cats in the cabin?

I have the same worry about my cat because she does have anxiety issues. That's why my vet said she's going to do the prozac. My cat loves the car so I'm hoping that she'll be ok during the flight.

Also, I don't think I would let her out of the carrier even if she was allowed on the plane. Not everyone likes cats, there are allergies, and I would worry about her getting spooked and having a hard time getting her back in.

I have allergies and would probably go into a not so lovely allergic reactions if there was a cat on/running around the plane. I had an asthma attack once during a flight because the woman next started soaking herself (and me!) in perfume.  I ended up with a rash all over my right arm and right side of my face too.    I think pets shouldn't be allowed on board with their owners.   

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!

I feel sorry for the woman and her loss - but how stupid do you have to be???  Per airline regulations you're not even allowed / supposed to open your pets cage to pet them...

Another big reason to not sedate your pet is because during travel, the animal could get josseled about and if it is sedated, it cannot right itself which could lead to significant injury. 

I have traveled with my cat all over the place and always in cargo.  We have never had a problem and she has done really well every time.  I also would rather she be in a container where she can move around, sit up if she wants to than be in a cramped box for 10 hours which is what she would have to be in, if she was in the cabin. 

Also, I always zip tie the door closed to prevent any mishaps along the way. 

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.

The pet courier that Dh & I  used said they wouldn't send my cats to the UK until the sedation wore off if my cats were sedated. My cats were just fine on the plane a little scared but when they got to our house they were just fine. my cats took a couple days to adjust to there new home but were fine after that & have been since then.

yes sedation is a pretty bad idea :-)

you should only do it when you can monitor their breathing/heart rate because if an animal does experience adverse effects you can then *do* something about it. however on a flight (even in the cabin) when you're not allowed even allowed to open the carrier it certainly isn't a good idea.

It seems like the consensus is that flying in the cabin just isn't going to happen...luckily by the time I have to fly my cats (at least two and a half years) I will have gotten some serious researching out of the way!

Well, I guess I'm alone in that two vets have told me sedation is okay for long-distance travel. To each his or her own. Your cat can relax, or freak out for eight to 10 hours.

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.

Obviously cats and dogs are different, but I was worried about my dog flying in the cargo hold as well.  I bought his crate (took the door off) and made it his "safe" place by putting toys, a comfy blanket and treats in it.  He began to love sleeping in it. I don't know if it'd be different with cats, but I really recommend doing that before flying.  I think it really helped my dog and he was completely fine when we arrived here.

Obviously cats and dogs are different, but I was worried about my dog flying in the cargo hold as well.  I bought his crate (took the door off) and made it his "safe" place by putting toys, a comfy blanket and treats in it.  He began to love sleeping in it. I don't know if it'd be different with cats, but I really recommend doing that before flying.  I think it really helped my dog and he was completely fine when we arrived here.

wE did that too with our cat.  The first time.  Then she knew what the box meant and she freaks out everytime we pull it out. 

She always does ok once she's in it though.  And not once has she ever freaked out during travel.  And we've never sedated her.

Well, I guess I'm alone in that two vets have told me sedation is okay for long-distance travel. To each his or her own. Your cat can relax, or freak out for eight to 10 hours.

There are clear medical reasons for not sedating a pet for air travel. It's not a matter of us wanting our cats to freak out at all, as you well know. Yes, to each his/her own, but I'd prefer to do what's safest for my pet.

Obviously cats and dogs are different, but I was worried about my dog flying in the cargo hold as well.  I bought his crate (took the door off) and made it his "safe" place by putting toys, a comfy blanket and treats in it.  He began to love sleeping in it. I don't know if it'd be different with cats, but I really recommend doing that before flying.  I think it really helped my dog and he was completely fine when we arrived here.

The thing with Spanky is that he's a big dog, he doesn't like to be in tiny places and doesn't look at it as something safe. When he was a puppy I would make him little houses to hide in in the house and he never went in. I think what I'll have to do is throw a Dingo Bone in and shut the door on him. He'll be OK as long as he has his Fozzie Bear.

The vet gave me a pill for my last cat... she was a very nervous animal, and I had to take her on buses, then the ferry, then more travel.  Well, it was horrible.  She spent over 12 hours rolling around and yowling.  Not 'sedate' at all.  No idea what kind of drug it was, but I'll never try that again. 

I know PetsMart used to sell pet "calmer" pills - you could pick 'em up off the shelf.  If you went into any pet store and ask them.  I don't know if Defra or airlines have a problem with them as they're more relaxants and not sedatives...but then again its the part about them possibly wearing of mid-flight.   

I had one cat about 20 years ago that I flew with.  We did sedate her and it was a disaster.  the sedation wore off halfway through the trip.  She was a mess from then on and never really did recover mentally.  I think she was nervous anyway but I decided after that flight that I would never sedate an animal ever again. 

Every animal that I've transported since has done really well. 

Actually, sedation is less a matter of choice than of regulations. Most airlines will not transport sedated pets (I'm speaking of international flights, but I don't know about domestic ones). Aircraft are pressurised at between two thirds and three quarters of normal atmospheric pressure, this lowers the blood pressure of both humans and animals. Sedatives generally work by lowering blood pressure so the combined effect could be detrimental to the well being of your pet.