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Cats/Kittens on Airplane (sorry..)

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Expert: - 8/22/2009


Question
Hello my name is Annalyse,

I am currently visiting California and my aunt has been given the duty of taking care of three motherless kittens.  They are now around 2-3 weeks of age.  I was considering bringing one back to New Jersey with me, of course with feeding supplies, etc.  So, if I were able to feed the kitten and hold the kitten in a cage of some sort with me in coach seating, would that be alright? Of course I need to call the airlines to see.. But I refuse to leave kittens in the cargo section of a plane.  

Thank you, please get back to me as soon as you can Norm.

-Annalyse

Answer
Annalyse,

Most airlines, these days, let you take a cat on board as long as the carrier fits under the seat in front of you.  The airline will be happy to sell you a suitable carrier fro your kitten.  Given the age of the kittens, this kitten will not be cramped in an airline carrier. They usually charge some fee for having the cat on board. (Sometimes that fee has been more than my airline ticket!).

If the cat is traveling with you, it is a good idea to get a health certificate from the vet. Even though this is not required, the counter agents assume it is needed, and, unless you are willing to carry a copy of that airlines pet regulations with you, it is not worth the argument.  One thing you must not do is to get a rabies vaccination.  The kitten is altogether too young for a Rabies vaccine and your vet can note that on the health certificate.

Cats do well flying and do not have to be tranquilized.  Basically, they just curl up and go to sleep.

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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