How to transport a cat in an airplane? This question worries all pet owners who plan to travel with them around the country or even go abroad. This is quite real, you probably saw animals at the airport in plastic booths or carrying boxes. But immediately get ready, this is a troublesome business.
Difficulties with transporting animals
The main problems with how to transport a cat on an airplane can arise if you travel abroad. Many countries fear that you may bring some kind of infection along with your animal, so they are reluctant to issue permits.
So, the rules for transporting a cat on an airplane mean that you receive a veterinary passport of an international standard, the cat will need to put a chip, remove worms, vaccinate against all necessary infectious diseases, get a certificate from your veterinarian confirming that your animal is healthy, prepare the beast for flight ( it’s stress for him). Upon arrival at the airport, exchange the certificate from the veterinarian for an international certificate and do not forget that the cat also needs to purchase a ticket.
Be prepared that it will take a lot of time, also be prepared for additional expenses. Especially if you travel to countries with strict veterinary requirements, such as the UK. In this case, you will approximately spend about six months and 15 thousand rubles.
Veterinary regulations
Going on a trip, find out how to transport a cat on a plane, in advance, carefully study the rules of the country in which you are heading. The fact is that Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union are considered to be areas of high risk of rabies, therefore, import of animals from Russia is completely prohibited in some states, and in others it will be necessary to quarantine them for about three months. Certain dog breeds are prohibited in certain countries. In addition, different countries require individual marks on specific vaccinations.
To know exactly how to transport a cat in an airplane, observing all the rules, it is best to study the rules of the state quarantine or veterinary service. And it is precisely the country in which you are heading. Do not doubt whether it is possible to transport the cat on the plane, the main thing is to comply with all the rules.
Requirements of different countries
For example, animals from Russia and the CIS countries can be imported into Australia only through so-called accredited countries. It is in this state that all vaccinations are to be done, examined by a doctor. When you arrive on this continent, the animal will have to be quarantined for 10 days.
In Israel, a month after vaccination against rabies, a special blood test is performed for the presence of antibodies, only after that they are allowed to fly. In India, they require that animals, in addition to standard vaccinations, be vaccinated against plague, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and parainfluenza virus.
How to fly?
Going on a flight, decide how to transport the cat on the plane. This can be done in the cabin or luggage compartment. Remember that with a cat you will be allowed into the cabin only if he is in the carrier and weighs no more than 8 kilograms. Throughout the flight, he will have to be in a container under the seat of a passenger flying in front of you, or on your lap. If you are flying to the UK, then the cat will have to travel in the luggage compartment anyway.
Please note that only a limited number of animals are allowed in the cabin of one aircraft. In addition, they should not conflict with each other, so dogs and cats will not be allowed into the cabin for one flight, even if they have one owner.
At the entrance to the salon you will be checked to ensure that the animal is calm, clean. One adult passenger is allowed to carry one animal. Moreover, up to two individuals are allowed to be planted in one container, but in this case their weight should still not exceed 8 kilograms.
Persian cat carriage
If you are trying to find out whether it is possible to transport a Persian breed cat on an airplane, then be very careful. These animals, as well as pugs, bulldogs, boxers and Pekingese, are at high risk. Due to the congenital anatomy, they all have an upturned nose, they are more difficult to tolerate pressure drops, and may even suffocate during the flight. Some airlines categorically refuse to transport them.
If your animal weighs more than 8 kilograms, it is allowed to carry it only in baggage. This is a sealed compartment that heats up just as well as the passenger compartment. Cages and carrying animals necessarily fix.
Visit to the veterinarian
Carriage of a cat on an airplane is a responsible matter, so it is better to start preparing for this in advance, in a few months. First you need to buy a veterinary passport (about 150 rubles), take a picture of your pet and paste a picture into it. You don’t need to go to the studio for this, any color printer will do. The passport is filled in by hand in English.
Then the animal needs to be chipped. It will cost about one and a half thousand rubles. A note on chipping is placed in the pet's passport, this is confirmed by a special certificate. Then your animal needs to undergo deworming, that is, to free itself from worms. What drug to give exactly to your pet, the veterinarian will advise, the cost is from 100 to 800 rubles. Be sure to specify how much time must pass to give the animal other vaccinations.
Vaccinations
It is believed that the most important is a rabies vaccine. It is made after chipping and deworming. It is better to use international vaccines. A rabies vaccine should be given no earlier than one year, and no less than a month before departure. This can be done for free, in most state veterinary clinics there are special days when animals are vaccinated for free against rabies.
Further vaccinations depend on the requirements of the country where you are going. Basically, cats are required to be vaccinated against parasites, calcevirosis, panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis. If you are going to the EU countries, then a month after the vaccination, rabies will be required to take a blood test for antibodies, this is necessary to make sure that the body has absorbed the vaccine. The cost of this procedure is decent - about five thousand rubles. After receiving the results, it will be possible to fly in three months.
Carrying
Be sure to buy a flight carrying container. A simple basket in this case will not work. If the cat flies in the luggage compartment, the container should be made of solid material, with an impermeable bottom, spacious and well ventilated. Focus on the fact that the animal could freely stand up to its full height and turn in a circle, then it will be comfortable. Such a carrying costs from one and a half thousand rubles.
If the animal fits the parameters for flight in the cabin, then you can limit yourself to a soft carry, which will cost about three times less. In this case, the container should be no higher than 20 centimeters so that it fits under the chair.
In advance, start accustoming the animal to carrying so that stress is not so strong. Inside you can put a treat and praise for your interest in the container.
Be sure to warn the country where you are heading that you are flying with a cat, if such a requirement is present. This can usually be done by email.
Paperwork
Be sure to get a certificate. This is a document that allows your cat to leave the country. It can be obtained at the state veterinary clinic. It should contain your data, as well as detailed information about the animal and the route of travel. Please note that the validity of this certificate is only five days, then you will have to receive a new one.
Further, written permission is required from the airline. To do this, send e-mail copies or photographs of all documents, and also tell us what your pet looks like, what its weight is with the container, do not forget to indicate the departure time and flight. It is advisable to reserve a place for the cat in advance, especially if you want to fly with him in the cabin.
Now you know whether it is possible to transport a cat on an airplane and what needs to be done for this.
Domestic Shipping Rules
The requirements for transporting the animal within the country are slightly less, but they are just as stringent. We will tell you how to transport a cat on an airplane across Russia so that you don’t have any problems.
Be sure to warn the carrier that you will fly with your pet. This must be done at least 36 hours before departure. At this point, you should have all the documents in your hands.
This is a veterinary passport, which we can get at any veterinary clinic. There they will do all the necessary vaccinations. There should also be a certificate of state standard No. 1, which will be issued at the veterinary control at the airport. If your cat is a thoroughbred, then a certificate of its breed will be required. In some cases, even mongrel cats have to receive a certificate. It depends on the rules of the particular airline whose services you decide to use.
Note that the validity of the veterinary passport is limited, it is not necessary to issue it a few months before the trip, it is better to do this in just a few days. Here's how to transport a cat in an airplane across Russia.