Flying Cats. Help?

[Gypsy]

I'm avoiding wedding planning, setting planning and just about everything other than my new job and our impending cross country move right now. Between the hours I'm working, my commute, family demands, apartment shopping, calling movers for qoutes, figuring out the best way to get three cats from NJ to CA with the least amount of stress... I'm tapped out. FI is studying for his CA real estate liscence, working, packing up our house, and interviewing tenants... so he's tapped out too.

SO I thought I'd ask for PS assistance as I am feeling seriously overwelmed. Any ideas on how to get 3 cats from NJ to CA all together, affordably (400 dollars for all three cats is the limit), with minimum stress? Just the thought is giving me a tension headache.


ETA: When I say minimum stress.. I'm referring to stress on the cats.

 

[sumbride]

Well, it''s not going to be easy, but you knew that.

I think you should go to the vet for some sedating medication. For the cats. and maybe you too?

Then, the easiest would be a direct flight, with them in the cabin of the plane. I think they limit the number of cats per plane though due to allergies, and I think I read once you can''t take more than one cat per person anyway, so you may have to get somebody else to help you out.

Driving is a possibility but, as you already know, that''s a LONG trip. You''d also need to find pet-friendly hotels along the way.

 

[Gypsy]

Weeelll... I contacted United. 356 bucks for all three. But I can only book 10 days in advance of the flight. But there is a flight that that will get them from Newark to SFO direct. ETA: they'd be flying as cargo... not in cabin. In cabin requires one person per cat and that's not something we can manage.


Has anyone done this?

 

[sumbride]

If you fly them as cargo, I''d be concerned about the weather. That may be why they have the 10-day booking rule. I know the cargo cabin is somewhat climate-controlled but if they''re sitting on the runway waiting to be loaded they could be too cold. It wouldn''t really be an issue on the SFO end, but it''s getting really cold in the NE early this year.

So it is one person per cat for the cabin? Ugh. Maybe you could try Craigslist to see if anybody is flying out already that could help you out? Of course, you probably wouldn''t want to let strangers transport your babies! I completely understand.

Hopefully someone has done this and can help you out!

 

[sumbride]

I just did some research and there seem to be several companies willing to do it for $$$$, of course. Makes the United fee look downright reasonable!

One of them did say NOT to sedate your cats during air travel. I''ve always heard it was ok, but they say not to.

 

[widget]

Hmm...this might be totally off, but are they all good friends? If so, I''d be tempted to get a larger carrier and put all three together. Maybe it would be less traumatizing, and they could keep each other warm.

Oh, dear...now I''m going to stress out worrying about them!

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[FireGoddess]

Eesh. Widget''s idea seems like a good one. It freaks me out to have pets travel in the cargo hold. Though I''ve never flown my pets anywhere.

I drove my cat from TX to CA, so...half the distance yours need to go. She meowed for the first 500 miles

and wasn''t ecstatic about the trip, but it worked out okay.

 

[sumbride]

Date: 11/3/2006 1:50:32 PM
Author: FireGoddess
Eesh. Widget's idea seems like a good one. It freaks me out to have pets travel in the cargo hold. Though I've never flown my pets anywhere.

I drove my cat from TX to CA, so...half the distance yours need to go. She meowed for the first 500 miles

and wasn't ecstatic about the trip, but it worked out okay.

Meowing for 500 miles? eesh at that! I think driving would be the best thing for all unless you can come up with 3 people and money for their tickets.

I drove my cats from Silver Spring, MD, to Baltimore and they screamed the whole time. One of them actually pooped on my backseat. I told her to go before we left but she didn't listen. It was the most horrible smell ever and I couldn't roll down the windows lest she jump out. And it was only a 40 minute drive!

Maybe if you could put them all in one crate they would at least be together in cargo.

 

[widget]

Date: 11/3/2006 12:26:25 PM
Author: Gypsy
Weeelll... I contacted United. 356 bucks for all three. But I can only book 10 days in advance of the flight. But there is a flight that that will get them from Newark to SFO direct. ETA: they''d be flying as cargo... not in cabin. In cabin requires one person per cat and that''s not something we can manage.

Will you and your honey be traveling together? That would get two of them into the cabin, at least....

I wish there was a way to find a fellow passenger who you can beg (or pay) to take temporary ''custody'' of the third one...

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[darling]

Gypsy, I am worried about your cats too now. I have no experience with animal transportation, but I will be sending "good luck" vibes your way.

