friends! I printed out the PETS Scheme for Dummies and keep that in a file folder with all of my cat's paperwork. I also printed out  DEFRA's list of what the vets and owners need to do. I left copies of both with my vet to keep in Chloë's file so they have a reference too. You can start the chipping and rabies vaccinations now and just keep them up to date so you don't have to rush around and worry about time frame later on.

Good luck and feel free to ask loads of questions, it's such a confusing process!

From what I read when I did all this stuff, they were only allowed in the cabin if it was a domestic flight within the U.S.  Otherwise they do have to go into the Cargo area, I'm afraid.

My sister recently flew home with her cat in the cabin with her, she actually works for Continental and when she told me the cat was in the cabin I was suprised. I'm allergic to cats and I know a lot of other people are too and I thought it was interesting that they would allow that.

My sister recently flew home with her cat in the cabin with her, she actually works for Continental and when she told me the cat was in the cabin I was suprised. I'm allergic to cats and I know a lot of other people are too and I thought it was interesting that they would allow that.

Not any different really than allowing dogs. I'm terrified of dogs and I'm also allergic to them.

I do wish that my kitty could fly in the cabin with me. 

My sister recently flew home with her cat in the cabin with her, she actually works for Continental and when she told me the cat was in the cabin I was suprised. I'm allergic to cats and I know a lot of other people are too and I thought it was interesting that they would allow that.

I'm guessing this was a domestic flight?

I thought it was strange at first too, but I don't think Continental would be able to get away with it if there really were issues with people that were allergic. I'm guessing planes re-circulate their air...possibly there is a special filter that helps with the cat/dog hair? It probably helps too that the animals are required to stay in a carrier under the chair in front of you at all times...

I'd definitely do some double-checking. One of my brother's girlfriends used to fly back and forth between Germany and the States with a small rat terrier (similar to Jack Russells, but less hyper) in the cabin. I don't know on what airline, though, and the U.K.'s laws may be different. Regardless, if you have to fly them long distance in cargo, I strongly recommend that you get them a sedative from your vet, to help alleviate their fear and anxiety.

Regardless, if you have to fly them long distance in cargo, I strongly recommend that you get them a sedative from your vet, to help alleviate their fear and anxiety.

As far as I'm aware, that is not recommended by Defra and I believe most cargo companies will not fly sedated pets.

As far as I'm aware, that is not recommended by Defra and I believe most cargo companies will not fly sedated pets.

And most vets do not recommend it either.

I know Continental is an approved airline & I'm assuming in your flight plan Reinadeluz.  They do require pets to fly in the Cargo hold for the Pets Scheme and they cannot be sedated.

Some airlines do allow pets to fly in cabin for international flights, however you'll be paying through the teeth for this, but I believe Defra doesn't allow them to fly in cabin.

However, if you're planning on doing a flight with stops through Continental you can arrange with them to go down & see your pet between flights.  I asked this when I initially made plans for my cat and they'll let you do this (as long as there aren't any delays with your initial flight)...  Also, I know the people at Gatwick will walk you through the Pets Scheme once you land.

PS - Good luck with the move & the Pets Scheme!   

My vet is going to have my cat started on kitty prozac for some time before the move and said that she'll be fine that way. There isn't anyone to monitor the animals with sedatives and they worry about a pet having a bad reaction to it at the high altitude. My vet said prozac is different and the cat will be fine.

I talked to my sister yesterday and asked her about the pets/allergy thing and earlier when I posted I should have included dogs, I didn't mean to single out cat allergies, it's just that I happen to be allergic to them. Anyway, so I was asking her what would happen if someone who's like REALLY allergic got on the plane and then realized there was a cat under the seat in front of them and they were having really bad reactions and she said if the plane hasn't left yet and the person had a problem they would tell them to talk to the agent and if they had taken off she'd give them an oxygen mask and depending on how bad off they were she'd arrange for paramedics when they land. At that point I started giving her a hard time and threw in rediculous scenarios(cause she's my little sister) and when she started getting pissed off about it I told her I hope I never get on one of her flights and laughed at her. 

So ya, not really anything they'll do. lol However, she did say that she's never heard of any problems like that because of pet allergies so I guess they do circulate the air really well.

Oh, then she told me a sad story and the only reason I'm telling you guys is out of warning. One of my sister's flight attendant friends was on a flight and they were getting ready to take off. This lady boarded the plane with her pet cat in it's carrier and went to her seat. I have no idea WHY she would have done this but she let the cat out. The cat took off and made it out the open plane door!  So the lady freaked of course and wanted to get out to find her cat...they told her to go talk to the agent because they won't let people on the tarmac. Reason? Because airplane engines can suck a person up into them and their dead instantly and you only have to be about 15ft away for it to happen. They basically told the lady there was nothing they could do cause either the poor cat had been sucked into an engine or it was long gone by then and no way to find it and as long as it's on the tarmac, there's no looking for it. VERY sad story but let it be a lesson to you, NEVER open your pet's carrier in the plane and if you HAVE to do it, please wait till you are in the air and the door is shut.

And most vets do not recommend it either.

Oh and I wanted to share what my vet said. Apparently with some animals the sedation and altitude can mess up and animal really bad and possibly kill them. I didn't ask for any further information cause that's all I needed to hear but apparently depending on your pet and it's age and probably other factors it's just not safe at all.

I'd actually hoped it would be because I'm really worried about Spanky flying so far. He travels very well in boat and car so I hope it'll be the same with flight but him being down there all alone in the cargo hold really worries me.