Moving 1 person 2 cats
May 7, 2011 11:36 PM   Subscribe

I (one person) am moving two cats from Saskatoon to Toronto. Do I ship the cats, rent a car and drive them, make two flights to ferry them back and forth or put one in the cargo hold?

Elderkitty (18) is a seasoned traveler but is now old and suffering from renal failure; Tinyfreakoutkitty (2) has never moved and panics easily (terrified hyperventilation panic attacks). If I had a traveling companion, I'd bring fly them both in the cabin, but I don't. Ship? Drive? Stuff Tinykitten into cargo hold and deal with six months of consequences? I'll be in TO for 15 months; I have a furnished house rental lined up, and I'm planning to store my furniture and belongings in Saskatoon, while shipping clothing and books.
posted by jrochest to Travel & Transportation (30 answers total)
 
If you can afford two flights, you can afford to pay another person who is taking the same flight to take Elderkitty in the cabin. Or just lay the problem out to the airline, and offer them money; there's not much airlines won't charge for.
posted by orthogonality at 11:40 PM on May 7, 2011


Response by poster: Oh, and I know there's quite a few long-distance cat travel questions; none has answered the particular problem that I'm facing, though.
posted by jrochest at 11:40 PM on May 7, 2011


Response by poster: I've checked with both Westjet and Air Canada, but they'll not allow two cats in the cabin with one passenger.
posted by jrochest at 11:41 PM on May 7, 2011


I would not ship them or send them via cargo. Ideally you could get a friend round trip tickets from Saskatoon, and you could bring one cat as your carryon, and your friend could bring the other as their carryon, but I am not sure if two cats -- with two travellers -- are allowed in the cabin.

It seems easier to rent a car, to me, but I think that either flying with them in the cabin or driving with them are the easiest solutions. I'd also look into train, if they have air conditioned baggage cars (they won't transport pets except in air conditioned baggage cars).
posted by jeather at 11:53 PM on May 7, 2011


I would talk to vet about the possibility of sedating Tinyfreakoutkitty (TFK) and putting in cargo hold. The way I see it, TFK will be freaking over new environment anyway so the attempt to prevent a freak-out over the cargo hold is not going to solve a longer term problem.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 12:06 AM on May 8, 2011


i would craigslist this, you know someone going from sask to toronto, willing to take a cat for a certain amount of cash
posted by PinkMoose at 1:53 AM on May 8, 2011


Most airlines don't let sedated cats fly cargo (or at all). Sedation is unpredictable and can cause some cats to freak out more.

I vote for taking a friend and both cats on the plane. Making the trip as short as possible is going to be the least stressful for poor TFK, and this way they can see and smell each other while they're travelling.
posted by shelleycat at 1:56 AM on May 8, 2011


I'm afraid the best option might be to let go of the older cat.
posted by Sys Rq at 2:12 AM on May 8, 2011


Also look into pet moving companies, you may be able to just pay and make this someone else's problem. If nothing else they're likely to have someone willing to be your travelling companion (for a fee of course) so you can take both of them at once. It's probably cheaper to find someone on Craigslist or wherever and pay them, but either way it should be possible with some monetary outlay.

I've been researching cat moving quite a lot lately as mine are flying from New Zealand to Ireland next week (cargo because that is the only option). All the experienced companies I've talked to say that the cats actually calm down pretty quickly once they're underway, as soon as they realise freaking out won't change anything, and that the cats are more resilient than the owners expect. I've had similar stories from friends who have moved their cats so I'm pretty sure it's not just PR spin. Even if you end up driving them for two days I think you have viable options here, so Sys Req's suggestion seems a bit extreme to me.
posted by shelleycat at 2:38 AM on May 8, 2011


I also forgot to mention. If the airline won't let you take two cats on one flight even with two passengers, a pet moving company will hold onto one of them and bring them on a later flight. I've seen that kind of thing advertised. You may need to fly out of a bigger city to hook up with a company but they can also arrange driving the cats to whatever airport they need to be at. I found my company by a combination of google and word of mouth.
posted by shelleycat at 2:41 AM on May 8, 2011


I went off looking for the Canadian version of Pet Airways, and found this 2009 CBC news article claiming the airline would be opening up routes in Canada "next year". I assume it hasn't happened, or you'd know of it. But maybe it's worth a shot getting in touch with them - at the very least, from their market research they'll probably know what all of your other flight options are.
posted by likeso at 3:38 AM on May 8, 2011


Oh god, don't get rid of your older cat just because you might have to drive with him/her on the road for a few days. That's cruel and insane.

