Our Best Advice for Flying With Your Cat: Cat-in-the-Bag Can Play a Role

• Visit the vet before your flight to make sure your cat is up-to-date on vaccinations and healthy enough to fly.
• Try to book a flight with an airline that allows cats to fly in the cabin with you. It’ll help minimize the fear and anxiety that often comes with in-cargo flying.
• Cat-in-the-Bag’s Cozy Comfort Carrier is useful at the airport in some innovative ways. You have to have your cat in an approved airline carrier that closes them in completely on the plane…
• … But some frequent fliers who take their cats along have learned that the Cozy Comfort Carrier offers a soothing break while waiting to board!
• Make flying with a cat easier by arriving at the airport early for TSA screening and bringing essentials like food, water, and Acci-Don’ts liners. They can be used with our Cozy Comfort Carrier or with your cat’s airline-approved carrier.

Traveling with your cat in a car is hard enough. Traveling by plane? Forget it! Flying with a cat can panic cat parents who worry about everything from hectic flight schedules to security checkpoints. And that’s before the flight even begins.

Don’t let that sway you away from taking your cat on a plane. With the right research and preparation, flying can become a safe and viable option for you and your kitty. Start with these tips from Cat-in-the-Bag!

Visit Your Veterinarian Before Flying With a Cat

You should visit your vet before taking your cat on a plane. Many airlines require a health certificate that states that your cat is up-to-date on their vaccinations and is healthy enough to fly. This is also a great time to microchip your cat or make sure that the microchip information is updated if you haven’t already!

Check Your Airline’s Regulations

Before booking any flight, check each airline’s rules. Airlines may have their own guidelines for the ages and breeds of cats that can and cannot fly and whether flying with a cat in-cabin is allowed at all.

Be Smart About Pre-Flight Feeding

Avoid feeding your cat for 4 to 6 hours before taking them on a plane to prevent motion sickness. You can offer them water, but make sure it’s not too much so they don’t have too many in-flight accidents!

Try to Bring Your Kitty in the Cabin With You

The experts at the ASPCA and Cat-in-the-Bag recommend flying with a cat in the cabin with you, if possible. Flying in-cargo can be uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing, especially for already-anxious cats.

Get a Soft Cat Carrier for the Plane

Your carry-on cat is usually required to stay in an airline-approved carrier under the seat in front of you for the duration of the flight. That means you’ll want a soft cat carrier that allows them to comfortably sit, stand, lie down, and stretch! It’ll help to reduce stress during travel.
Airlines prefer the use of soft-sided carriers because they fit under the seat better than crates. You’d risk a hard crate being rejected if it’s too big.
You typically won’t be using your Cat-in-the-bag carrier in the cabin.

Use it at the Airport

While waiting to board though, give your cat a break from the closed carrier. Cat-in-the-Bag is soft, made of breathable cotton, and roomy enough for your kitty to lie down and stretch.

Put the bag on your cat before you leave your house. You can use it at the airport with or without your carrier for the plane. The comfort of the bag plus the relief of the heads-free design can be a welcome respite for your cat before you board!

Even a shy, nervous cat can feel better in our carrier if you just take them to a quiet area in the airport for a while. Cat-in-the-Bag’s Cozy Comfort Carrier can make the wait easier! It’s designed to make traveling more comfortable for your cat and more convenient for you. What makes it so travel-friendly?

• It’s Roomy! – Your traveling kitty will have plenty of room to stretch.
• It Has a Heads-Free Design – The confinement of crates can be scary for some cats.
• It’s Durable – Our carrier is made from tightly woven cotton that resists scratches and tears.
• It’s Breathable – 100% cotton provides breathability.
• Easy to Carry and Store – Its shoulder strap makes navigating airport crowds a bit easier. And when you’ve reached your destination, it easily folds and stores away!

Prepare for Screening

Be aware that you need to avoid your cat escaping at the TSA checkpoint.

TSA will not allow your cat to remain in a carrier through screening because of a rule that animals be taken out of their carriers. The empty carriers then go through X-ray on the conveyor belt while your cat is screened with you.

TSA officers can use their own discretion. Because our Cozy Comfort Carrier is not structured like a traditional carrier but is more like a soft restraint, they might allow you to keep your cat in the bag. You can always ask, but if they say no: you could prepare for that by keeping a harness and leash on your cat with or without our carrier, or you can ask for screening in a private room so your cat doesn’t get loose then lost in the airport.

Bring Your Essential Supplies

Flying with a cat requires a few essentials to help minimize their stress and ensure that they’re as comfortable as possible. Make sure to bring:

• A small food and water bowl
• Treats
• Blankets or toys for keeping your cat calm in their carrier on the plane
• Acci-Don’ts liners in case of accidents
• (Optional) Collapsible litter box

Remember: These are the items you’ll bring with you on the plane!

Stay Calm When Flying With a Cat

Cats pick up on our emotions, so remain calm and reassuring before, during, and after your flight. Now, this doesn’t mean that your kitty will be stress-free. Most cats will experience some level of stress during travel, it’s normal!

Use these tips to minimize the cat stress:

• Place a blanket or a worn piece of your clothing in their carrier to provide comfort with a familiar scent.
• Limit food intake to avoid stress-induced nausea.
• Give them plenty of exercise and playtime to tire them out and reduce restlessness.
• Speak softly to your kitty, but do NOT take them out of the carrier until you’ve reached a secure location.

Follow Our Advice for Taking Your Cat on a Plane

Flying with a cat IS possible with a little preparation. Plan ahead for your trip by checking airline requirements and grabbing a comfortable, airline-approved cat carrier for the plane. You can also minimize stress by booking a direct flight!

Need more travel tips? Our cat blog has everything you need to know about moving with a cat, car travels, and more.