Flying With Your Cat. Airline Approved Cat Carriers And Common Regulations For Pet Transportation.

If you are traveling by plane and want or need to take your pet with you, there are a few rules and regulations that you, your cat and your carrier will have to meet, in order for your animal friend to be accepted in the flight.

The first thing you will have to do is to make early arrangements for your cat, by making contact with the reservations department of your airline; this is because only a limited number of animals are allowed in the cabin. This number may change depending on the airline, for example, American Airlines accepts up to seven animals in the cabin per flight.

Another important matter that you must check is that some airlines will not accept certain breeds of cats into their planes; for example, American Airlines does not accept Burmese, Persian, Himalayan or Exotic Shorthair cats. Other characteristics of your pet are studied for its acceptance in the plane: most airlines will require a health certificate for your pet, in order for it to be accepted in the flight, and the age of your cat must be between 8 to 10 weeks (depending on the airline) before it is allowed to travel by plane.

Your cat carrier will also have to comply with certain regulations, some general for every airline and some specific. The first thing that you must have in mind is the comfort of your friend; this is why the carrier must be big enough for the cat to be able to stretch, lay down, sit and stand up, and be overall comfortable, it must also have enough space for two different water and food bowls that must be securely attached and that can be refilled easily, without any possibility of your cat escaping; the carrier must have a small bag of food for a 24 hour period, in case there are delays.

The transporter also must have sufficient ventilation for your pet to have a comfortable journey; you should purchase a kennel with ventilation on two of the sides and the door to avoid problems. The kennel must be made of wood, metal, plastic, or another leak proof material. The weight allowed for the pet plus container must not exceed a limited quantity, which is around 8 kilograms if the pet travels in the cabin or 45 if the cat travels as checked baggage. The allowed size of the kennel may change between airlines; American Airlines permits 19" long x 13" wide x 9" high and other companies use similar magnitudes.

You can travel with more than one cat just one carrier, being the range of animals permitted between 2 or 3, but no more in a single kennel. Nevertheless, the cats must be comfortable and secure, so it is not so important if there are various cats in the carrier, as long as they travel in good conditions, and have enough food, water, space and ventilation for all of them. Another thing you must know is that no airline permits animals to leave the carrier during the flight.

Finally, on a closing note, always remember to call your airline to be sure that you are complying with all the rules and regulations, which may vary for each company. Remember that making the preparations for your feline friend"s travel in advance will help you avoid last time inconveniences and make your journey more comfortable, knowing that your friend is also traveling in the best way possible.