My Cats On A Plane: NYC to LA in American Airlines Pet Cargo

 

Brownie, Bowie, and Brooklyn had no idea their lives were about to change forever. These three rescue cats became part of our family only a few years ago, and now, they were about to join us on a major life change: our move from New York City to sunny California after 20 years of calling Brooklyn home.

To Fly or Drive with Cats: That is the Question

As I began to think about our move, I realized I needed some practical advice on how to move three cats across the country. I initially considered a family road trip, thinking it would be a fun, less stressful option. After all, it seemed much more relaxing than putting them in airline cargo, which I assumed could be risky and stressful for our cats.

But as I started to plan, I quickly realized that long-distance driving with cats wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Below is a compilation of the practical tips and advice I gathered to make the trip as smooth as possible (if I decided to drive them):

Traveling Long-Distance with Cats: Tips for the Road

1. Practice Drives Are Essential: Start by taking your cats on shorter car rides to see how they handle it. Every cat reacts differently, so it’s important to understand your cats’ behavior before committing to a cross-country drive. If one of your cats is a terror during practice, you may need to rethink your plan.

2. Secure Your Cats in Pet Carriers: A pet carrier is essential for any long trip. Make sure it’s securely buckled in the back seat and that your cat feels at ease inside. You can line the carrier with a cat blanket that smells like home to make your cat feel more comfortable.

3. Safety First: Never open the car door unless your cat is safely inside the carrier. Cats are quick, and one slip-up could lead to an escape.

4. Outdoor Breaks: Make sure to give your cats a chance to stretch their legs and get some fresh air, but always keep them on a harness and leash.

5. Monitor Their Health: Keep an eye on their water intake, bowel movements, and general well-being. If your cats are overly stressed and not going to the bathroom for more than 48 to 72 hours, contact a vet.

6. Litter Box in the Car: This one is tricky, but necessary. Depending on your car setup, get creative and figure out where to place a portable litter box for those long stretches between stops.

While this advice helped ease my mind, we quickly realized that driving across the country with our cats might not be the best option.

 

Why We Chose to Fly with Our Cats From Brooklyn to Los Angeles?

We decided to test the road trip idea by driving to upstate New York—just a four-hour drive. The result? Chaos. The car ride turned into a disaster: the cats screeched, the kids argued, and before we knew it, Brownie had explosive diarrhea, one cat threw up, and my daughter had cramps from holding the cat too long. Needless to say, we agreed. Driving with kids and cats for 10 days would not be happening...

Flying with Cats: A Safer, Easier Option.
How do you transport cats across states? From New York to Los Angeles ✈️ 

 

So, we made the decision to fly our cats from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. I opted for American Airlines, which allows animals to travel as checked baggage or as unaccompanied cargo. Most airlines require a health certificate from a licensed vet for pets traveling in cargo, so make sure to get one completed within 10 days of your flight. I learned this lesson the hard way when my cats couldn’t fly because the forms were incomplete. Be prepared, or you could face delays or even have to reschedule your flight.

Preparing for the Flight

I was anxious about sedating my cats for the flight, but my vet advised against it. Air travel can be risky enough for pets without adding sedation into the mix, which can cause health problems. It turns out, American Airlines also has a strict no-sedation policy for pets traveling in cargo.

For their flight, I purchased sturdy crates, water bottles, and pads for their comfort, but I didn’t put food inside their crates, as I knew they could go up to 12 hours without eating. I did tape a small portion of food to each crate, just in case of any delays.

• Make sure you get your Health Certificate from a licensed veterinarian who has experience filling out travel documents. They need to sign them within 10 days of travel.  Here's the link to American Airlines PetMark link for documentation requirements.
• If forms are not complete, or older than 10 days, AA will not take your pets. Everything has to be perfect. (I should know because my cats couldn't travel due to incomplete form and was sent home from the airport) They had to fly a few days after with corrected forms and as unaccompanied cargo. 

 

It is stressful to drop your best friend off for a flight and say goodbye. With Petmate Sky Kennel Pet Carrier, you can put your mind at ease knowing they will be safe in this durable & heavy duty carrier. I chose 21" carrier for my big cat Bowie - who had plenty of space to stretch & sleep.

 

Cargo Travel: Is It Safe?

Surprisingly, the cargo experience was very smooth. When I picked them up at LAX, they looked calm and healthy. I had been nervous, but the airline staff took great care of them, and they arrived safely. American Airlines kept me updated with texts and emails about the flight status, which was comforting.

 

My cats Bowie & Brooklyn seem to be calm and collected while check-in. This is a picture my husband sent from JFK while I anxiously awaited to pick them up from LAX in the afternoon.

  

What do you need to buy for your cat's air travel?

My cats are too large for cabin travel and barely fit in the required carry-on bags. Therefore, I made reservations with American Airlines PETEMBARK. All I had to buy ahead of time were crates, pads and water bottle. I didnot leave food inside the crates as I knew my cats would be ok without food for up to 12 hours. After all, everyone can benefit from an intermittent fasting. Airlines did require for us to tape some food on the crate, incase of an emergency or long delays. You can see it on the picture above. Thankfully, we had no such problems during their journey. To learn more about transporting animals, kennel guidelines, policies & restrictions and documentations visit this American Airlines Pet Cargo link.

 

Kennel requirements for pet air travel 

 

Is the cargo area safe for pet travel?

In my experience, YES! Turns out, it is not scary or unsafe at all. I had a lot of paranoias but in the end, my cats came to LA in one piece (I mean how many pieces of them was I expecting?!!!), looking completely happy and healthy. I was pleasantly surprised. They didn't look distressed AT ALL when I picked them up. American Airlines texted AND emailed me before arrival which was very helpful. Minutes after the plane landed, they were ready for pick up at the cargo entrance of LAX. My friend who was driving didn't even have to park the car. In and out, I picked up the cats from the claim room quickly. How amazing is that?!

 

Traveling cross-country with our cat in-cabin

While we chose cargo for most of the cats, I convinced my husband to let our youngest, Brooklyn, fly in-cabin with him. He was only 8 months old at the time and small enough to fit in a carrier under the seat. Brooklyn flew on Alaskan Airlines, where he sat on my husband’s lap during the flight, except during takeoff and landing. I am told the flight attendants were kind and allowed him to stay in his carrier for the majority of the trip.

 

 Left: Brooklyn flying in cabin on his dad's laps Right: Bowie looking jet-lagged after completing his 8 hours journey in cargo

The Takeaway

Moving cross-country with cats was more of an emotional roller coaster for me than anything else. I had a lot of concerns, but in the end, the airline personnel went above and beyond to ensure my cats’ safety and comfort. Traveling with them on American Airlines turned out to be a VERY safe and smooth experience, and I would do it again.

Remember, each airline has different pet policies, so always check with them directly before booking your flights to make sure you’re prepared.