Air Travel ... Cargo Cat Questions
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 4:24 am
Putt-Putt is going with me to San Diego from Philly in three weeks ... permanently.
7 hr flight + 2 hrs in cargo before flight plus an hour to pick up? ... ten hours.
He's going in cargo, American Airlines.
Domestic flight, domestic short hair cat.
He's big. 20 lbs. Never traveled before. Indoor cat. No claws. Neutered. He's 15-17. (rescued)
I got him a large carrier ... 50lb dog size ... to .
Here are my ideas to make him comfortable and safe. Please critique.
I have both a Sentry and Comfort Zone 'calm collar'. He won't wear it but I can put it in the cage.
Should I put in both? Should it/they be under a blanket or perhaps taped to the inside?
Do they wear out once I open them?
It's large enough to have boxes (tupperware?) for litter, little food, water (ice) which I will velcro to the bottom and cover in Press-N-Seal wrap and cut many slices into the top so he can stick his head in but perhaps if there's some bad handling or bumps the litter doesn't get out.
It'll have towels and blankets.
Biggest question ... how do I best acclimate him to the carrier for a ten hour flight.
My ideas are, and I could do these in order a few days at time:
• Leave the carrier top off and start feeding him in the carrier.
• Put the top on and feeding him in the carrier.
• Put half the carrier (top off) on my bed next to me when he's eating.
• Put half the carrier (top off) on my bed next to me when I'm sleeping and take away the three comfy things he likes to sleep on.
• Put the full carrier on my bed next to me – door open – when I'm sleeping, door open, and take away the three comfy things he likes to sleep on.
• Put the full carrier on my bed next to me, or just on the floor during the day – door closed – and let him be in it for an hour or two after he uses the box .. working up a hour each day? ..once a day? ... and then perhaps sleeping next to me for a full night with the full carrier, closed door? ... you get the idea ... lots of options here..
Thank you so much.
I know I'm thinking about this a lot but he's a timid cat and this is gonna be a real long day for him.
7 hr flight + 2 hrs in cargo before flight plus an hour to pick up? ... ten hours.
He's going in cargo, American Airlines.
Domestic flight, domestic short hair cat.
He's big. 20 lbs. Never traveled before. Indoor cat. No claws. Neutered. He's 15-17. (rescued)
I got him a large carrier ... 50lb dog size ... to .
Here are my ideas to make him comfortable and safe. Please critique.
I have both a Sentry and Comfort Zone 'calm collar'. He won't wear it but I can put it in the cage.
Should I put in both? Should it/they be under a blanket or perhaps taped to the inside?
Do they wear out once I open them?
It's large enough to have boxes (tupperware?) for litter, little food, water (ice) which I will velcro to the bottom and cover in Press-N-Seal wrap and cut many slices into the top so he can stick his head in but perhaps if there's some bad handling or bumps the litter doesn't get out.
It'll have towels and blankets.
Biggest question ... how do I best acclimate him to the carrier for a ten hour flight.
My ideas are, and I could do these in order a few days at time:
• Leave the carrier top off and start feeding him in the carrier.
• Put the top on and feeding him in the carrier.
• Put half the carrier (top off) on my bed next to me when he's eating.
• Put half the carrier (top off) on my bed next to me when I'm sleeping and take away the three comfy things he likes to sleep on.
• Put the full carrier on my bed next to me – door open – when I'm sleeping, door open, and take away the three comfy things he likes to sleep on.
• Put the full carrier on my bed next to me, or just on the floor during the day – door closed – and let him be in it for an hour or two after he uses the box .. working up a hour each day? ..once a day? ... and then perhaps sleeping next to me for a full night with the full carrier, closed door? ... you get the idea ... lots of options here..
Thank you so much.
I know I'm thinking about this a lot but he's a timid cat and this is gonna be a real long day for him.