I see more people flying with their pets these days and I have to wonder who are these people and who are these pets, all my pets are chaos demons and if I put any of them on a plane they would chew straight through the fuselage in order to escape
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I'm moving across country with 2 cats and I'm pretty set on driving. My friend who is helping wants us to fly and im like, those people will kick us off the plane as they *literally* will caterwaul the whole time
My dog, Clover, has been flying since a puppy. She just sleeps in her carrier.
One time, a friend canceled on a trip to Europe last minute. So I took Clover instead. Someone onboard asked to hold her. She then spent most of the flight on other people’s laps. 😂
I didn’t go to countries with quarantine rules. But they did have strict rules about getting certain certifications from a Vet and having all of that paperwork handled before hand. She and the paperwork were checked over when we arrived in Amsterdam.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Australia actually, and I was considering moving there but the quarantine rules were pretty outrageous. And even the vets in the US were like “we don’t even want to deal with Australia”. One refused to bc they had such a bad experience. So it’s just too much.
Some folks just don’t know how to raise good critters….(mine would definitely take over the cockpit and aim for a coastal area to hijack a load of tuna and mackerel, too…)
It’s certainly not ideal, I had to do it a few times last year during a cross country move. I hated it, my cat hated it but he needed to be where I was.
I could imagine my dog 🐶, but my cat 🐈⬛ Maybe with some special “care”, and won’t be surprised if ended telling the pilot 👨🏽✈️ where to go, and faster.
Took my two on a 10hr ferry once. Big mistake. Heard them two floors below. Thought we’d successfully disowned and could grab some sarnies. Until Boom, over the tanoy, rudely loud, we were named and recalled.
We have a couple of cats who could do it, and a couple it would take a search party to find the minute the engines started... and then some I'm not sure about.
Visions of William Shatner staring out the window, transfixed at the sight of your cat clawing its way along the wing. Murderous intent for the engine fills its feline brain.
The wife and I have 3 rabbits (and 3 cats, 2 snakes) and if you think we have enough hands to hold all of them and stop them from committing multiple crimes you would be very incorrect and also possibly missing hands from aforementioned rabbits.
I was my last dogs service human. He would have made sure everyone in the surrounding area knew exactly why he needed a service human had I ever been insane enough to try to fly with him.
A) none of my pets are chill but B) and more importantly, I'd worry about people with pet allergies on the plane.
We'll list peanut content on the snacks, but people can just bring pets into a common space?
I moved from Thailand to Germany with my two cats in cargo (not me!). What choice did I have? Leaving my pets behind wasn't an option. Of course, we all survived.
Pets can be wherever they are allowed.
People can't take their boa constrictor or peacock or rooster or mini pony on board. Dogs are allowed under certain criteria.
As a person with severe cat allergies, THANK YOU for your consideration. You have no idea how scary the thought of being in a confined space with something that will make you really sick is.
I have flown cross country with one of my carryons being a cat carrier that fit under the seat in front of me. My legs were more than a bit cramped for the flight, but I was the only one inconvenienced.
My husband flew internationally with a cat today. We expected her to sing the song of her people and be very spicy. Yet she was actually really good. 🤷♀️
Me. Service dog. They lost my first dog in winter for 10 hours. Never going through that again. Luckily she was a Samoyed and probably loved being in some cold lock up for 8 hours… #dogmom
Yes, I started a few years ago with the Duolingo App, which I do every day- but also I search YouTube videos etc for opportunities to listen to native speakers.
Also the teacher in the classroom next to mine is from Spain and speaks Italian as well, so he converses with me for practice.
Omg!!! I love your dog!!! We were told she was an English cream retriever which was a TOTAL LIE. She has SUCH OBVIOUS double dewclaws which any rescue would know makes her Great Pyrenees. She 66% Pyr, 22% lab the rest mutt. She’s an amazing smart dog.
I want to fly with my Bombay (black panther looking cat) that has the loudest and variable vocal sounding panic call. How are people going to respond to me about that?
I completely understand, but in the case of people moving countries or across country, its safer for many animals than being in cargo unattended for long flights. We may be moving countries in the future and I have no idea how we could put our pets in cargo for a flight that long.
I had a cat who travelled with me. Normally a sweetheart, she became a dervish at the sight of the carrier. But at the airport, taken to the cabin crew, she became an angelic Disney princess. "Oo's not goin' in nasty hold? Oo's staying in the galley wid 'er Aunty Naomi?" Then I'd be shooed away...
