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Cat air travel long flight

25 10:04:46

Question
QUESTION: Hi. I am in need of some cat advice. We are relocated back to Canada from Ghana in a few months and have received varying advice from friends, the vet and the airline.  We are flying Royal Air Maroc who informed us the cat MUST be sedated. The vet tells us not to sedate the cat at all but they could give us something that will wear off after half an hour or so to get him through the take-off.  Our friends have a sedative from their vet in Canada which sedates their cats for 6 hours!  And websites tell me it's best not to sedate him. Now I'm confused!  And I am concerned that if he is NOT sedated we will never get him in, out and back in to his cat carrier when we have to put the back through security.

The second question and concern is getting the cat used to his carrier and hoping he won't yowl for the whole time.  It is a long flight - 4 1/2 hours to Casablanca, a 4 hour layover then a 8 hour flight to Montreal.

What do you suggest??  Thanks!

ANSWER: The advice from Air Maroc is VERY bad advice.  I have never heard of this.  Yes, sedation is VERY
bad and dangerous.  Do NOT even think of sedatives from your friends that they used on their
pets.  Seems the advice from your vet for a short term sedation might work.  Try it out at home
long before travel.  Use it, then put the cat into the carrier, close the door, and let the cat
become used to the carrier, before travel.
I hope you are NOT planning on taking him in the cabin......  Very bad idea.
Otherwise, just let him yowl, as you call it
Regards, Jerry Mishler

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Jerry. Yes I think the airline manager in Africa is just suffering from incorrect information.  I've already received 3 different responses in response to another question so I am choosing to ignore this one or get something from the vet.  
You say that taking him in the cabin is a bad idea? Everything I read says that it is best to do this in preference to the cargo hold.  I'm not sure his personality is conducive to the trip in the hold nor the reputation of the airline...  may I ask why you think this is a bad idea??   Thanks so much for your quick advice!

Answer
Mostly bad to take pet into cabin because of fellow passengers.  Allergies, cat meowing, etc
Also, cat MUST be in such a small carrier to fit under seat.  Very cramped and inhumane to
maintain cat in such tight quarters, as you are NOT allowed to take cat out of carrier.
Also, if cat has a bowel movement, other people might toss you off the plane!!!!
As checked baggage, cat will have carrier that is MUCH roomier, etc
Cargo hold is pressurized and same temp as cabin.
If he has a bad personality for the cargo hold, what about the cabin?  Very bad idea in cabin.....
Regards, Jerry