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 need to do is to make arrangements for your pet in advance, by calling the reservations department of your airline; this is because only a certain number of animals are permitted 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, while AirEuropa accepts a maximum of five animals per passenger, but does not specify the total number of pets permitted. You should always call your airline to know the specific regulations for the specific company.
Another factor that you must take into account is that some airlines will not accept some breeds of cats into their flights; American Airlines does not accept Burmese, Persian, Himalayan or Exotic Shorthair cats. Some other characteristics of your feline friend are considered for its acceptance in the flight: the cat must be a certain age before it can travel, AirEuropa requires a minimum age of 10 weeks, while American Airlines requires your pet to be at least 8 weeks old; some airlines will also require a health certificate for your pet, in order for it to be accepted in the cabin, or as checked baggage.
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 carrier also must have enough ventilation for your pet to have a comfortable flight; you should consider buying a carrier with ventilation on two sides and the door to avoid problems. The kennel must be constructed of wood, metal, plastic, or a similar leak proof material. The weight permitted for the sum of the pet and the container must not exceed a certain quantity, which is approximately of 8 kilograms if the pet travels in the cabin, or 45 kilograms for a pet traveling as checked baggage. The dimensions of the carrier may vary between airlines, American Airlines permits 19" long x 13" wide x 9" high, and other airlines use similar proportions.
You can transport more than one cat in a singular carrier, being the range of pets allowed between 2 or 3, but no more than this in a single kennel. However, the animals must be comfortable and safe, so it does not matter if there is more than one animal in the carrier, as long as they travel in good conditions, and have enough food and water for all of them. Another thing you must know is that no airline allows the pets to leave the carrier during the flight.
Finally, in 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.
Esteban Bernechea is a doctorate student of industrial risk analysis in Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña in Barcelona, Spain.
If you are looking for information about cat carriers, or airline approved cat carriers you can visit the following links.
If you are looking for information about cat carriers, or airline approved cat carriers you can visit the following links.
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