I think my cats are probably going to die. ;(

[Anxious_Squirrel]

At the end of May we’re going to be moving from Hawaii back to the mainland. It’s going to be a 5 hour flight, plus a flight change in San Francisco. We have to take our two cats with us, but my parents won’t pay for them to ride on the airplane with us. And I’ve been jobless for a very long time, so have no power or control over their fates. So they’re going to be tossed into the back of the plane with the luggage, and probably perish.

It’s probably not a 100% chance of death, but there are just soooo many things that could go wrong, especially with a plane switch. Plus, they’re going to be terrified and all alone in their final moments.

Does anyone here think that maybe their chances of survival are a little bit higher than I’m fearing? I asked dad to try and choose an airline that keeps your pets in a safe room and only puts them on the plane after everyone else is on, but I doubt he will.

One thing that might have influenced his decision is that for some reason, hardly any airlines let you take animals in the cabin to-and-from-Hawaii. I don’t know why airlines have to be so cruel.

[Beckdawrek]

Oh. I don’t know. That sounds horrible. I wouldn’t do it. I would try to find a foster home for them. Or a no-kill shelter.
So sorry you having to go through this.

[Tim_R.Mortiss]

I don’t know what the odds are on survival of cats in the luggage hold, but I do know that those cats depend on you. You adopted them. They are your responsibility. You have to do everything you can to make sure they are okay. If that means re-homing them, or finding the money to take them into the main cabin, whatever it takes, it is your responsibility. You need to find a way. I don’t even like cats, and I wouldn’t put their lives at risk. You shouldn’t either.

[Anxious_Squirrel]

I say they’re my cats because I love them, but legally I don’t think they are since my parents are the ones who are financially responsible for them. I’m not really sure how that works, but even if I could somehow take both cats away somewhere safe, I think that would be stealing.

Mom says she’ll talk to dad about them again though about it, so maybe there’s still a chance. And when I was googling to see if pets ever survive the cargo hold one site said that the majority of the time they do. Although it’s still dangerous. But it’s not a 100% risk, at least.

Out of more than a half-million animals that flew by plane in 2016, there was an incident in about 1 out of every 10,000 trips. Even on United, which transported the second highest number of animals that year and had the second highest rate of incidents, about 2 out of every 10,000 animals had incidents. (Alaska Airlines transported 3,000 more animals, and Hawaiian Airlines had a higher incident rate, although the rate was skewed by the relatively low number of animals they transported.

)

site: What You Should Know About Flying With Pets in a Plane's Cargo Hold

[lingyi]

FWIW, I used to work of a air cargo company and saw dozens of animals in the warehouse waiting be put on the plane. They were always the last to be put in the cargo hold and there was a time limit that they could say in the warehouse and in the cargo hold of the plane, I think it was two hours max. If the flight is delayed, they’ll call and you have to pick up the animal.

According to the this site: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/plane-talk-traveling-animals

“Over two million pets and other live animals are transported by air every year in the United States. Federal and state governments impose restrictions on transporting live animals. In addition, each airline establishes its own company policy for the proper handling of the animals they transport. As a shipper or owner you also have a responsibility to take the necessary precautions to ensure the well being of the animal you ship.”

Cats are very resilient, they have nine lives and are very, very likely to survive the flight.

FYI, if you’re ever planning to return to Hawaii, it’s probably better not to bring them back with you as Hawaii is rabies free and generally requires cats and dogs to be kept in quarantine for 3-4 months. A new 5 day or less option has recently been passed, but the requirements are really lengthy and costly: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/files/2013/01/aqs-checklist-5DOL.pdf

[nelliebly]

If the cats are a snub-nosed breed, don’t put them in the cargo hold. Those breeds are prone to respiratory issues in flight. Some airlines won’t accept snub-nosed breeds for transport for that reason. Check the airline’s website for specific information.

The odds of the cats dying en route are tiny–less than .2%. Here’s a website that gives helpful information on getting pets ready for a trip in the cargo hold. For instance, if they know pets are in the cargo area, pilots can turn the temp up in there.

Will you be living with your parents when you get back to the states? Are they cat-friendly?

[lingyi]

Of course animal transport is safe. Those big national cat and dog shows aren’t just animals within driving distance. Some of them have to be flown over in the cargo hold.

[Anxious_Squirrel]

@lingyi, it’s nice to know that sometimes airlines do what they say they do.

One lady who flew United said she watched the airline do everything in the exact opposite of what they say they did, and her dog was severely injured, and almost died. But her cat was just severely dehydrated. I don’t know if United always lies about how they treat pets, or if that was just a bad day.

Is Your Pet Safe Flying In Cargo? | Condé Nast Traveler

I certainly hope we never have to move back. If I can manage to get disability like dad wants me to, I won’t have to keep living with them. Or if a miracle happens and I find a job that lets me support myself. But anyway. I do not want to ever move back here!

@nelliebly

If the cats are a snub-nosed breed, don’t put them in the cargo hold. Those breeds are prone to respiratory issues in flight. Some airlines won’t accept snub-nosed breeds for transport for that reason. Check the airline’s website for specific information.

