# Help! How do you ship cats? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 2, 2002, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088 "2002-08-02T21:55:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/1 "2002-08-02T21:55:22Z")
As many of you may recall, I had to get rid of my cats when GingerOfTheNorth moved here, as she is quite allergic. Well, I found someone to take them for the summer, but now I have to get them to their permanent home in Georgia. Has anyone ever shipped a cat and if so, how? Help needed, I have to get this finalized this week. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/2 "2002-08-02T22:04:55Z")
I used crates, marked “LIVE ANIMALS”, included food, water, and a nesting towel, and dropped them off at the airport terminal a couple of hours prior to their departure - and phoned the buyer to advise them where/when to pick them up. Contact an air transport carrier for exact instructions. Yes, it needs to be by air - cats do not due well in trucks (especially in the summer). Airliners have heated, pressurized compartments for just this reason. OR, MD to GA is a day’s drive - and there is (or used to be) some pretty landscape between the two. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/3 "2002-08-02T22:08:40Z")
p.s. don’t even THINK UPS or FEDEX - you will need to use a real, live, grown-up company for this. You might check with local breeders - they should have current info. Google “baltimore cat fanciers” ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/4 "2002-08-02T23:07:35Z")
Yeah airlines are the only way I’ve heard to do this. Short of driving them there yourself. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/5 "2002-08-02T23:53:48Z")
to keep kat from scaping, wrap it tight in construckshun plastic signed, jackelope’s dog ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/6 "2002-08-03T00:02:13Z")
[Here is how you ship a ship’s cat.](http://www.tbaytel.net/culpeper/shipscat.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![truthbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@truthbot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthbot)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/7 "2002-08-03T03:00:58Z")
If it’s available in your area, I recommend Delta Dash. Great rates, and many breeders I know use them for shipping cats. You will also have to get a Vet’s health cert before shipping as well. Be advised, though, they won’t ship animals if the temperature is too high. Contact your local airline and ask for specific details. Good luck and best wishes to your kitties and their new owners. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/8 "2002-08-03T03:17:32Z")
When I moved my cat Spot, I found little suction cup booties and stuck her to the window of the plane. Have since found this and could have just carried her: [http://dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/Humor/Cat-Carrier.html](http://dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/Humor/Cat-Carrier.html) ---
**Author:** ![coosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@coosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coosa)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/9 "2002-08-03T09:39:11Z")
Your best bet might be to contact someone like [Pet Air](http://www.flypets.com) and have them make the arrangements for you. It will be a little more expensive than doing it yourself, but it will be much, much easier. I haven’t shipped a cat since the new regulations were passed, but I understand that some airlines will not accept pets as cargo unless you are a ‘known shipper’, meaning that you have shipped with them before. This may not apply to something like Delta Dash, but I don’t really know. Using a pet transporter company like Pet Air avoid that problem. I believe that Pet Air will even pick your pets up from your house, and collect and deliver them at their destination, but I don’t know how much additional expense is involved. You can also check around for other pet transporters - there are also some that transport in trucks, vans, etc., that are climate controlled and such. Some airlines are no longer shipping pets, period. As someone else mentioned, heat restrictions are in effect right now - at least one airline (I can’t remember who) does not ship any live animals at all during the summer months. Others will accept them as long as temps don’t exceed a certain limit (usually 85 degrees F) at any scheduled stops along the way as well as at the final destination. Since you are shipping into Georgia, you should assume that this will mean a night flight, preferably arriving in GA in the wee morning hours, before temps start heating up again. Oh, and you will need to make your shipping reservation in advance - don’t just show up at the airport with the cats! You might consider using a service offered by Continental called Quickpak. You can get information about live animal shipping and the Quickpak service at the following link: [http://www.continental.com/dash/build\_dash.asp?service\_12](http://www.continental.com/dash/build_dash.asp?service_12) I think the rates are based on weight - I’m not sure what the current prices are, but assume at least $90 per cat. You will be required to have a health certificate for each cat from your veterinarian - he/she will have the approved forms. You may or may not be required to also provide a rabies tag and certificate - safest to go ahead and do so. At the airport you will have to fill out forms with your name, address, phone number, etc. as well as the same information for the recipient. Make sure you have all of this and that it is accurate, as they need to be able to contact both parties if something should come up (for example, if the recipient is not at the airport within a certain time after the animal’s arrival, the airline will attempt to contact them.) DO NOT sedate or tranquilize your cats before the trip - most airlines will not accept them if you do. It seems like it should be a terrifying, traumatic experience for a cat, but in all of the shipping I’ve done, I’ve never had a cat or kitten arrive at either end with any indication that they were traumatized or frightened. (_shrug_ Cats are weird.) Each cat will have to have its own airline-approved carrier - this means a hard plastic carrier with adequate ventilation, a metal door, metal fasteners