How to Travel with a Cat? The Ultimate Guide

Traveling with a cat can feel like a daunting situation! Cats are known for being particular and vocal when they’re not happy. We have traveled on several occasions with our cat both by plane and by car. 

Our indoor cat hates being outside which poses an interesting problem for travel. But after a lot of research and many flights, here are some of our tips and tricks for having a successful travel experience for all!

Pro Tip: if you have a young cat (older than 8 weeks so they can travel) you are in luck because the younger you start them on travel the easier it’ll be!

How to travel with a cat on a plan?

Cabin vs. Cargo

This is a big question! And there are many different factors that come into play when figuring out if your cat will be traveling via cabin or cargo. The two most important factors are 1. Are you traveling domestically or internationally? 2. How large is your cat? 

For domestic travel most American airlines will allow your cat to travel in the cabin. Ensuring he or she is small enough to ride in the cabin. International trips are where it gets harder. A lot  of airlines will require your cat to travel in cargo and it is very country dependent. If you are looking to travel internationally with a cat check out this post for more information. 

If your cat is under 17 pounds you should not send him in cargo under any circumstances. It is far too easy for your pet to get lost. Our cat is 7 pounds so he joins us in the cabin. 

An additional note about bringing a cat in the cabin: They are considered one of your carry-on items. They will go under the seat in front of you and should never under any circumstances be put in the overhead bin. For this reason, you will not be able to sit in the emergency exit row or the bulkhead seats. 

Tip: Sit in the window seat instead of the aisle. This will give your cat privacy to nap and not be bothered by people walking up and down the aisles. 

What are Airline Requirements? How do they vary?

Each airline has its own maximum allowance for the size of the carrier due to the size of the under seat area. All of the airlines recommend using soft-sided carriers. Southwest even sells its own carrier. 

None of the airlines allow a carrier and pet that exceed 20 pounds. The carrier has to be comfortable enough for the cat to stand and turn around. It must have a sealable door (think zipper) and must be leakproof. 

I HIGHLY recommend booking your flight over the phone. Because the flights can have limitations on how many pets they allow per flight, calling allows you to save your spot. They are on a first-call first serve basis. 

I choose to fly Southwest for a couple of reasons.

1. They are the most affordable when it comes to pet fees
2. You can get 2 checked bags for free which means less to worry about as a carry-on (plus we were moving so we needed the luggage).
3. They had the flight time we needed – early morning.

How do I book a flight for my cat?

I always call the airline to book the flight and add my cat. I have found this to be the easiest and it allows me to ensure that we will have a spot on that flight. Several airlines allow you to add your pet ticket onto your ticket as part of “extras”.

Talk to your vet

Next, you want to talk to your cat’s vet to ensure that your cat will be healthy and safe for travel. Your vet will be your primary resource for information in these times. Once your cat gets the all-clear then you want to book the flight.

Once you are all confirmed you will want to head over to the USDA website to ensure you have all the necessary paperwork to fly. Some states may require rabies vaccine certification when checking into your flight. It is recommended that you keep a copy of that certificate with you at all times while traveling.

You will see on the airline websites that not all airlines will ask to see the certificate. But some airports require it, I strongly recommend checking the USDA website before heading to the airport.

Supplies needed to travel with a cat on a plane

The best cat carrier for flying:

Sherpa Deluxe → we use a medium for our 7-pound cat. It has ample space for him to move around. I love the pocket in the back which allows me to keep his treats and leash. 

The best cat leash & harness for flying:

Soft Cat Harness & leash→ This is the second harness we bought for our cat. We like this one so much more that the first one because it is so secure. The Velcro and clip make sure he can’t wiggle out of it. He uses a small.

The best cleaning products for flying with your cat:

Burt Bees Wipes → These soft wipes are good for all sensitive cats. If your cat has an accident it can help quickly wipe down the carrier and your cat. 

The best calming products for flying with your cat:

Calming Treats → The first time we flew with our cat we tried a sedative the vet recommended. If you scroll down you’ll see what happened (🤦🏼‍♀️) but we switched to calming treats! So much better. Keeps him relaxed and he loves them. 

How to prepare a cat to travel?