The odds of the cats dying en route are tiny–less than .2%. Here’s a website that gives helpful information on getting pets ready for a trip in the cargo hold. For instance, if they know pets are in the cargo area, pilots can turn the temp up in there.

Will you be living with your parents when you get back to the states? Are they cat-friendly?

How do you tell if your cat is snub nosed? I think mine just have normal cat noses. I know one is a tortie, and I can’t remember what the vet called Smokey.

Yes, we’re all living together now, and they’re usually pretty nice to the cats. Patches likes mom the best.

[Spoons]

My cats have flown in the cargo hold. They came through just fine. A few tips from my own experience:

– They should visit a vet before the flight, just to make sure that they are healthy enough to fly, and get any vaccinations required by their destination.

– Make sure that the cats have a reservation. Airlines often have restrictions on how many animals they can carry in the cargo hold (say, only two pets per aircraft); you want to reserve a place for them as soon as you can. Do not just show up at the airport, and hope they have room. Deal directly with the airline for this; do not rely on Expedia and similar. Only the airline can confirm that your cats do indeed have a reservation on your flight.

– First thing you do when you get to the airport is to check the cats in, at your airline’s “Special Baggage” counter. They should be placed in the care of a human who will take them away on a cart and personally deliver them to the gate, so they do not have to go through conveyor belts and laser scans, like regular baggage.

– Label their carriers with their names, the time of their last food and water, and your contact information. That contact info should be your cellphone. If anything goes awry, the airline can contact you at the destination airport while you are waiting to pick them up from “Special Baggage” claim. Also, include your destination address, just in case.

A few tips our vet let us in on before their flight:

– No food 12 hours before flight time. It lessens the chance that they will throw up in their carriers.

– You can give them water up until flight time (or at least, until you leave for the airport).

– Put some familiar things in their carriers. These might include a blanket or towel that carries your smell. A familiar small toy helps too; they are unlikely to play with it, but it is a sense of something familiar, and will help calm them.

– Do not sedate them. Cats are most comfortable when they have their full faculties; airports and aircraft are very unfamiliar to cats (obviously), and if they feel impaired in what they’re going through, they’re not going to be happy.

Here’s my recounting of one time that I flew with my cats. They all arrived healthy and more-or-less happy:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14850641&postcount=110

[Anxious_Squirrel]

@Spoons

My cats have flown in the cargo hold. They came through just fine. A few tips from my own experience:

– They should visit a vet before the flight, just to make sure that they are healthy enough to fly, and get any vaccinations required by their destination.

– Make sure that the cats have a reservation. Airlines often have restrictions on how many animals they can carry in the cargo hold (say, only two pets per aircraft); you want to reserve a place for them as soon as you can. Do not just show up at the airport, and hope they have room. Deal directly with the airline for this; do not rely on Expedia and similar. Only the airline can confirm that your cats do indeed have a reservation on your flight.

– First thing you do when you get to the airport is to check the cats in, at your airline’s “Special Baggage” counter. They should be placed in the care of a human who will take them away on a cart and personally deliver them to the gate, so they do not have to go through conveyor belts and laser scans, like regular baggage.

– Label their carriers with their names, the time of their last food and water, and your contact information. That contact info should be your cellphone. If anything goes awry, the airline can contact you at the destination airport while you are waiting to pick them up from “Special Baggage” claim. Also, include your destination address, just in case.

A few tips our vet let us in on before their flight:

– No food 12 hours before flight time. It lessens the chance that they will throw up in their carriers.

– You can give them water up until flight time (or at least, until you leave for the airport).

– Put some familiar things in their carriers. These might include a blanket or towel that carries your smell. A familiar small toy helps too; they are unlikely to play with it, but it is a sense of something familiar, and will help calm them.

– Do not sedate them. Cats are most comfortable when they have their full faculties; airports and aircraft are very unfamiliar to cats (obviously), and if they feel impaired in what they’re going through, they’re not going to be happy.

Here’s my recounting of one time that I flew with my cats. They all arrived healthy and more-or-less happy:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14850641&postcount=110

Thanks for sharing your story. It’s nice your cats didn’t have to switch planes. I’m glad everything went well.

There are so many horror stories out there. You just never know. But it’s good to know that not all stories end tragically. And yes, a certificate from a vet is required over here, so we’ll get that done.

[Jonathan_Chance]

I’m sympathetic, TheMysteryWriter. I am. But this appears to be one of those times where the dictum that ‘Humans are very bad at assessing risk’ comes into play.

According to this article from Smithsonian (data from Department of Transportation 2013), more than 2 million pets are flown as cargo per year. Of those, 97 died.

So that works out to 97/2,000,000 or 0.00485%. A vanishing rare event. It’s 1 in 20,618.

By contrast, the odds of having a child with Steven Hawking level IQ is 1 in 11,100.

Odds of an amateur golfer hitting a hold in one on a par three are 1 in 12,500.

I know it’s cold comfort. But getting yourself into a worrisome state won’t help you or the cats.

Good luck with the move. I hope you enjoy where you end up.