 

[ephemery1]

Hi Gypsy,

I''m wracking my brain trying to think of some options for you... what a pain for you guys and your kitties!

Here is a link to a cat forum discussion about flying on airplanes, kinda scary though: http://www.catforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=16228&highlight=cats+airplane+aeroplane

I also found a website about flying with cats: http://www.ramblincat.com/flying.html and a good suggestion if you DO decide to put your cats in cargo: http://www.ramblincat.com/cargo.html

I''ll see what else I can come up with... good luck!!

 

[Gypsy]

Widget... they are not legally allowed to be transported in one large carrier unless they are kittens and litter mates or nursing momma and babies. ...

Ephemery... my heart just stopped reading that. Okay. Cats aren''t going as cargo. No way.

FI and I will be returning together after Christmas. That''s two cats. Don''t know what to do about the third. I can''t imagine anyone wanting to take responsibility for taking a pet on board a plane WILLINGLY. I could leave the third behind for a month or two with FMIL. He would be a little freaked but as Noel is going to be with grandma (Noel is really grandma''s cat-- she''s just lived with us for a while) and Sheila will be staying the grandma (where she''s been since FI''s grandfater moved in with FMIL because the dog makes him feel safe when she''s at work) and Frodo loves Noel and Sheila it may not be that bad. BUT his favorite FAVORITE being in Duncan. And Duncan won''t be there. Sigh. What a mess.

 

[Gypsy]

Thank you for the good vibes Darling!

FG... yeah. 2000 miles with yowling Duncan and Frodo... and possibly Hally would be well... a nightmare. Yikes.

Sumbride honey.... thank you for all the help! I called one place and they qouted me $1100 PER CAT.

 

[AmantdeChat]

Oh I wish I had a solution for you. When are you planning on moving the kitties? I used to volunteer for an organization that did Siamese cat adoptions. I would take the cat to a meeting point and then hand them off to the next person in the "train" until they ended up with their new owners.
I don''t know if there is anything like that for just moving cats, but maybe worth a search. That is if you are willing to let your babies go that way!

I do know that the organization I volunteered for was amazing and the people were great!

I swear, if I lived in NJ I would go with you just so you would have the third person!

Good luck and let us know if there is anyway we can help more!

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 11/3/2006 1:59:14 PM
Author: sumbride

Date: 11/3/2006 1:50:32 PM
Author: FireGoddess
Eesh. Widget''s idea seems like a good one. It freaks me out to have pets travel in the cargo hold. Though I''ve never flown my pets anywhere.

I drove my cat from TX to CA, so...half the distance yours need to go. She meowed for the first 500 miles

and wasn''t ecstatic about the trip, but it worked out okay.

Meowing for 500 miles? eesh at that! I think driving would be the best thing for all unless you can come up with 3 people and money for their tickets.
.

I would definitely do it again in a heartbeat rather than flying the kitty in cargo, though I''d tranq the kitty next time.

I know she was worried but not nearly as much since I was right next to her.

 

[firebirdgold]

I''ve driven a cat from LA to Seattle (a two day trip) without much trouble. And I''ve taken a cats on 14 hour drives many many times. Mine yowls for about an hour but lots of cold fresh air and some classical music helps calm him down.
I''ve never put a pet in the cargo hold, but it''s not that long of a flight and they should be ok.

 

[Gypsy]

I don't know what the solution is. I really don't. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I want to move them after Christmas. So around December 29th. Anyone going to the west coast for New Years??? lol.

 

[Mara]

lots of breeders ship puppies and kittens to new owners on planes. in a crate. it''s not fun for the animal but sometimes you just have to do it. if i had not been able to find a westie locally i was going to get one in another state and have the pup shipped. anyway, good luck gyp!! but know that this is not unheard of...pets are shipped on planes all the time.

 

[diane5006]

Hi...just some thoughts...I did some research when we moved 1000 miles

Be careful with cats/animals in the cabin of the plane...some airlines tell you one per person...but sometimes only allow one pet per flight...

If you can do it for under 400 for all three that is not too bad...cargo is not that bad...it is pressurized and climate controlled...even if they are on the tarmac waiting to be loaded it shouldn''t be for too long...and they should be fine...it is much harder to ''ship'' pets in the summer because if it is too hot at any airport on the route they won;t do it...hot is much worse than cold...

Watch out for crate requirements...make sure they are airline approved....etc...