My daughter is dealing with this question now. She flew once with her cat and almost got taken off the plane. Now she is ready for college move-out and the cat travel options are taking up a lot of my head space.
When we adopted Jasper, we didn’t just want a cat, we needed an employee. The kittens hiding in their cages did not receive consideration, but the void kitty screaming and tearing at the bars got the job. He’s a menace to all critters great and small, and that’s the point.
Um, you start by training your cat to be comfortable in their carrier. That's all folks. Then take them places besides the vet. Damn I even brought my turtle on vacation twice.
I flew with my dog decades ago and I didn't pretend it was emotional support. Small crate underneath the seat (smaller dog) - and only did it to move to places NOT - "Oh let me piss off everyone near me by bringing my untrained dog - pretending to be a service dog"
Saw a lady with her "service dog" at Denver International. Dog had a vest on and everything. It decided to go to the bathroom right in the middle of the terminal. And instead of cleaning up after her own dog, she made an airport employee do it.
In four years I need to move four pets (🤞) to Australia, and I already feel sick at the thought of putting them in the hold. Wish I could bring them all in the cabin with me.
Don’t do it!😬Look into alternative pet plane options ASAP!
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They have flights just for taking big dogs in crates in the cabin. The only people on board are a few attendants who look after them all.
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They also have flights that are just people w/their big dogs (leashed, but no crates) in the cabin.
and no, though she met a tricolor mini aussie at the dog park who could have been her twin, mine is definitely a mutt. she came from a busted back yard breeder who was breeded everything with everything. my vet says mini dachshund x chihuahua, but she could be anything.
These pets are so much more than pets. My girl would have a stroke, god forbid, if I took her on a plane. I’m so fortunate to have my daughter and a pet sitter we trust when we’re together.
Several years ago, we flew with our Jack Russell and 2 cats, from NJ to San Francisco. Our pets were in the cargo hold. I was crying (I hate to fly , let alone our pets!) when the pilot walked down the isle prior to taking off. He said he flew his dog all the time! We ALL made it!!💙
One of mine attempted that when I moved back from overseas.
Flight attendants had to help me duct tape the zippers shut.
Blessings on flight attendants and duct tape.
I'm imagining all of the chaos. Haha. I have to zip tie the zippers when I put her in a soft kennel to go to the vet. She's too smart. She turns on water taps to drink, ffs.
I spend a lot of time in our airport and see many pets. Mostly dogs, but the occasional kitty who usually seems scared. Easier with dogs. But as you noticed … usually very chill. Never seem to bark or disrupt. My assumption that they acclimate them early in life.
Some people I know do give their pets sedatives to keep them calm on flights. I’m not a pet owner but doubt I would take mine on an airplane. Too scary for animals.
Same but also at restaurants and grocery stores. I'm fairly certain it's not all legit support animals...I'm just sketchy about a dog trying to hump my leg among the produce tables (true story).
I’ve seen videos where a guy just carries his cats thru the airport and they are perfect on the plane. My cats would tear my face apart and all be MIA in the terminal.
Bruce would let his incessant Bengal yowl express his constant displeasure with his circumstances. After a few minutes of hearing that distinctive Bengal yowl, all the passengers and crew would cheerfully opt to bail into the quiet atmosphere at 30,000 ft. and leave Bruce and me with said airplane.
I have 3 black cats. A bro and sis, and another black furry one. My boy, Meg ( we thought he was a girl til we took him to be fixed) when he gets outside and I try to get him back in he will try to kill me and chase me back in the house cuz I’m competition in his “territory.”
I wonder the same thing when I go into one of those bookstores or antique stores that has a cat or three roaming around or asleep in the shop window. Dude, my cat would have torn those books to shreds and puked on half of those rugs before lunch.
I've lived with 20 or so cats and hundreds of books over the course of my life, and I think the worst thing that ever happened was a little "vampire bite" appearing in the corner of a paperback. Not sure if it was one of John's though.
😂 I hear you. Mine would be begging food from everyone and be everywhere where she would think the "action" is. Also, forget the personal space everything you got needs to be checked and also if she would want to sit your seat.. better give in. It would be just easier.
Seriously?!
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I’ve had dogs & cats all of my life, & none of them have ever been destructive!
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I mean, they’d murder a bully stick or a pig ear or something… but they’d never chew anything they weren’t supposed to!
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Do you not train them or anything?