There are a couple of things you can do to prepare your cat for travel. These are what I did:

1. Made him practice wearing his harness inside the house. The harness is KEY for going through TSA.
2. Made him comfortable in his carrier. Ensure that your carrier meets airline guidelines for the under-the-seat size
3. Talked to the vet about any sedation that may help
4. Let him explore and sit in the car (super important for car rides)
5. Talked him through what would be occurring (I think this helped me more than him)
6. Took his food 24 hours before traveling and his water 12 hours before traveling so that he wouldn’t need the bathroom. Again, check in with your vet about this!!

Step-by-Step Guide to getting a cat through the airport and onto a plane

Getting through TSA:

This was by far the thing I feared the most. My vet prescribed a Benadryl-type medication to sedate my cat so he would sleep the whole flight. We had a 45-minute drive to the airport, so we didn’t give it to him until we were curbside at departures. This was a FAIL. 

You had to use a syringe, hold open the cat’s mouth, and squirt it to the back of his throat. Well, he proceeded to immediately vomit it back up. I decided to cut my losses and move on to checking in at Southwest (the next time we flew with him we didn’t even bother with the sedation, and it was WAY better).

At check-in, they took my bags and looked briefly at the cat carrier to confirm it was small enough to be a carry-on. In my experience, they didn’t ask for any of his USDA travel paperwork. Since we were traveling inside the US, I wasn’t surprised. I’m sure they are much more diligent about international travel. They gave me a bright pink tag to attach to his carrier and we were ready for TSA.

The flight was at 6 am so the TSA was pretty empty. I let the few people that were there go before me, so I didn’t feel rushed. I put everything on the conveyor belt for the x-ray machine. Then I took the cat out of the carrier. This is why the harness and leash are SO important. He was wearing the harness already and I clipped the leash to it. 

I wrapped the leash around my hand and pulled him out. The carrier has to go through the x-ray machine. I walked through the metal detector with him in my arms. Afterward, the TSA agent had to swab my hands while I held him. 

I couldn’t put him back in his carrier until after the swab came clean. Well, this whole process thoroughly upset my already angry cat (re: the failed sedation attempt) so he peed ALL OVER ME. My next tip would be to pack extra clothes in your carry-on.

The Flight

Once we got through the TSA it was pretty easy. You board normally. You can tell the flight attendants that you have a pet, so they know. Then you put the carrier under the seat. I know people with dogs let their dogs out of their carriers but know that 1. that’s not allowed and 2. cats are far more skittish, and you run the risk of losing your pet. You may even be asked to deplane if you take your pet out of the carrier.

I put my feet on either side of the carrier so he could smell and sense my presence. And yes, when we landed (we had a layover) I took him to a family bathroom to wipe both of us down and to change clothes. 

My final recommendation is to put a piece of fabric, blanket, or whatever that smells like home in your pet’s carrier, so they aren’t as scared. And of course, don’t forget those treats!

How to go on a road trip with a cat?

Car rides are much easier than flying with a cat. You have a lot more space and can pack many more things. There are also more items needed for longer rides. 

Our cat doesn’t love car rides. Well, let me correct that, he hates car rides in his carrier. If he could ride freely then he’d be happier about it. However, our little furball is an energetic one so it would be dangerous to leave him out of his carrier. I know some people do it, but I do caution against it.

For us, car rides are about 45 minutes of screaming meows until he falls asleep with a meow every time a bump wakes him up again. It was an unpleasant experience. We did learn a couple of things to make it an easier trip for all involved.

1. Let your cat explore the car before you go on a ride.
2. Take short, fun rides with your cat in its carrier. Reward with lots of treats.
3. Always bring treats and toys your cat loves.
4. Sometimes your cat needs quiet alone time and doesn’t know how to get it. Keep a thin towel or blanket handy so that you can lightly drape it over part of the carrier to give your cat privacy.
5. PATIENCE PATIENCE PATIENCE

Talk to your vet

If you have concerns about traveling, talk to your vet. They will have tips and tricks that are specific to your cat. You also want to discuss any health concerns before traveling. 

Supplies needed to travel with a cat via car

The best cat carriers for a car ride:

Expandable carrier → for long car rides you will want to consider having space for your cat to go to the bathroom. An expandable carrier will give you that space. 

