Flying with my elderly cat...

Question
I am set out to fly to Calgary (a four hour flight)... I am taking my cat ~ Spook ~... She is 17 years old and in great health minus the fact she is losing her hearing... I find the older she gets the more clingy she is....I am concerned with her being in a carrier (for the first time) and her ears...she will be riding in the cargo (another concern)...

I am going to call a vet for suggestions but am taking every avenue to make sure her flight is a comfortable one.

Thanking you in advance...

Sandra

Answer
Sandra,

I would suggest that you not sedate Spook as high altitudes often reduce blood pressure and so do sedatives. Unfortunately many pets become seriously ill as a result of the combination of flying and sedation and some even die. I would recommend that you try a homeopathic remedy called Bach's Rescue Remedy which is a blend of flower essences designed to calm and reassure. I would suggest that you give her about 10 drops a day in fresh water each morning starting a few days before your flight so that Spook is as calm and comfortable as possible. It is important that Spook is able to stand up completely and turn around in her carrier. Different airlines have different requirements regarding the size and type of carrier used to transport pets. Unfortunately you may not be able to be certain that water wouldn't spill in flight and I don't suggest that you have food available during the flight just in case Spook vomits. It is possible given Spook's age that the vet may decide to give subcutaneous fluids prior to the flight just to be sure that she remains properly hydrated during your flight. I also suggest that you be sure that Spook has plenty of padding under her blanket or towel in the travel crate, a piece of the "egg carton" foam used to pad mattresses or go camping with wouldn't be a bad idea. Be sure that the crate has as much ventilation as possible as it is my understanding that the cargo hold of a plane isn't climate controlled. The main issues I would be concerned about and that I recommend that you discuss with your vet prior to your trip with Spook are: proper hydration during the flight, proper ventilation to minimize the chance of heat stress, proper padding to protect Spook in the event of a turbulent flight. As I mentioned in terms of keeping Spook calm, I have had great success with many cats from varying circumstances including abuse, traffic accidents, illnesses, trauma, etc when it comes to keeping a kitty calm using Rescue Remedy. You can generally find Rescue Remedy in health food/natural health stores. I would strongly advise against sedation as there are risks in terms of blood pressure dropping as well as any other risks that may be related to Spook's advanced age. I hope that you have found this information helpful and that you now have a clearer picture of the issues you would like to discuss with the vet regarding the upcoming flight. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me again.