They were just pups…left home alone and uncrated, that was on us and they weren’t left alone uncrated again until they were around two. Lesson learned!
Bit of both, I got him when he was a year old, but his former owner had taken him outside in a harness once or twice before. I started clicker training him when he was two. It's never too late ift you're motivated and make if fun for the cat as well imo. 🙂
Used to do school years 8-10, am now doing 11-13 as of this year, so my days now are easy peasy compared to last year 😊 but yeah, you're essentially correct 😅
I modified a dog coat. Norway gets too cold for cats in winter, but sometimes you just have to take them to the vet or similar even if it's freezing. So he needed a coat 🤷 I would never dress him otherwise.
😂😂Aww, bless ❤️ it won't happen the first time one tries. But I have yet to meet an untrainable cat (grew up in a cat breeding household and have fostered many rescue cats myself). Patience, the right kind of motivation and lots and lots of treats helps. 😊 She's beautiful, btw. 😊
Seconded! Inside training first, then find a motivating spot for a cat (go for patches of weeds and long grass rather than the park, give them something fun for their senses) and be ready to just stand around for the longest time. Not like walking a dog, but that can come with time.
We use a long leash (of the thin neon variety) that you use with dogs, it's good in a city with traffic where you might actually need the cat to stop when you want it to (glides neatly, can be stepped on for safety). But yeah, agree in principle 🙂
I can’t eat peanuts in a plane when another flyer has a peanut allergy, which is reasonable to me. But when I get seated near a dog or cat, which I’m allergic to, then it’s my job to find someone to switch with.
As someone with a nut allergy, I’ve always been aware of how serious allergic reactions can be on flights. But something I often think about is how tough it must be for people with animal allergies, especially on planes where there’s no easy escape from dander. You should have the same protections.
I wonder the same thing. My Dutch Shepherd would bounce off the ceiling and walls attempting to “save” everyone, and my Labradorian (105 #) would sit on and beg from any nearby human. It wouldn’t be pretty.
At my work we have signs that indicate that only service animals are permitted inside, yet we have people bring their non-service dogs in all the time. And lie about it.
It's a shame because their narcissism makes it more difficult for those who have service animals for legitimate reasons.
I have only heard of that once when it was an international flight LAST WEEK! That woman was arrested! She had papers but not good enough for that fucked up country. I would take my beloved dog home and sue the goddamned airline.
Mine would probably love it, one would be all over everyone because she loves pets from people, the other would be hiding in my lap...lol I have 2 greyhounds (small, but still just over 50lbs)To that end, The service animal is me, so I'd have to drive them anywhere for their comfort.
For a greyhound thats full grown 50 pounds is considered pretty small. I got them both at 2y.o. Ivy came to me at 45 pounds, gigi came to me at 46. But they will eat you out of house and home if allowed...lol My bridge girl was average sized at 73# and some boys can get just over 100#.
Let me tell you about Porter, who I refer to as “tiny”, and is now 85lbs. But in fairness, she was a tiny puppy, especially next to her big sister Aschen (left in photo, 105lbs)
Yeah, I see the photos of a cat curled up on the seat and I'm like, one of mine would be hiding behind the toilet and the other would be knocking luggage out of the overhead compartments.
I think that a lot of people actually sedate their pets, to do this, actually... Am I mistaken? 😧 Catnip usually mellows cats, for example? (Are there anxiety meds for animals? Or am I just bonkers?)
There are anxiety meds for animals.
I used them for my pets when needed.
Be careful with cats though bc some anxiety meds (not all) can contribute to kidney disease
I find catnip actually stimulates cats and makes them playful or creates zoomies so I wouldn’t use that.
Funky! I keep seeing YouTube video of "cats on catnip" where they're super zoned out to the point of drooling, unable to stand... Is that something else going on, or does catnip hit different cats differently?? 😳
One of my cats used to love going into the bathroom at night and sing. She just loved the acoustics. Luckily I had lovely neighbours. I tried catnip and she ramped it up thinking she had an orchestra accompanying her for hours. My other little one ran around the place like a race car driver
I will never fly with my pet because he is too big to be allowed in the cabin and I would not dream of letting him be cargo. I am kinda jealous of people for whom it is an option, though! Pic tax of large pet who would honestly probably be less problematic than many humans, though.
That is a concern I have about leaving the country; I cannot imagine Seamus doing well in the belly of the plane. Spike and Charlie are both small enough that I'd be able to bring them on a plane, but they would yowl entire time. I would have to sedate them. And then I would be worried about them.