[DesertDog]

After an AI attempt failed we had a bitch shipped from Reno to Ann Arbor and back for a natural service. At the time – 25 years ago – there as only one service that would ship a dog as cargo rather than accompanied baggage, Delta Dash, and she made both trips okay, other than wanting to pee right now, when we let her out of the crate.

[Kovitlac]

@TheMysteryWriter

How do you tell if your cat is snub nosed? I think mine just have normal cat noses. I know one is a tortie, and I can’t remember what the vet called Smokey.

Tortie is just short for tortoiseshell, which refers to the cat’s coloring. Like calico or white or tuxedo. It has nothing to do with breed.

Think of a Persian. You know how their noses appear to be a bit squished back into their faces? That’s a snub nosed breed (dogs also have snub-nosed breeds, such as an English Bulldog). They are more prone to respiratory problems. If your cats have “normal” faces, where their snout is projected outward, they’re less prone to breathing problems.

[Marvin_the_Martian]

@Jonathan_Chance

I’m sympathetic, TheMysteryWriter. I am. But this appears to be one of those times where the dictum that ‘Humans are very bad at assessing risk’ comes into play.

Also ‘People with horror stories are far more likely to post them to the internet.’ Horror stories go viral; boring success stories don’t.

[Jasmine]

Airlines would not be allowed to transport animals in a manner that would “probably cause them to die”. They wouldn’t want to even try if they could because animal rights activists would crucify them in the media. Sure, there is a small inherent risk involved, so you will have to make a decision about what is more important, leaving your cats behind and never seeing them again or taking that small inherent risk.

[Anxious_Squirrel]

Thanks everyone for helping me calm down a little. I tried looking this up before on here and I only found posts on the “never fly them cargo cos they’ll die side.” I’m still trying to prepare myself for the worst cos I do not cope well at all with unpleasant surprises.

One thing with airlines is I do not trust them. They seem to have near godlike power, and I think they could kill every, or nearly every animal on board and it wouldn’t hurt them any. Airlines lose entire airplanes full of people, and people still book flights. United forcibly dragged a screaming man off their plane and it didn’t hurt them any. Animal rights activists have zero power. They do get angry and loud whenever an animal dies on a plane. Nothing happens after.

We’re all peasants and the airlines are the lords. But still, I don’t think they try and kill your pet. But they don’t care much either way because they don’t have to. They know people have to fly, and if they have a ticket sale peeps will flock to them no matter how much bad publicity they’ve had. At least this is how it seems to work, inside my brain. My brain isn’t always calibrated with reality. I’m not always a 100% sure what reality is, but this board helps a lot. I’m really glad it exists!

[kambuckta]

We have two kitties, and in November we transported them in 3 separate flights over 7 thousand km. They went in cargo in carriers, and were delivered to a boarding facility upon final landing.

When we eventually picked them up after 6 weeks they both gave us phenomenal stink-eyes, but were otherwise fine.

[Kovitlac]

@TheMysteryWriter

Thanks everyone for helping me calm down a little. I tried looking this up before on here and I only found posts on the “never fly them cargo cos they’ll die side.” I’m still trying to prepare myself for the worst cos I do not cope well at all with unpleasant surprises.

One thing with airlines is I do not trust them. They seem to have near godlike power, and I think they could kill every, or nearly every animal on board and it wouldn’t hurt them any. Airlines lose entire airplanes full of people, and people still book flights. United forcibly dragged a screaming man off their plane and it didn’t hurt them any. Animal rights activists have zero power. They do get angry and loud whenever an animal dies on a plane. Nothing happens after.

We’re all peasants and the airlines are the lords. But still, I don’t think they try and kill your pet. But they don’t care much either way because they don’t have to. They know people have to fly, and if they have a ticket sale peeps will flock to them no matter how much bad publicity they’ve had. At least this is how it seems to work, inside my brain. My brain isn’t always calibrated with reality. I’m not always a 100% sure what reality is, but this board helps a lot. I’m really glad it exists!

Well no wonder you freaked yourself out. You seem to have a lot of misgivings and hatred toward airlines in general (not perfect angels, but hardly the Devil incarnate, IMO). Hopefully you don’t have to fly for a very long time, after this trip.

[Anxious_Squirrel]

@kambuckta

We have two kitties, and in November we transported them in 3 separate flights over 7 thousand km. They went in cargo in carriers, and were delivered to a boarding facility upon final landing.

When we eventually picked them up after 6 weeks they both gave us phenomenal stink-eyes, but were otherwise fine.

Hurraaaays! I’m glad they were okay.

The more positive stories I hear the better. I hope we won’t have 3 flights! We did when we moved over though.

[Anxious_Squirrel]

@Kovitlac

Well no wonder you freaked yourself out. You seem to have a lot of misgivings and hatred toward airlines in general (not perfect angels, but hardly the Devil incarnate, IMO). Hopefully you don’t have to fly for a very long time, after this trip.

Thanks. I hope so too! The folks are flying off to my ex sister in law’s wedding a couple weeks after we move, but I said I was not going!