I've made similar moves of similar distances a few times before, and the easiest thing to do is to drive them both in the same car (separate carriers), so that you can be with them the entire time. This is much better than the flights and likely less traumatic. Your vet may have some advice on whether or not to give them something to help them sleep, but either way, driving with them is the optimal solution here.

You may have luck renting a van and transporting some quantum of your stuff along with the cats, but just keep the cats separate from the shifting boxes and loud noises in the back, if you can.

Either way, this shouldn't be a massive obstacle. It's just a few days in the car with your kitties. Find a motel in Minneapolis that accepts pets and make that your stop-off point. There are plenty--even some B&Bs--that fit the bill. You should be fine, and so should your cats, even the older one.
posted by yellowcandy at 9:05 AM on May 8, 2011 [2 favorites]


If you're considering sedating them for travel, test the sedation ahead of time (my cats freaked out and lost their ability to balance instead of sleeping, so I'm glad they weren't in the car at the time).

We moved last year and drove 3-4 days with our cats in their own carriers. My attempts to provide a mobile litter box failed, so it was just as well that we restricted food after midnight and water from 2-3 hrs pre-drive (with some availability on the way). We eventually allowed them out of their crates, and our freakout-kitty burrowed into the stuff behind my seat and slept all day.

Several hotel chains advertise themselves as pet-friendly and charge either $10/night or are free. Check out PetsWelcome for more information.

One thing I'm glad we did was get little harnesses for each of them in case they darted out - they're easier to grab, and we attached leashes any time we were about to open the door.

Also, be aware that many cats are nervous shedders - if you don't want your car filled with fluff, don't let them out during travel.

About driving cross-country with only one person: If you're uncomfortable with the idea or would rather have company, try asking a friend for company. I've moved cross-country before with a ride-along friend who did it for the adventure, meals, and a plane ticket home.
posted by bookdragoness at 10:01 AM on May 8, 2011


Response by poster: Thanks, all! Yes, Sys Rq is pulling our chain, I think: in case not, no, Sys Rq, I have not given Eldercat 18 years of love and attention in order to put him down because he is now inconvenient.

Sounds like driving with them is possible, if a little awkward: I'll take them for a couple of drives before I make the choice. The other option is to pay for a friend to come with me, and take TFK on the plane with them. Westjet allows multiple cats in the same cabin, but only one per customer. Pet Airways only flies between select US cities, and there are no pet moving companies operating out of Saskatoon. It's a pretty small place.

I had better try TFK on a harness before I do this, too, since she'll probably assume it's a lynching and go all spazzy on the first try. This is complicated!
posted by jrochest at 10:18 AM on May 8, 2011


Don't put any cats in the cargo hold. Please! If you can find someone to fly in the cabin with you, that will probably be a good option for both kitties.

I drove recently with my cat from San Francisco CA to Louisville KY. Now, my kitty has no health problems and is not a screamer in the car, and there wasn't a second kitty, so I know the situation is different. But although I was anxious about the trip for weeks, and was an awful stressed out mess myself, it wasn't bad at all. She wasn't thrilled, but acclimated to the routine just fine.

She would eat while (I was) driving, use the box while (I was) driving, and was able to find a spot to hunker down and sleep most days away. She just got real low and hid.

You may need to keep tiny crazy kitty in a box, to keep your driving safe. I started out with my cat in her box at the beginning of the trip (and again at the beginning of each day) but once I realized she just wanted to get out to find a cat nook to sleep in, I let her out.

