Is it humane to fly my senior cat on a very long international trip?

Stress can affect a senior cat's health, but it is possible to take Rainbow with you to college. A one hour flight will be much easier for her than a 12 hour car ride, and I'd recommend taking her that way. You can talk to your vet to see if they feel she may need any medications for the trip, but I personally flew my cats from the US to New Zealand when I moved here without medication and that was a 12 hour flight from Los Angeles to Auckland. Cats do handle flights well, and one hour is a short flight. I think that having her there with you will help with your transition to college, and she will like being with her owner. I would consider taking her with you.

I would not recommend such a journey in an older cat especially if her routine will be changed from a free ranging cat to an indoor cat as this would provide an ongoing environmental stress even after the journey. Contact local humane societies and shelters to see if they can help provide a foster home for her or inquire of your neighbours if anyone is willing to monitor her and take responsibility for her ongoing care and health needs as she gets older.

Hello, and thank you for your question. It is likely not possible to get a cat used to travelling if it is so infrequent. Travelling can be stressful for cats, so I would only advise it if you have no options for pet-sitters or pet boarding in your area. If you do end up taking your cat with you, you can try a feline pheromone spray called Feliway, which is designed to help minimize stress. You can start spraying it in your house a few days before your travel date, and spray it in the carrier. Leave the carrier out for a few days in advance, and try putting some treats and toys in it to get her exploring and getting comfortable with it. If you are flying, check the airline for requirements for pets. Some require a health certificate within 10 days of travel, and require up to date vaccinations. If you suspect your cat will be very stressed during the trip, consider taking him or her to the vet to discuss the use of temporary sedatives to make the trip easier for them. I hope this helps!

If Shakira stresses very easily, I think the best thing to do is have her seen by her vet before she goes on this trip, and discuss using medication to help ease her stress during it. The medication would be safest to use on a long car ride, not a flight. Make an appointment with her vet to discuss options. I hope this helps!

Most cats do best in familiar environments, and since you will be gone short term, it is probably better for Olivia to stay at home and have a sitter or neighbor come in when your husband can't be there. That way she isn't dealing with the stress of a new place in addition to being away from you. I highly recommend adding in some calming devices such as pheromone diffusers that can help her relax some while you are away. Leaving behind a shirt or blanket that smells like you that she can also snuggle may help as well. Some cats may also respond to voices via phone or voice chat, but it depends on the individual cat.

It's not cruel when done correctly. I would recommend working with your vet or a pet relocation service to find the best way to help your kitties adapt to being in a crate with a lot of noise for long periods of time. There will also be various health requirements you will need to meet to get an international health certificate, so it is best to start early.

Hello, thats certainly a long flight. Cats in general have the demeanor of being cautious about new environments, noises, and objects so it is not surprising he becomes very stressed under these conditions. You may speak to your veterinarian about having calming medication prescribed to Fuzz for the long journey. I would also check with your airline provider to ensure that cargo conditions are adequate for animals, temperatures can become very hot under there and may not be safe at all for pets. There are things like zylkene tablets and other sedatives your veterinarian may be able to provide you with. Make sure Fuzz has a good thorough physical exam during his health certification to ensure he is in good shape to travel a long journey. Best of luck and hope this helps.