When you schedule your trip:

Can you get a direct flight, avoiding connections and layovers? Sometimes this is easier to achieve if the trip is planned for during the week. The well-being of your cat could become a source of concern if the baggage connection between flights is missed.

Does the airline have acclimation requirements? If you are unable to secure a direct flight, your pet's carrier may be left outside the plane for a period of time. To avoid liability, the airline may require a letter from Valley View stating that your pet is acclimated to a minimum or maximum temperature for a defined period of time. For specific airline pet policies, click here.

Does the airline's baggage liability include pets? If you are sending an economically valuable pet, you may wish to consider additional liability insurance.

Has your cat been examined by your vet within the past three months? This is especially important for geriatric cats. Travel by plane can pose a risk for cats with pre-existing medical problems such as heart or kidney disease. Also, some short-faced breeds of cats (Persians, Exotic Shorthairs, etc.) do not travel well in some situations.

Do you have written proof of current vaccinations? Does the airline require a health certificate? These documents cannot be obtained "after the fact." You must be able to present them on demand.

Will your cat need to be quarantined if you're traveling outside the continental United States, and if so, for how long?

Does the airline limit the number of animals allowed to travel in the cabin? What are the dimensions of the area in which your cat will travel?

Do you have adequate supplies of your cat's medications, like heartworm preventive, flea preventive, and heart or kidney medications? If your cat is on a special diet, is this available at your destination?

Does your cat have a collar, id tag, and/or leash in case they're let out of the carrier? Order forms are available at Valley View.

Does your hotel allow cats? Many bookstores carry travel guidebooks with this type of information. AAA members can purchase Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook, which gives an annually updated list of motels and hotels that welcome pets, emergency animal clinics, advocacy groups, and pet-sitter associations. (Don't forget a litter pan and food/water bowls for the hotel room.)

Carrier Recommendations

Your cat's carrier should allow sufficient room for it to stand up and turn around easily, but not so much room that it can be tossed about during turbulence. Remember to check into size constraints if the carrier is to go in the cabin.

The walls of the carrier should be strong enough to prevent it from being crushed, and the flooring should not allow urine to leak through. Place an absorptive pad (like those used for puppy training) in the bottom to keep your cat relatively dry.

The carrier should have sufficient openings for good ventilation, and sturdy handles for baggage personnel to use.

The carrier should have a water tray that is accessible from the outside so that water can be added if needed.

Pet stores, breeders, and kennels usually sell carriers that meet these requirements. Some airlines also sell carriers that they prefer to use. Check with the airline to see if they have other requirements.

Try to familiarize your cat with the travel carrier before you leave for your trip. Let your cat play inside with the door both open and closed. This will help eliminate some of your cat's anxiety during the trip.

On the date of departure:

Do not tranquilize your cat unless you have discussed this with your veterinarian. As a rule, cats don't tolerate medicines well and giving over-the-counter or prescription pharmaceuticals can be dangerous.

Make sure that the carrier has permanent identification, including your name, phone number, flight schedule, destination, and phone number at the point of destination.

Feed the cat before you leave home. Water should be available at all times, including inside the carrier. If you have a geriatric cat with marginal kidney function, it is especially important that the cat not be deprived of water. Discuss this with your veterinarian, and again, try to secure a direct flight with no layovers.

Destination Considerations

Your cat should get fresh water as soon as possible upon arrival.

Place a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your hotel room door so that housekeeping will not inadvertently let your cat escape. Plan to have your room cleaned only when you are present.

When you leave your room, it is probably best to leave the cat in the carrier or bathroom.

Should your cat get lost, contact the local animal control officer.