joining the two halves together, and Live Animal stickers applied properly (usually one on the rear and one on the side). Don’t place the stickers on top, as the envelope containing the necessary paperwork and the shipping label are normally placed there. You can get approved carriers at Walmart for a decent price that include the Live Animal stickers and feed/water dishes. You may be required to remove the cats from the carrier at the airport so the carrier can be searched. Be prepared for this - you may want to have a collar or harness on each cat to hang on to prevent the escape of an unhappy cat. I take along lightweight noose- or choke-type leash that can be easily slipped over the cat’s head before removing it from the carrier - a cat may slip out of a collar or harness, but not the choke-type restraint (sounds brutal, doesn’t it? I hope you understand what I’m talking about!) Also, you just slip it back over their head when placing them back in the carrier and you don’t have to worry about any accidents involving a collar/harness while enroute. Carrier size: You may be tempted to provide a large, roomy carrier for each cat so they will be comfortable - DON’T. Use the smallest carrier that still allows your cat to stand up and turn around. A large carrier just provides room for your cat to be thrown around and possibly injured if the plane encounters turbulence. Also, your cat will feel more secure in a smaller “snug” space. Bedding: While you can use a piece of carpet, old towel, or something similar for bedding, this is what I recommend (based on years of experience): Fold a thick pad of newspaper to fit the bottom of the carrier, then use packaging tape all along the edges of the newspaper to attach it to the sides of the carrier (otherwise the cat will almost certainly pull it up and hide under it, which defeats the purpose of the bedding!). Then add a fairly large wad of shredded paper. If the cat urinates or has water spilled in the carrier it will soak through the newspaper pad to the bottom, leaving the top fairly dry for the comfort of your cat. The shredded paper serves two purposes: The cat can burrow into and “hide”, so he/she feels a little safer, and it will also provide something to cover feces with (and hopefully prevent the cat from _wearing_ said feces by the time it reaches its destination). Do not put anything in the carrier that is not necessary, like a favorite toy. Keep in mind that any loose article is a potential missile during a rough flight (even a soft toy could injure an eye), as well as a choking hazard. Food/water: I highly recommend that you not allow the cats to eat anything for the 4-6 hours prior to the flight and not place any food in the carrier dish. (Do still attach the food dish to the door, just leave it empty.) It won’t hurt your cats to go hungry for 12 hours or so, and an empty digestive tract means less chance that a cat will vomit or defecate during the flight. Let them have water, though - for some reason stressed cats seem to dehydrate very quickly. You do need to have food available in case there is some sort of delay and the airline needs to feed the cats. I usually put some dry food in a couple of small plastic bags and stuff them in the two little compartments on top of the carriers, tape the compartments shut, and write FOOD HERE on the lid of each compartment with a magic marker. Or, you can tape a properly-labeled bag of food to the inside wall of the carrier. I recommend using transparent bags - otherwise you may have to remove and open the bag so prove it is not contraband or a bomb. About water: More than likely any water in the little plastic dish will be spilled before the cat makes it onto the plane, either by the cat or just general handling of the carrier. A trick I learned from another cat breeder is to fill the plastic water dish about halfway and put it in the freezer the day before the flight. When you get ready to leave, hook the dish of frozen water to the door - the ice will thaw slowly over the next few hours, providing the cat with fresh water, and very little will be spilled, at least until it is completely thawed out. You can also try replacing the regulation water dish with a small hamster-type water bottle, firmly attached to the door. I’m not as fond of this idea because the nipple on the bottle could be dangerous if the cat gets bounced around (thinking of those eyes again). I hope this info helps, and your cats have a safe and comfy trip! ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/10 "2002-08-03T10:16:17Z")
**Weirddave** , you don’t REALLY want a serious answer to this question do you? Like, how do you ship cats??? Like, if you keep them in the refrigerated hold, it keeps 'em quiet and docile. REAL quiet and REAL docile…especially if it’s a looooong trip…like around the world and back again!! 😃 😛 It might prove to be a bit of a problem to wake them back up again however…😃 ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/11 "2002-08-03T10:16:47Z")
Here’s what I did when I flew my cat from Honolulu to here (long long flight): I punched two small holes on either side of a medium-sized plastic bowl, put a really thick hand towel inside of it, filled a smaller bowl half-way with water and put it on top of the towel, and wired the whole shebang to the carrier with small-gauge wire. The flight ended up being kinda bumpy (especially the commuter-prop from MSP to St. Cloud), but it worked like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![partly\_warmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@partly\_warmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partly_warmer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/12 "2002-08-03T14:21:44Z")
When my relative shipped me two cats by air (following all the “correct” procedures, using one of the “best” animal airlines), one was never the same again. The younger cat was permanently traumatized. It would have been kinder to kill it. As I understand this (from one experience, I’m no expert), cats are drugged lightly so they don’t die in transit. As a result, they experience every shock, tremor, and crash happening outside their cage for hours. Humans would call this torture. This really makes me angry. Imagine opening the cage of an animal who’s eyes are frozen wide open, with every muscle shaking uncontrollabley. Knock the cat so far out it can’t feel much of anything at all. If it dies, so be it. ---
