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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ilene on June 19, 2004, at 20:24:38
I want to get underseat carriers and take them with me. The question is to tranquilize them or not. These guys are not quiet and they don't like being in a car. I can imagine how much howling they'll do in a plane.
I.
Posted by TofuEmmy on June 19, 2004, at 22:00:48
In reply to Anyone flown with a cat?, posted by Ilene on June 19, 2004, at 20:24:38
Posted by shadows721 on June 20, 2004, at 2:07:26
In reply to Anyone flown with a cat?, posted by Ilene on June 19, 2004, at 20:24:38
I personally have not, but I know that breeders to send their animals to buyers via the air. I would consult a vet and a breeder for advice.
Posted by spoc on June 20, 2004, at 6:44:29
In reply to Anyone flown with a cat?, posted by Ilene on June 19, 2004, at 20:24:38
> I want to get underseat carriers and take them with me. The question is to tranquilize them or not. These guys are not quiet and they don't like being in a car. I can imagine how much howling they'll do in a plane.
>
> I.<<<<<< I have flown with a Yorkshire terrier in a carrier (hey, that sounds catchy, maybe I should write a poem by that title). She was not even all that yappy normally for a toy dog. But even tranquilized at the average dose, whatever that was, whooooooa Nelly, was she vocal. And rules (which were enforced, which depending on the flight crew isn't always the case) prohibited me from taking her out to calm her once in flight. I did make sure to get the type of carrier that has a little flip-up grate on top, so I could at least get a hand in.
While the size of the respective animals is similar, I guess this still may not be very relevant, as the temperaments are usually different. But if my dog was typically somewhat quieter than most toy dogs and your cats are typically louder than most cats, it may meet in the middle to some extent.
I think I've heard that tranquilizing for cargo checking doesn't mix with the different air pressure in there, even more so with small animals. But for carry-on, I'm in favor of tranquilizing just in case, for the critter's own comfort as well as the peace on board. (Now if the safety conclusion has changed since I did my homework way back when, of course I'd instead err in favor of not tranquilizing. Bring enough ear plugs for everyone now! :)
Posted by spoc on June 20, 2004, at 6:45:54
In reply to Only on a broom....sorry. (nm), posted by TofuEmmy on June 19, 2004, at 22:00:48
Posted by Racer on June 20, 2004, at 11:31:22
In reply to Only on a broom....sorry. (nm), posted by TofuEmmy on June 19, 2004, at 22:00:48
Posted by ghost on June 20, 2004, at 12:51:27
In reply to Anyone flown with a cat?, posted by Ilene on June 19, 2004, at 20:24:38
i would treat them as carryon and then perhaps give them a dose of benadryl to make them drowsy. (we used to do the benadryl for my ansty dog.)
Posted by RumiSong on June 20, 2004, at 18:27:46
In reply to Anyone flown with a cat?, posted by Ilene on June 19, 2004, at 20:24:38
I've flown with my cat for almost ten years now. I've found that it's a lot less stressful to tranq her a half hour before the flight than it is to spend the whole flight worrying if she's gonna create a spectacle of herself.
Have you checked out the airline's policies on flying with pets yet? They all have rules and procedures you'll need to follow, especially with all the security issues now. God forbid they accuse you of smuggling a cat bomb onboard.
Most airlines will require a health certificate from the vet stating that your pets are healthy enough to fly and all caught up on their vaccinations. If you're taking them in the cabin with you, you'll need a soft carrier like a Sherpa bag. Also, the airline will charge you "excess baggage" fees each way, which you pay before you head for your gate -- I think American Airlines is up to $80 each way.
Once you get to the gate, things get a little tricky (especially if you have a Houdini kitty like mine). You will need to put your carry-ons through the metal detector, take the cats out of the carrier, put the carrier through the metal detector, carry the cats with you through the detector, then put the cats back into the carrier and scoop up your stuff.
Once you get to the gate, it's pretty much smooth sailing. Show your receipt for the kitty baggage along with your ticket, get on the plane, put the kitties at your feet and relax!
Yeah it can be a hassle, but it's so nice to have your babies with you on vacation. It's the only time I get to watch my California kitty catch snowflakes in her paws... aww...
Posted by spoc on June 20, 2004, at 18:35:30
In reply to Re: Anyone flown with a cat?, posted by RumiSong on June 20, 2004, at 18:27:46
Awwww shucks, I used to have at least one or two of every animal you can think of (well ok, not literally), and for the last few years I have had none. Your post sounded so adorable, I miss it more than ever! Maybe I'll have to stop making excuses about how busy I'm going to get soon and that it couldn't be the right time. :- )
Posted by ghost on June 21, 2004, at 9:15:29
In reply to Re: Anyone flown with a cat? » RumiSong, posted by spoc on June 20, 2004, at 18:35:30
Posted by partlycloudy on June 22, 2004, at 15:58:51
In reply to Anyone flown with a cat?, posted by Ilene on June 19, 2004, at 20:24:38
I took both kitties with me when I moved to the UK. They had to go as freight!! British Airways gave them their own kitty passports and let them have the run of their office until flight time. The vet cautioned against giving either of them a sedative, so it was horrifying to listen to them. You'd think their whiskers were being pulled out one by one.
Now that I think of it, we did give a cat of ours a quarter of a dramamine (sp?) for a long road trip. It sure made her sleepy! I would check with the vet since animals respond so differently to drugs than humans, and other animals (dogs vs. cats).
Once I dropped one of my kitties off the luggage cart while he was in the carrier. He bounced pretty good. No damage detected.
Posted by Catgirl on June 25, 2004, at 20:37:09
In reply to Anyone flown with a cat?, posted by Ilene on June 19, 2004, at 20:24:38
1. This might be a stupid question but if it's a long flight, what if they have to "use the litter box?"
2. For the person that took their cats to the UK, did you have to quarantine them?
Posted by partlycloudy on June 25, 2004, at 20:45:16
In reply to Re: Anyone flown with a cat?-2 questions, posted by Catgirl on June 25, 2004, at 20:37:09
They went in the litter box we brought to the airport, then crossed their legs for the flight. At the other end, they were met by the Department of Agriculture, who also brought a litter box.
The quarrantine was six months. They were kept together in a long cell, half undercover, half open to the sky. They had little beds and heat lamps. We'd visit 2 x a week and within the first 10 minutes of the humans being ecstasic, the cats woulf go back to sleep. It was mor traumatizing for the people than the kitties.
This is the end of the thread.
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