The best cat leash & harness for a car ride:

Soft Cat Harness & leash→ We like this one so much because it is so secure. The velcro and clip make sure he can’t wiggle out of it. He uses a small.

The best feeding accessories for driving with your cat:

Travel Bowl → I like this one because we can use the cover should he not finish his dinner. 

Water Dispenser → Our cat is picky about how his water is presented to him, he prefers that it “flows”. So this dispenser is perfect.

The best travel litter box for driving with your cat:

Collapsible Litter Box → This waterproof box is great for travel. It collapses entirely but it doesn’t hold the litter when it collapses. 

Zippable Litter Box →This circular “box” zips closed and allows you to travel with the litter. It is nylon and waterproof. 

Staying in a hotel with a cat

When traveling you have to find a place to stay. AirBnBs and VRBOs are probably the easiest because you can easily see their pet policy and you get the whole place to yourself. Hotels are also great options for staying a night!

How to find a cat-friendly hotel?

Booking.com: this website has a lot of hotel options. It even lets you filter by hotels that allow pets. Keep in mind a lot of hotels might have pet fees.

Bring Fido: Yes technically this is a dog website, but it can show you all the hotels that are pet friendly.

Checklist of supplies needed for a hotel stay

• Carrier available to your cat for privacy and comfort
• Litter box
• Litter
• Extra trash bags
• Food for each day of the stay
• Treats
• Your cat’s comfort items
• Calming treats

Special considerations for staying in a hotel with a cat

If your cat likes to hide under the bed as ours does, consider ensuring you get a hotel room that does not have under-bed space. We went to a Hilton with our cat and it was perfect.

Show your cat where you put the litter box in the hotel room. Give your cat time to explore the room. Consider where you will be tossing the litter when you check out. Ask the front desk staff or the housekeeping staff what the rules or policies are for the hotel.

Remember that your cat will not know the difference between your room and the hallway. If your cat likes to run out of the room be cautious when you open the hotel room door. Most hotels will require that someone stay in the room with your pet at all times.

Reward positive interactions with the hotel room with treats.

FAQs on how to travel with a cat:

How do you travel long distances with a cat?

Lots of patience and preparation. Always talk to your vet when you’re considering a trip. Plan ahead of time, especially if you need to purchase items to help with your trip. Additionally, look for comfort items for your cat. Ours has a favorite mouse toy and blanket piece.

How do cats go to the bathroom on road trips?

You will want to ensure your cat has access to a litter box. There are several different kinds of travel litter boxes. There are also many different-sized expandable carriers that allow you to keep the litter box close to the cat. 

Is it stressful for cats to travel?

Yes, it can be very stressful for cats to travel. If you have a younger cat it will be easier to ease and train to enjoy traveling. For older cats, the process can be more stressful, but with proper preparation, it can be enjoyable. 

If you determine traveling with a cat is not for you or your cat consider your options for when your cat stays home.

Should I have pet insurance?

Definitely! We use Lemonade for our pet insurance. It helps reduce some of the costs, especially for emergency vet visits. 

Final Thoughts & Tips on how to travel with a cat

Remember travel can be traumatic and hard for your pets. They don’t understand what’s happening and their whole world is changing. They are turning to you to keep them safe and to understand. If your cat is young it’ll much easier to get him or her get accustomed to traveling.

So, you want to think about your destination. How are you going to make them comfortable in their new home?

1. Make sure the carrier is the appropriate size for your cat. He/She should fit comfortably in the carrier.
2. Leave the carrier accessible to them before and after traveling to associate positive memories with it.
3. Figure out your cat’s favorite toys and treats to make the carrier more homey and safe.
4. When carrying the carrier try not to let it sway. They don’t like the feeling of an unsteady ground beneath them.
5. Set the carrier down on flat, sturdy surfaces as much as possible.
6. Travel with a change of clothes handy.
7. Remove access to food and water prior to travel.
   • If you’re going on a long ride (more than 8 hours) you will want to find a way to provide your pet with a litter box and food & water.
8. At your destination give your cat a tour of the place and immediately show them the litter box location.

Traveling can be fun, even for your cat! We have taken ours from Florida to Maine and Massachusetts to North Carolina by plane. We have also gone on many car rides throughout Maine and Massachusetts with him.

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