You have to be MOST careful if you have a kitty with a tendency to run. DO NOT open a car door at a rest stop, gas station, or anywhere without having any potential runners securely locked up in a cage.

Good luck.
posted by dlouise at 10:43 AM on May 8, 2011


Heh, when I put the harness on my spasticat, he becomes a semi-paraplegic. It's like it's infinitely heavy and he's lost use of his back feet. It's become my calm-him-down shortcut and he usually just goes to sleep. Youtube has videos of other cats looking silly.

FYI, you've violated Metafilter protocol by posting a cat-related thread without pictures... but there's still time to make things right! ;)
posted by bookdragoness at 10:47 AM on May 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


If you can afford having a friend fly with you, why not do that? You have both kitties with you at all times, and a friend to help you settle into your new apartment!

Failing that, I'd drive with both of them properly restrained and harnessed. Even a kitty with no prior history of running could bolt.

I took Nigel with me to Bangkok and brought Nigel and Lily back on separate flights. (In the cabin with me.) 30+ hours of travel, no significant hassles. Good luck!
posted by cyndigo at 10:48 AM on May 8, 2011


I am so very against people putting cats in the cargo hold. It's cold, it's loud, it's smelly (like the rest of a plane isn't...), and I have heard one too many stories about them losing an animal. No f'ing way.

I would simply drive the kitties. HereticalKitten drove with me over 1000 miles and never said a word the whole time, just glommed on my lap and quivered until I figured out the trick of putting a blanket over her. Tinykitten may benefit from staying in a carrier with a drape over the carrier. Really though, TK may just have to get over it anyway. Sedating cats is iffy; if the flight's delayed and the sedated kitty's in the cargo hold, it could mean a bad day for the kitty. Either way, it's going to be an unhappy kitty. Driving is probably cheaper, gives you more control over the kitties (since you can make stops), and lots less pain in the ass IMO.
posted by Heretical at 12:44 PM on May 8, 2011


Twice, we experimentally brought our cat to a pet-friendly hotel to see how he would react to staying in hotels. Both times, he immediately crawled behind the bed and stayed there, howling, for the entire weekend, except for briefly venturing out to pee or snatch a quick drink. He refused to eat, even his favourite treats, from Friday night until Sunday when we returned home. We were lucky he came out within reasonable proximity of checkout time so we didn't have to get creative with trekking poles to push him out from his hiding spot. We decided to fly him instead.

So you may want to experiment with a hotel too, to see how Tinyfreakoutkitty will react.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 12:59 PM on May 8, 2011


Sedating cats is iffy

I'd just like to add that when I talked to my vet about sedating my cats for a long trip, one of the reasons she told me that it isn't a good idea is that sedation can make it more difficult for them to regulate their body temperature. Combine that with an airplane cargo hold, which is already dangerous for pets, and I would be quite worried about not having a cat after the trip was over.

My cats did well on the car trip without sedation, as it turned out. I got them a large soft carrier big enough for a small litter tray and a water bowl, and eventually they settled down. One of them had a little dribble of fear pee but nothing major. I think the soft carrier was a good investment. I didn't have to stay in a hotel, but if I did, I could have left the cats in the carrier comfortably.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 1:08 PM on May 8, 2011


I would also vote for driving. Talk to your vet, and if they agree it would probably be a good idea to have something to calm them (kitty valium or whatever). You may not need it, but good to have if you do. In the car you'll know if anything is wrong, can keep the temperature appropriate, etc.

If they're not already carrier-comfortable, put out the carrier(s) (depending on if you think they'd travel better in one or two) way ahead of time, put catnip/toys in them, etc. Let them get to like the carriers as little kitty houses so they won't be scared.
posted by wildcrdj at 1:20 PM on May 8, 2011


Thanks, all! Yes, Sys Rq is pulling our chain, I think: in case not, no, Sys Rq, I have not given Eldercat 18 years of love and attention in order to put him down because he is now inconvenient.

Not kidding at all, actually. But putting him down was not the only option on the table. Do you have friends? Could any of them take him in?