Moving to Ireland in May, taking two big dogs and yes, they will be in cargo. Airlines will not let you drug your pets, but you can give them a doggy Xanax before flight. Try it out at home with them first to make sure they tolerate it well. There's always that weirdo it has the opposite effect on!
In most cases sedation is not allowed as it can cause respiratory issues that kill the dog. Some airlines such as Lufthansa and Air France do a great job. We also looked at the Queen Mary 2, but their kennels are booked up solid into 2026 with long wait lists.
Agreed!! I love seeing dogs on planes, but my Weimaraner would be barking like crazy and trying to jump out of his seat to make new friends non-stop. We’d totally be asked to get off the plane.
My dog has been flying with me for 8 years. Before him, I took my cat. He also goes everywhere with me including the dentist. He is trained like a service dog to be in all situations. The key word is training.
It's probably not surprising at all, but for some reason I'm always surprised and delighted when authors I follow are so good at evocative imagery and pity wordplay.
I mean that's like, y'all's literal *jobs*, but it feels like such a treat nonetheless.
This is gonna sound like an ad for https://TrustedHousesitters.com but do they not know about Trusted Housesitters? My wife and I have been sitting for a bunch of cool pets while their parents travel.
I used to have a Shihtzu who loved traveling and flying. She was apparently a nomad in another life. She made friends with everyone, and enriched my stay wherever we went.
The dear departed Xophie Tucker always flew with me. A dash of children’s Benadryl as prescribed by my vet and she had her usual lovely nap.
The one time I left her she escaped her sitters in search of me, was dognapped and only returned with a high reward after 1 month.
Some vets advise strongly against drugging, saying the drugs were not tested in low pressure conditions, and can be dangerous. Additionally, most airlines would not let you take a sleeping cat on the plane, the cat has to show signs of life.
My girl is ten years old and would actually fly with me as long as some part of her is touching me, so, yes, I would pay for an extra seat. She is the BEST old girl!!❤️🔥
I’m pretty sure you would only need to plump the cats lips to resemble a pig, produce a alt-right pro-FOTUS social media account suggesting a money theft scheme - FOTUS would send your very fine feline an invitation at tax payer expense. 🤣🤪
My last one was a pitbull shepherd who was drugged to his gills and just shrugged it off to bark insanely for hours. This one embodies calm. The difference is so weird.
My 10 lb Cairn Terrier would easily chew a seatmates arm off to get to the pretzels. My other terrier/escape artist would sneak open the carrier, roam around begging for treats and gain that recently dropped lb back. She's too cute to say 'no' to.
We took our cat on a road trip years ago. Thought it would be fun to have her at the AirBnB with us. I can't overemphasize what a terrible mistake that was. Years later, she's still complaining about the "kidnapping."
My cat always complains he doesn't have opposable thumbs, so can't answer the door or grab me a drink from the fridge. How the heck is yours writing text messages?! Is Hero gaslighting me??
Motels seem to have these headboard/foundation structures that narrowly allow entry under the bed to, say, a cat, but do not allow for human access when needed for, say, retrieval of a cat.
Not that many airlines will fly pets in cargo anymore. But the vast majority of us don't have $10,000+ a seat for a pet jet. I'm moving to Ireland in May and I refuse to leave my two dogs behind. So cargo it is.
I can only imagine my brother's dog on one. Big guy is sweet, but dumb as hell. Chances are he'd try to open the door so he could go out for walkies. -.-
You are assuming that the pets aren't the ones flying and bringing their humans along. Maybe they inherited a boatload of money from their childless owners.
Yes. I work in an office where three or four dogs routinely accompany their humans to work and sit quietly in baskets all day or chase each other in a half-hearted low-key fashion.
My cocker spaniel would have brought the company to its knees by lunchtime and wagged his tail at the smoking wreck.
I’m with you. My vet is less than 5 minutes away and you would think I was taking my cats to the gallows the way they yell and cry in the car. The guilt is real.
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One time, a friend canceled on a trip to Europe last minute. So I took Clover instead. Someone onboard asked to hold her. She then spent most of the flight on other people’s laps. 😂
She was a big hit across the pond.
It would be a horror movie.
Her name is Lucy, short for Lucifer. No one on that plane would have a moment’s peace.
We'll list peanut content on the snacks, but people can just bring pets into a common space?
You don't get any forewarning!
