Posted on: 04 July, 2011
Author: Esteban Bernechea
In this article you will find some general rules and regulations for traveling with your cat, and the characteristics your carrier must have to be accepted. Keep in mind that making the arrangements for your pets travel in advance will help you avoid last time problems and make your journey more comfortable, knowing that your pet is also traveling in the best possible manner. When you have to make a long journey by plane, and want to take your pet with you, there are some rules and regulations that you, your feline friend and your carrier will have to meet, if for your pet is to be allowed to travel in the flight. The first thing you will have to do is to get in touch with the reservations division of the airline you are traveling with, to make early arrangements for your cat, as only a limited number of animals are allowed in the passengers cabin; this quantity may vary depending on the company, for example, American Airlines accepts only seven animals in the cabin per flight, so you will have to announce that you are traveling with your pet as soon as possible. Another important matter that you must check is that some airlines will not accept certain breeds of cats into their planes; for example, American Airlines does not accept Burmese, Persian, Himalayan or Exotic Shorthair cats. Other characteristics of your pet are studied for its acceptance in the plane: most airlines will require a health certificate for your pet, in order for it to be accepted in the flight, and the age of your cat must be between 8 to 10 weeks (depending on the airline) before it is allowed to travel by plane. Your cat carrier will also have to comply with certain regulations, some general for every airline and some specific. The first thing that you must have in mind is the comfort of your friend; this is why the carrier must be big enough for the cat to be able to stretch, lay down, sit and stand up, and be overall comfortable, it must also have enough space for two different water and food bowls that must be securely attached and that can be refilled easily, without any possibility of your cat escaping; the carrier must have a small bag of food for a 24 hour period, in case there are delays. The carrier also must have enough ventilation for your pet to have a comfortable flight; you should consider buying a carrier with ventilation on two sides and the door to avoid problems. The kennel must be constructed of wood, metal, plastic, or a similar leak proof material. The weight permitted for the sum of the pet and the container must not exceed a certain quantity, which is approximately of 8 kilograms if the pet travels in the cabin, or 45 kilograms for a pet traveling as checked baggage. The dimensions of the carrier may vary between airlines, American Airlines permits 19" long x 13" wide x 9" high, and other airlines use similar proportions. You can travel with more than one cat just one carrier, being the range of animals permitted between 2 or 3, but no more in a single kennel. Nevertheless, the cats must be comfortable and secure, so it is not so important if there are various cats in the carrier, as long as they travel in good conditions, and have enough food, water, space and ventilation for all of them. Another thing you must know is that no airline permits animals to leave the carrier during the flight. Finally, always remember to call the airline you will be traveling with to be sure that you are complying with all the rules and regulations, which may be different for each company. Keep in mind that making the arrangements for your pets travel in advance will help you avoid last time problems and make your journey more comfortable, knowing that your pet is also traveling in the best possible manner. Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com Esteban Bernechea is a doctorate student in Industrial Risk Analysis that lives in Barcelona, Spain. If you are looking for information on airline approved cat carriers, traveling with your pet, or cat carriers in general; or if you are looking to purchase a cat carrier online, you can check the following links: The Cat Carriers Airline Approved Cat Carriers