How to Prepare Your Cat for Air Travel –
Advice from a Pet Transport Expert with 12 Years of Experience

If you’re planning to travel with your cat — or entrusting them to a courier — preparation isn’t just about paperwork and crates. It’s about your cat’s comfort, dignity, and peace of mind.

As someone who has transported cats and dogs across countries for over 12 years, I can tell you one thing with certainty: Your cat will not fear the journey if you do things right. And more than that — the cat may even enjoy it.

The Most Important Element of Safe Cat Travel: The Litter Box

Forget toys and fluffy cushions. If your cat can’t use the toilet easily and discreetly, the journey becomes a source of stress. Nothing replaces the confidence of having a clean space to eliminate — and knowing it will be cleaned right after.

When we transport cats, the very first thing we prepare is the litter tray inside the carrier. And the carrier itself — it must be the right size, sturdy, ventilated, and escape-proof.

We use compact litter trays — often handmade or adapted from metal baking pans — with these dimensions: Length 350–380 mm, width 150–180 mm, height 25–30 mm.

The tray is prepared as follows:

• A plastic bag (with handles) is fitted over the tray, with edges tucked securely underneath.
• A piece of cardboard is placed on the bottom — it presses the bag in place and keeps it from sliding or bunching.
• A small amount of litter is added on top — enough to absorb, but not too much to kick around.

When the cat uses the tray, the bag is simply turned inside out with everything inside, tied up, and replaced with a fresh one. The whole process takes less than a minute — no smell, no mess, no fuss.

And the cat knows.
They feel it: “They’re taking care of me.”

Choosing the Right Carrier: Size, Ventilation, and Setup

A proper travel carrier isn’t just labeled “airline approved” — it fits the cat, allows airflow, and accommodates the tray.

For cats with claustrophobia, we use Transport Box No. 4, dimensions: 670 mm length × 480 mm width × 460 mm height. This gives space to stretch, turn, and breathe freely — even with the litter tray inside.

On the floor of the box, we always place a disposable pad, fixed to a sheet of cardboard cut to the exact size of the base. We use masking tape to fasten the pad to the bottom side of the cardboard — so it stays flat and doesn’t wrinkle or shift, even if the cat scratches.

Even if the cat can’t use the litter tray mid-flight, they’ll instinctively bury it under the cardboard and pad — and won’t sit in filth for hours.

Traveling with a Cat in Cabin – Only If You’re Sure

Cabin sounds cozy — but space is extremely limited. Most airline soft carriers allow only 240–280 mm in height and up to 550 mm in length. That’s tight. Uncomfortably tight.

And such a setup only works for calm, patient cats who tolerate enclosed spaces without panic. If your cat is tense, vocal, or prone to stress, the cabin is not the better choice.

But if you do fly with your cat in cabin — and it’s a long flight — you must bring a prepared litter tray, just like we described.

Feeding, Water, and Treats – What Helps, What Harms

• Do not feed your cat for 12 hours before departure. If you must, give only 50% of the usual portion.
• Offer water every 2–3 hours in flight, in small amounts — familiar bowl or syringe with no needle.
• Meat-based dry treats are fine in small amounts, just to calm the nerves or pass time. Not for feeding.

Water Access in Transit – A Crucial Detail Often Overlooked

Every travel carrier should have a small water dispenser and a food dish securely attached to the front gate — especially for flights. Water must always be available to the cat, even during the flight.

Just a small amount — enough to sip, but not enough to spill and soak the bedding if turbulence happens.

Most cats won’t drink much during travel. That’s normal. But certain breeds — like Maine Coons, Bengals, Savannahs, and Burmese — tend to drink more and should always have access to water.

It’s a small thing. But it tells your cat:
“You’re safe. Everything you need is here.”

Let’s Be Honest: Why Pets Die During Flights

Many people fear for their pets in cargo. But the truth is, more animals die in the cabin — and no one talks about it.

Why? Because in the cabin, no one else is responsible. There’s no airline to blame.

Owners don’t file public complaints when they realize they overdosed a sedative… Or when the cat suffocated inside a duffle bag under the seat… Or when they hid the animal in overhead storage to avoid paying for the flight.

These stories are real. But they go unreported. Because the only one to blame — is the person holding the leash.

Sedatives for Cats – When It’s a Big No, and the One Rare Exception

You should never give sedatives to a cat just because they “don’t like carriers.”
You don’t drug someone for not liking elevators.

Sedation suppresses breathing, changes heart rhythms, and makes it impossible for the animal to control their reactions or defend themselves.

There’s only one narrow exception: if the cat is hyperactive, screaming constantly, and completely unable to self-regulate. In that case — and only with a vet’s supervision — a very light calming agent may be used to lower arousal.

But never to mask fear. Never to “just make it easier.”
If your cat is afraid, give them a clean box, a quiet voice, and someone they trust. That’s enough.

Final Thought from a Pet Transport Expert – It’s All About Quiet and Respect

Wouldn’t you rather look out the window when it’s clean, warm, and doesn’t smell?
So would your cat.

As soon as there’s a trace of used toilet smell in the carrier, most cats go into panic. They try to claw their way out, cry, scratch, and sometimes even hurt themselves.

Why? Because for a cat, being trapped next to their own waste — without a way to escape — is terrifying.

That’s why the litter tray matters. The carrier matters. The silence. The readiness. The small rituals of care that make a cat feel like they’re not alone.

Because when all of that is in place, something shifts.
The fear goes away. And curiosity steps in.