Here’s everything you need to know about taking your cat on an airplane, from someone that’s been traveling with their cat for 3 years.
Step one: you'll want to get a carrier that your cat is comfortable with. Then, you'll want to set the carrier out for a few weeks before your trip so that they can get comfortable and won’t be alarmed.
Step two is to bring a tote filled with a collapsible litter box, large pee pads, a water holder, hydrating treats, plenty of wipes, Ziplock bags, and any medication — but we'll talk more about this later on. It’s important that you remove their food hours before the flight and that they go to the bathroom before you leave, as a precaution.
When you get to the airport, you must check in with the desk to get a special in-cabin pet tag, which you need to book ahead of time, and it costs around $125. Then, at security, you have two options: you can request a private screening room, or you can carry your cat through the detector.
After security, you'll want to find a family bathroom — this gives your cat a chance to stretch their legs, explore, and go to the bathroom.
Now, let's talk medication. You'll want to medicate your cat the night before, and then a few hours before your flight. The vet gave me an anxiety prescription pill called Gabapentin.
Once you're on the plane, I recommend covering their carrier with your sweatshirt or blanket. I also recommend picking an aisle seat because it’s much easier in case they get scared and go to the bathroom in their carrier — which happened to me.
