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Excited :)

Patti

Patti

Admin
Staff member
Brandy, congratulations on your new babies! How long will they be traveling to get home? If only a few hours I wouldn't worry about them having to potty. If over six hours or there is a layover they may feel the urge, but by far the majority of kittens I've sent or received have never soiled their carrier, including the one I imported from Germany that took 20 hours to get here.

As for the carrier, if you are going to carry on, any airline approved carrry-on carrier is adequate as long as it meets the size requirements to fit under the seat in front of you. If shipping in cargo, any carrier that is airline approved for shipping can be used. I have flown across country with kittens under the seat and although I know some prefer to ship cargo for long distances (and I do for an intact male) I personally feel that shipping cargo is more stressful on the kittens as it is noisy and isolated, although this is probably just my bias because I think wherever they are they will most likely just curl up and sleep for the majority of the trip.
 
Brandy DW

Brandy DW

Missing Neka, Loving Sabriel, Nakaia, & Trance
For traveling I actually booked my flight tonight, so I know the flights we'll be on will be around 5-6 hours total. Going from Tampa to Minneapolis-St. Paul to Sioux Falls. I ended up going with having the kittens in the cabin with me, as the dimensions the representative gave me for the carry on were not the same as on the website.

The dimensions she gave me over the phone were 21 x 15 x 16.

Which matches this rule within their website:
"Maximum carry-on kennel dimensions are determined by your flight. You must contact Delta Reservationsto determine the appropriate kennel size."

Otherwise I saw elsewhere that it could only be 18 x 11 x 11 or something like that.

So I think with the larger dimensions that the kittens will fit more comfortably together. This way I also don't have to worry about them going to the wrong air port by mistake (happened to a friends luggage before, that was a mess, it would be 100 times worse if it were my pets!).
 
Kristin

Kristin

Animal Communicator
Congrats Brandy! They are beautiful girls!

Kitten season is always hard because I want them all! Haha I am jealous :p
 
Brigitte Cowell

Brigitte Cowell

Moderator
Staff member
For carry on I love the Sleepypod Air carrier, and it is the one my cats prefer also... it also is great because if going to pick up a kitten, you can pack it flat then zip it up at the other end :)

http://sleepypod.com/air

http://sleepypod.com/dryfur for the absorbent pads which fit great and are really good...stiffer than a puppy pee pad but also very absorbent. And they come in a pack of two so you have one for the trip, and a spare to pack in case there is an accident :)

It's great if the breeder (Kim) can train them to be comfy with the walking jackets first...this helps you when taking through security...but also if you have a layover or a delayed flight you can find the Pet Relief Area and let them out of the carrier for a bit of a walk etc. I know some people just take over a family restroom and let their cat out there too..

I am similar to Patti and find cargo to be a scary experience for many kitties and avoid it whenever possible. A little less room for kitty versus knowing where they are and that they are safe every minute of the trip...

congratulations on the new kittens, I hope it all works out great and Sabriel enjoys her new companions :)
 
Pam Flachs

Pam Flachs

Savannah Super Cat
Brandy, huge congrats on your new beautiful babies!

Good advice offered so far for the travel with them home. You might also pack a small emergency kit with a few latex gloves, travel-sized wipes, some ziploc bags for waste disposal, a few extra pee pads, and some odor minimizing spray just in case....I like this brand:

http://www.magic-zymes.com/Around-The-Home-s/21.htm

It has no scent and is pet-safe, and really works great to quickly eliminate any smells.

Try contacting the company for some free sample bottles...just the right size for travel, or put your favorite odor eliminating spray in a small travel size spay bottle.

Going through security...the harnesses will be fine on your kittens even if they have metal hooks or fasteners. You can also ask to have a private security check (without going through the line) if time warrants...
 
Patti

Patti

Admin
Staff member
It sounds like you've made a good choice. Just remember you need to take the kittens out of their carrier to go through security. If they are skittish or difficult to handle together you can ask to be screened in a private room so you don't have to worry about them escaping into the crowds. I've never done this before but I've heard it is fairly painless. On the other hand, if they're easy to handle then it will probably be much faster just to go through the regular security check. I agree with Brigitte that you should ask Kim to fit them with walking jackets or harnesses so that you can hold on to them more securely when you do need to take them out.
 
John Campbell

John Campbell

Site Supporter
Staff member
Patti said:
It sounds like you've made a good choice. Just remember you need to take the kittens out of their carrier to go through security. If they are skittish or difficult to handle together you can ask to be screened in a private room so you don't have to worry about them escaping into the crowds. I've never done this before but I've heard it is fairly painless. On the other hand, if they're easy to handle then it will probably be much faster just to go through the regular security check. I agree with Brigitte that you should ask Kim to fit them with walking jackets or harnesses so that you can hold on to them more securely when you do need to take them out.
Click to expand...

From much experience of going through the airport security as I have worked there for MANY years... Have all your ducks in a row sort of speaking... When you go through the scanner, have everything laid out, all of your liquids have them in a quart ziplock bag. Spread everything out as much as you can so they can see it, and if you have anything that may look suspicious, pull it out as well and let it scan separately... Doing that will make you look more like a frequent flyer and not be questioned as hard. While working in Minneapolis I would bring back a large bone for Jake in my carry on luggage.... I would simply set it out and I only got one strange look... I told them it was for my dog... There is nothing in the rules that says you cannot carry a bone for a dog.

One time I goofed, and had my video camera mounted to its steady stick... It was an interesting scan and got my bags looked at real close...

XSC_0021.JPG​
Just image what the above image looks like on an Ex-ray going through the scanner.... Once they saw the setup, they were happy.. But before... I got some real interesting looks. Now days TSA is very skiddish... Everytime after that... I broke it down before transporting... Saved a lot of time.
 
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