How to travel with your cat

HOW TO TRAVEL WITH YOUR CAT

If you are traveling with your cat, there are few general rules to keep in mind.
Tag the cat and its box with the cat's name, the owner's name and home address.
Stop feeding the cat eight hours before the trip; stop giving water two hours beforehand.
If the trip will take longer than 24 hours, make arrangements in your schedule for exercising, watering and feeding.
There are also special consideration for each form of travel.

BY PLANE

Call ahead of time, about two weeks beforehand, if you can.Each airline has its own requirements, and you will need to know, what is particular to the carrier you have chosen.Many companies demand a health certificate and/or record of immunizations from a certified vet.

In addition, you may have to prepare for the special entry regulations for cats in foreign countries (check the consulates) and even in some states.

Some airlines will allow you to take the cat into the passenger area, but only in a case or cardboard (sometimes, but not always, provided free of charge.)

BY BUS
Neither Greyhound nor Trailways accepts cats. A few regional bus lines do allow cat passengers to travel with you in a "suitable container"

BY TRAIN

Amtrak does not allow a cat to travel without a passenger.Even then, the cat must stay in the baggage compartment - in a well-ventilated box supplied by the owner. Call your local Amtrak information office for particulars.

BY CAR

Since many cats are disoriented by motion, owners whose cats will travel in cars throughout their lives (on trips to the vet, trips to the cat shows, vacations, etc.) should become used to car travel from a young age. Experts suggest frequent short rides as a way to get used to the car. In the car , it is advisable to keep the cat in a ventilated container - one that is large enough to allow both standing up and lying down, but one, that is small enough to provide a feeling of security. There is no need to furnish water or food; cats can go 24 hours without water, and longer without food. One warning: much long car travel is done in the summer, during hot weather. If you get out of the car, do not leave the cat locked inside without ample ventilation. The temperature in a sealed car quickly rises to 20 or 30 degrees above the temperature outside.Beyond the discomfort is the danger of brain damage , which for cats can occur at temperature of 115*F. and above.

BY SHIP

Arrangements are vary. Usually, cats will be accepted, if they are kept in a special shipboard kennel area, where they may be visited by their owners. There is an extra charge for taking animals along - often so high, that many travelers prefer to leave their cats at home.

LEAVING THE CAT BEHIND Many cities have special "hotels", where cats can be boarded.Check the Yellow Pages.There are also kennels, friends and relatives, who can take in pets. A cat may prefer these alternatives to enduring the rigors of travel. Cat-sitting services are also available.

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