We decided to drive them...we had to drive one care anyway...so 2 cats and 1 90lb dog 1000 miles/20hrs...the animals did really well for the cats we got a puppy training crate and took the divider and made it into a shelf...so they had 2 levels...I had a little cardboard tray the I put a bit of litter in and would put in the crate when we stopped...one cat held it for 20 hours inpressive...we were worried that they would meow the whole way...but they were soooo good...and the dog got the back of the minivan...

Good luck

 

[Cind11]

I wish I could offer some help. I would be totally freaked out about putting them in cargo, I''ve heard of too many not so great things happening. I would not let them leave my "hands". Wow, I hope you find a solution.

 

[Lynn B]

Friends of ours just moved cross country (CA to PA) and they brought their cat with them in the truck. They said he settled down quickly and was VERY good for the VERY LONG trip.

Is there no way they can go by car or truck?

ETA: They had NO trouble finding pet-friendly hotels, either, BTW!

 

[diane5006]

Oh another thought...

Perhaps you could call a local animal (dog or cat) breeder and ask them how they transport their animals

 

[Gypsy]

So... I tell FI after I talked with you all about him driving the cats cross country. He said no way.

So. I let the subject die for a couple of days.

Then yesterday I sent him a link to some websites and asked him to do research on the best airline to send the cats over on.

He does some reading on various things that have previously happened with airlines.

Today he tells me he''s driving them.

 

[widget]

Yay!!!!

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[firebirdgold]

I just had a thought. How many of us who have sucessfully driven long distances with out cats had them in a carrier? Unless I''m taking him to the kennel I never have my cat in a bag. And all the long trips I''ve done with cats, even multiple cats with a dog or two in the car, has been with them loose in the car. Granted it took a few times to convince my current cat that he couldn''t sit on my head or steer the car!

My cat calms down so much faster when he can sit in the driver''s lap.

How about the rest of you guys.

 

[sumbride]

I''m glad he came up with that idea... lol....

While I agree that a cat would be more comfortable outside of it''s carrier, it''s rather dangerous for the cat to be roaming the front seat. My cat once got down on the floorboards near the pedals and I was very nervous about it. In certain parts of the country, like DC, this would be considered "distracted driving" and is illegal. Plus there''s always the worry about accidents or stopping suddenly.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 11/8/2006 9:01:34 PM
Author: IndieJones

I just had a thought. How many of us who have sucessfully driven long distances with out cats had them in a carrier? Unless I''m taking him to the kennel I never have my cat in a bag. And all the long trips I''ve done with cats, even multiple cats with a dog or two in the car, has been with them loose in the car. Granted it took a few times to convince my current cat that he couldn''t sit on my head or steer the car!

My cat calms down so much faster when he can sit in the driver''s lap.

How about the rest of you guys.

Yeah we were discussing this.


And I have a correction to make. HE isn''t driving them out.

WE are. On 26th of December we are going to load the 3 cats up in our car and drive to CA.

It''s going to save us: $$ on shipping the car out. $ on shipping the cats out. $ on flying back to CA. Plus we get the peace of mind of knowing our cats are safe with us.

Overall. I''m pretty happy with the decision. Plus, I get to see America and spend some quality time with my love.

Now.

Logistically, how do we do this?

a) let them lose, fold down the back seats so they have access to the trunk and put litter box in trunk.
b) let them lose but keep harnessed leashes on them and do a).
c) buy one large crate that would fit in the backseat for all three of them and keep them in there.

 

[Kaleigh]

I think C is the best option. Having 3 cats loose in the car on a long trip is kind of scary. I think it''s the safest way to go. I''m so happy you are driving them.

 

[firebirdgold]

Hmmm. I think it depends on the cats, how they get along and their presonalities. I''d suggest getting a crate with a comfy, cozy bed in it and starting out with at least one and probably two of the cats in the crate and the third in someone''s lap. Then just wait and see how it goes. If they''re not used to being in the car having the flexability of a crate would probably be handy.

We''ve got three cats too, my mellow guy and his two somewhat twitchy girls. If it was us I''d leave my cat out so he could sit in my lap while I drove and have my fi hold the less skittish girl kitty while the third was in a crate.

Are they leash trained? I wouldn''t leave them on leashes while in the car, but it''d be handy when getting in and out of the car.
My kitties have never used the kitty litter in the car, but I always have one just in case.

 

[widget]

Hmmm three cats, loose in the car on a cross-country trip? Doesn''t sound like a great idea to me...

I suppose you could do some ''conditioning'' by taking them out on lots of short rides, and see how it goes..

I actually like Diane''s idea best: a large open meshed crate, fitted with ''roosting shelves''.

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