It's not a matter of inconvenience; it's a matter of humane treatment of a sick and elderly cat.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:33 PM on May 8, 2011


I'd fly them either together when you move or one with someone else after you're settled. It's faster and therefore less disruptive for them.

If you're going to rent a van/car, experiment with cases vs loose. My cats cry in their cages, but are generally calmer and less disruptive if they can explore a big. Just pop them back in the cases before you open the doors, or leash them.

Remember, neither choice will cause lasting harm.
posted by Heart_on_Sleeve at 9:50 PM on May 8, 2011


Response by poster: Ah, okay Sys Rq -- I read the comment differently.

I'm single, and there's no-one here that I'd be comfortable leaving him with: he needs medication and may need more over the next year and a half, so I'd be leaving any caregiver with a major responsibility. I'm going on sabbatical, which means I'm giving up my apartment (too long to sublet) so he'd be in a completely new and alien environment, without his companion TFK or me. I think that would be a harder on him than a flight -- which is only 3 hours, and which he's done before.

I'm leaning, hard, to the flying idea, perhaps getting a friend to come with me and/or flying twice myself. I've got people I can park TFK with on the other end of the line, if I have to double back. Car rentals are much harder than I expected: apparently there are no agencies that will rent me a car to drive from Saskatoon/Toronto. The only exception is a van, which I don't need or want. I should be able to ship most of the stuff I'll need via Greyhound or Canada post, for about 500 bucks, so even if I need to fly twice or pay for two flights I should be able to manage the whole thing for under 1,000.
posted by jrochest at 12:07 AM on May 9, 2011


Be aware that flying with your cat involves taking the cat out of the carrier for a security inspection--at the security checkpoint if you take them into the cabin, and at the oversize luggage drop-off if they go into the cargo hold. If your TFK is a spazz around other people, this could be challenging.

I went through this in Seattle; I asked repeatedly if there wasn't a room we could do this in so the cat would be contained if she got away from me. The answer was a very unsympathetic "no". (Which seems nuts. Do they really never have cats run off into the airport?) In the end, after much negotiating on my part, they settled for leaving the cat in the carrier and feeling around her to check for contraband.

If I have to do this again, I may bring an extra carrier so I can move the cat back and forth for the inspection.
posted by mvd at 12:50 PM on May 9, 2011


Response by poster: Yep, I've flown with Eldercat several times a year prior to getting TFK. I always just put a leash and harness on him, which gives something to grab onto. He's always big on getting back into the carrier, which is safe and smells like him.

I don't know what she'll do, but we'll have to see.
posted by jrochest at 9:16 PM on May 9, 2011


Response by poster: Just in case anyone is still interested in this topic: both cats flew, Elderkitty in the cabin with me and TFK in the cargo hold by herself, poor little foofoo.

He was just fine, perfectly casual; he wiggled out of his carrier in the rented car that I picked up at the airport and crawled onto the front passenger seat, where he lounged decoratively with his whiskers waving in the breeze from the AC.

She went bonkers, poor little thing: hissed at everything that moved for the first 24 hours and frankly refused to come out of her carrier for a full day.
posted by jrochest at 11:02 PM on June 6, 2011 [1 favorite]


Definitely still interested. :) Elderkitty sounds a cool dude. Poor TFK - airline policies are bonkers. But good to know that all three of you made it safely to Toronto. And hey! You owe us kitty pics!
posted by likeso at 1:59 AM on June 7, 2011


Response by poster: Picture of Tibs (Eldercat)

And Frances (TFK)

Frances is asleep next to me, taking up all the space on the couch: Tibs is upstairs, taking up all the space on the TV chair.
posted by jrochest at 7:07 PM on June 12, 2011


Yay! Kitty pics! Oh jrochest, what lovely cats. Tibs is so Tolerant If Slightly Annoyed Stately Elder, and Frances gazes so confidently and engagingly into the lens. One of my favorite things in the world is to see cats with developed personalities. Well done, human subject. ;)
posted by likeso at 3:25 AM on June 13, 2011


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