I'm rather terribly allergic to cats (breathing problems! closed airway!) and the fact that you cannot be guaranteed a pet-free flight is ludicrous.
I understand service animals, but that's not this.
I trained her dog to use the crate, to send him a month after they settled in.
I noticed during the check-in that the airline put the wrong destination on the crate, in another state, in another time zone.
People can't take their boa constrictor or peacock or rooster or mini pony on board. Dogs are allowed under certain criteria.
…just as there’s nothing wrong w/well-behaved vaccinated adults, adolescents, & kids being there!
I’ve traveled w/my cats & dogs many times, & the only issue is that everyone always wants to pet them!
So no, they can’t just bring pets lol
I have flown cross country with one of my carryons being a cat carrier that fit under the seat in front of me. My legs were more than a bit cramped for the flight, but I was the only one inconvenienced.
When buying my ticket, I was not restricted to "certain parts" of the main cabin.
TBF, I didn't check 1st Class, but I've seen pets there.
Our Trouble is a 1 1/2 year old Cairn.
Also the teacher in the classroom next to mine is from Spain and speaks Italian as well, so he converses with me for practice.
Just be sure to start training them to get used to it ahead of time! Like seriously… start immediately!
Also, saturate the carriers with Feliway spray & strong catnip/other cat-calming herbs!
I flew with my dog decades ago and I didn't pretend it was emotional support. Small crate underneath the seat (smaller dog) - and only did it to move to places NOT - "Oh let me piss off everyone near me by bringing my untrained dog - pretending to be a service dog"
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They have flights just for taking big dogs in crates in the cabin. The only people on board are a few attendants who look after them all.
🐾
They also have flights that are just people w/their big dogs (leashed, but no crates) in the cabin.
her brothers had curly hair!
One was so terrorized she broke her eye tooth trying to get out of her carrier.
I will NEVER do that to pets again.
#toocleveraussieshep
Flight attendants had to help me duct tape the zippers shut.
Blessings on flight attendants and duct tape.
…but once, I guess I didn’t pet my cats enough while typing…
…cuz they each made a big bite mark on the corner of my essay!
I didn’t have time to reprint it before school…🤦🏻♀️
…so I had to tell my prof that my cats literally tried to eat my homework!🙇🏻♀️
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I’ve had dogs & cats all of my life, & none of them have ever been destructive!
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I mean, they’d murder a bully stick or a pig ear or something… but they’d never chew anything they weren’t supposed to!
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Do you not train them or anything?
…but I’ve always found that you can train your dogs & cats very, very quickly…
…*IF* you give them constant intensive training when you first get them!
It means never leaving them alone during the whole training period…but definitely worth it!
B/c I would love to train my cat (4 yo) to a leash, but I've tried w/ other cats & they would have none of it.
CatManToo in Gold Coast, Australia, trains cats (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyCm59DXgQzgIddBPI00Bgg)
She wanted to go inside
It's a shame because their narcissism makes it more difficult for those who have service animals for legitimate reasons.
The most terrifying part is always taking the cat out of the carrier and holding them as you walk through the metal detector 😳
I'd never bring my cat on a plane, he'd be on the no-fly list before the plane even lands.
I used them for my pets when needed.
Be careful with cats though bc some anxiety meds (not all) can contribute to kidney disease
I find catnip actually stimulates cats and makes them playful or creates zoomies so I wouldn’t use that.
So, yeah while we’ll make it to the airport just fine… that’s where the terrorism would be in full force.
Yeah they say sedation can be bad in case there’s turbulence. They need to balance themselves. No dear belt in the crate.
Never used them myself but a podcaster I listen to has used a service to transport Pugs from USA to the UK and back.
I mean that's like, y'all's literal *jobs*, but it feels like such a treat nonetheless.
10/10 would recommend. Best day ever.
The one time I left her she escaped her sitters in search of me, was dognapped and only returned with a high reward after 1 month.
…without parachutes…
An airplane? LOL (but enormous)
I don't want hair in my lecture but how fun! lol
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Saw someone bring their dog to costco. Just because they sell dog food there doesn't mean its a dog engineered environment lolol
here is Trudy who likes to smile for the camera
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I love them more than anything but, yeah…thugs. 😂
It’s just like dogs in restaurants and stores. Why?
But I think that the experience means she'll never want to go into a crate again in her life. So now all her travel is by train, tram, car and ferry.
My cocker spaniel would have brought the company to its knees by lunchtime and wagged his tail at the smoking wreck.