Travelling can make your home-loving felines uncomfortable. Some trips are unavoidable so it’s important to make the journey as safe and stress-free as possible for your cat.
Most cats are home lovers, so travelling anywhere else with them can make them stressed. When travelling with cats it’s important to know how you can make your feline friend feel comfortable. We’ve put together some cat travel tips to help everything run smoothly.
Cat car travel
Taking a road trip with your cat can seem like a fun bonding activity but it can trigger your cat’s anxiety for travelling. When travelling by car, remember to keep your cat inside a cat carrier so it’s less likely to run around and escape through open car doors or windows.
Make sure your carrier is strong, secure, easy to clean and large enough for your cat. You can buy a plastic, wire mesh or wicker basket. Don’t use a cardboard box as it will get flimsy and fall to bits if your cat urinates in it. Although it seems kind to get the biggest carrier available, some cats actually prefer to feel snug and too big a space could make them feel insecure. This will also free up space for your cargo!
Make sure to introduce the new carrier to your cat in advance so that it can familiarize itself with it. When your cat is familiar enough with its carrier, you’ll have no problem containing it when the trip starts. A good way to acclimatise your cat to a carrier is to leave it open on the floor. Soft bedding, yummy catnip treats and familiar scents will make it inviting and pleasant. Airline-type plastic carriers can be disassembled, inviting curious cats to jump in and explore.
When you’ve organized a cat carrier, you’ve already taken the first step towards a safe journey with your cat.
Flying with cats
It’s unlikely that you’ll take many plane journeys together. When you do have to travel by plane with your cat, whether it’s for a holiday or because you’re moving to a new house, it takes a lot of planning to be able to take a cat on a plane.
• The first thing you need to do is check with your local airline. Singapore Air accepts pets on board as checked baggage or as cargo but you need to get in touch with them in advance. Some aircrafts with narrow cargo holds will be unable to store your cat, so make sure to discuss this with your airline of your choice.
• Contact your airline two weeks in advance with all the necessary requirements in order: Type / breed / species, gender, name, age, color, weight of pet, weight of container, dimensions of container (length x breadth x height), import / export / transshipment permit numbers, if any
• Make sure that your cat carrier conforms to the IATA requirements. This means your carrier must be the right size (depending on the aircraft), well ventilated, properly secured, and contain food and water. If you want more information on the right carrier for air travel, please check with your airline.
• Export/import/transshipment permits or licenses from your departure/destination/transit country's relevant authorities
• Valid health and rabies vaccination certificates
• Any additional documents that may be required by your departure/destination/transit country's authorities
On the day of your departure, make sure that your pet is well fed, healthy and fit for travel. Check in two hours in advance, submit the completed Release & Indemnity Form and present original copies of your requirements at the check-in counters.
Taking your cat on a plane or travelling with cats in the car can be stressful, but the better you prepare and the more relaxed you are, the more comfortable your cat will be.
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