**Author:** ![coosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@coosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coosa)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/13 "2002-08-03T19:11:11Z")
**chique** , that sounds like pretty good option, too. Another one that I just read at the Continental site suggested filling a small plastic bottle with water, freeze it, punch small holes in the sides, and put that in the water dish to slowly thaw and ooze water during the flight. **Weirddave** , scratch my suggestion about possibly taping a food supply inside the carrier - the Continental site says not to do it. I guess they don’t want to have to open the door and risk an escape if the cat needs to be fed. **partly\_warmer** , I know my previous post is very long so I don’t really expect you to have read all of it, but somewhere in there I specifically said DO NOT sedate or tranquilize the cat because the airline won’t accept them. I’ll also quote from the Continental site: > [@](#): > > Continental Airlines supports the recommendation of the American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA) not to accept animals that have been sedated. Continental will not knowingly accept a dog or cat that has been sedated and accepts no liability for the death or sickness of an animal caused by any drug. The sedative may have actually _caused_ the traumatized reaction in the cat you are talking about. One reason for the ‘no sedatives’ rule is that animals, cats especially, are prone to having unusual reactions to drugs. From the [Air Transportation Association](http://www.air-transport.org/public/publications/display1.asp?nid=926): > [@](#): > > Use of Tranquilizers. Sedation is not advised since the effects of tranquilizers on animals at higher altitudes are unpredictable. The decision to prescribe a tranquilizer for your pet should be made by your veterinarian. If you believe some form of sedation might be helpful, be sure to obtain and follow a veterinarian’s advice. From the [Basenji rescue site](http://www.basenjirescue.org/brat_member_info/airtrans.htm): > [@](#): > > Tranquilizing animals is not a good idea as the medication can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems when the dog is at high altitudes. Sedatives can also prevent animals from adapting to adverse conditions - panting, for example, in excessive heat - and it can impair a pet’s sense of equilibrium, increasing the chance of injury. Veterinarians might occasionally recommend a light tranquilizer, but only for pets traveling in a cabin where owners can watch them. Also, [this](http://www.avma.org/care4pets/airtrav.htm) site provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association: > [@](#): > > “Although thousands of pets are transported uneventfully by air, airline officials believe that when deaths do occur they often result from the use of sedation.” And, last, but not least, from the [Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association](http://www.ipata.com/questions.htm#tranquilize%20my%20cats): > [@](#): > > According to American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), air transport of sedated pets may be fatal. Oversedation is the most frequent cause of animal deaths during airline transport and accounts for almost half of all deaths. . . . Although animals may be excitable while being handled during the trip to the airport and prior to loading, they probably revert to a quiescent resting state in the dark, closed cargo hold, and the sedatives may have an excessive effect. . . .Animal can respond very differently to sedatives/tranquilizers under normal circumstances. Cats for instance, occasionally become more excited following the administration of “sedating” drugs. > > A tested and safe method for calming a pet is to transport the animal in a familiar crate or container, and without the use of sedating drugs. Once placed into the cargo environment, which is darkened after the door is shut, most animals will naturally relax and many will sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/14 "2002-08-03T19:37:27Z")
And only one kitty per cage. Put them together and one might take out the fear and frustration by tearing into the other. ---
**Author:** ![partly\_warmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@partly\_warmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partly_warmer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/15 "2002-08-03T20:12:48Z")
**coosa** , I’m a little surprised there are such restrictions on doping animals, since my sis (who did the shipping) is a doctor, and explained her rationale to me. She doped them as much as she (and the vet) thought safe. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to avoid permanent psychological damage to the younger cat. It’s a little hard to believe that ALL drugs have adverse reactions for pets, but I guess that’s the state of our medical knowledge. When I saw their cages my first reaction was to wonder why they couldn’t have been given something a little more noise-reducing. Sound baffles. I dunno. As I recall there was some “answer” for this too. It all still sounds to me like the animal’s comfort is low priority. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/16 "2002-08-04T06:45:33Z")
You’re not going to do this, but if it were my cats, I wouldn’t ship them in the cargo compartment at all. I would book a seat on an airline, get a cage that fits under the seat, and deliver the cat personally. I did this once, and the cat was not too happy about it, but (I think) was saved from being totally traumatized by the fact that I was right there, talking to her, comforting her. I can’t imagine the horror of a long flight in a cage in a cargo hold, for a creature unable to understand what is happening. I know breeders, etc., use this method all the time with success, but it still bugs me. The absolute best way of transport would be by car, I think. I’ve done this too - a few times - and it’s fairly painless. I kept the cats in open cat carriers (closed whenever the car door was opened) and they chose to hang out in the carriers, dozing. Piece of cake. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-you-ship-cats/122088/17 "2002-08-04T07:17:02Z")
How do you ship cats? Why, in a catainer, of course.