Air travel

Contact the airline well in advance to find out their rules for transporting cats. Sometimes cats can be taken into the cabin as hand luggage provided they are in a suitable container that will fit under a seat. However, more often they have to travel in the aircraft hold because of the risk of escape and of people with allergies to cats having serious health problems in the confined space of an aircraft cabin. Make sure you arrive early for the flight as cargo is usually loaded first. The travelling box should be marked as containing a live animal with your contact details clearly displayed on the side. Tape another piece of paper with these details to the inside of the box for extra safety. If your cat is going abroad contact your vet well before travelling to find out what vaccinations and health certificates it will need. It may take several months to complete necessary vaccinations, tests and paperwork before your cat is allowed to travel.