Cat Travel Advice: Flying With an Older Cat

Tips for Flying With Older Cats

Hi PetRelocation,

My cat is 19, and although she's in good health she does get stressed. I am very worried about moving her on an 11-hour flight to Los Angeles. Do you have any suggestions? She has been with me for 19 years and I cannot leave her behind.

Also, what paperwork does California want?

Thanks,

Christie

 

Hi Christie,

Thank you so much for the question -- as a caring pet owner, your concerns are certainly understandable.

Before moving older pets, we do advise talking to your veterinarian to discuss the possible risk factors and requesting they perform a geriatric exam. If it helps, know that we've helped many older pets move safely both domestically and internationally and we've gathered several tips for flying with older cats to help shed light on this process.

It definitely helps to crate train pets of all age and temperament before a move, so also take a look at our tips for how to crate train a cat. For cats who tend to get stressed during travel, helping them feel as comfortable as possible with the travel crate can make a huge difference.

Finally, if/when you decide to go forward, here are the pet import requirements for the United States. Primarily you'll need updated vaccines and an International Health Certificate issued within 10 days of departure.

Please contact us if you have any more questions, and good luck with your travels!

Pet Travel Question Details:

Name: Christie
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
Pet Breed: Moggie
From: London, England, UK
To: Los Angeles, CA, US