Flying with a cat: everything to prepare

Cabin or hold: for a cat, the cabin first

Because most cats weigh a few kilos, they can usually fly in the cabin, and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) notes that most cats do. On Air France, for example, the cabin is open to cats under 8 kg including the bag, in a bag of at most 46 × 28 × 24 cm (rules read on 19 October 2026).

The hold, or cargo, becomes necessary when:

• the destination requires it: Great Britain only accepts pets arriving by air as cargo, unless you fly on a chartered private plane;
• the airline takes no pets in the cabin, or the flight's cabin quota is full (airlines cap the number of animals per cabin);
• your class of travel excludes it: Air France takes no pets in Business on intercontinental flights;
• cat and carrier exceed the limit on weight or size;
• you are travelling with several cats: Air France allows one animal per bag and one per passenger in the cabin.

Flat-faced cats: caution and airline lists

Short-faced cats may also be more prone to breathing problems, and the AVMA advises caution if they travel in the hold. Airlines publish their own lists. Air France's names four cat breeds: Birman, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan and Persian. For these cats, Air France closes the hold on its own flights; the cabin remains possible under 8 kg, and cargo for some breeds.

Lists differ between airlines and change without notice. For a Persian or an Exotic, the cabin is almost always the best option: check at the outset that the airline accepts it on every leg of your trip, and ask your vet for an opinion. Other airlines' rules are covered in our article on flying with a flat-faced dog or cat.

Soft carrier or rigid crate?

For the cabin, choose a carrier with a firm, leak-proof base, ventilated on several sides, that will not sag onto your cat once it is under the seat. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) also suggests a sturdy carrier with both a top and a front opening, which makes a reluctant cat much easier to handle. For the hold, see our guide to measuring for an IATA crate.

Getting your cat used to the carrier

Many cats link their carrier with the vet. The AAFP recommends making it part of everyday life and warns that it can take days or weeks before a cat trusts it. Here is the progression we suggest, built on its advice:

1. Leave the carrier open at home several weeks ahead

   In a room where your cat spends time, with soft bedding that smells of you, and treats, catnip or a toy inside. Do not coax your cat in.

2. Close it briefly, then carry it once your cat goes in alone

   Hold the carrier from underneath rather than just by the handle so your cat feels steady. A synthetic feline pheromone spray can help some cats.

3. Take short trips in the final weeks

   A few short car rides with a favourite treat get your cat used to motion and noise.

4. Departure day no chasing

   Shut your cat in a quiet room before the suitcases come out, so you are not hunting for it at the last minute.

If you are reusing an old carrier, the AAFP suggests washing it with an unscented cleanser, rinsing it well and letting it dry: stress odours from an earlier trip can linger.

Litter, pads and accidents

What the standard says: IATA requires the container to be leak-proof, able to contain urine and faeces, and lined with absorbent bedding. In the cabin, your cat must not be taken out of the carrier during the flight, and the carrier should not be opened.

What we advise: no loose litter in the carrier. Line the base with an absorbent pad, carry one or two spares with zip bags and wipes, and only change the pad somewhere enclosed where your cat cannot bolt. At security, the AVMA reminds owners to take the pet out of the carrier just before the carrier goes through the X-ray machine: a well-fitted harness, put on at home and already familiar, prevents an escape in the terminal. For a cat flying in the hold, do the opposite and remove collar and harness before crating, as IATA recommends.

Food, water and stress

• A light last meal at least two hours before the flight, with a short drink, as IATA recommends. Ask your vet what suits your cat, especially for a very long journey or a diabetic cat.
• No sedatives without a vet. IATA advises against sedating animals in the cabin; if a drug is prescribed, the airline must be told and may refuse the animal. The AVMA warns that these drugs can increase the risk of heart or breathing problems.
• Dim and quiet. A light cover over the carrier, never blocking the vents, often settles a cat. Avoid stimulating it during the flight.
• Check in late for the cabin. IATA and the AVMA suggest checking in as late as the airline's deadlines allow, to cut time spent in a noisy terminal.

Microchip, vaccine and paperwork: a reminder

Flying does not replace any health formality. To travel in the European Union, your cat must be microchipped before its rabies vaccination; after a primary vaccination, given at 12 weeks at the earliest, you must wait at least 21 days before travelling. Outside the EU, some countries also require a rabies antibody titre test, a health certificate or an import permit, with lead times of several months.

• The EU pet passport
• Rabies vaccination and the titre test
• Veterinary documents for travel

On arrival

Settle your cat in one quiet room with its litter tray, water, its usual food and the carrier left open as a hiding place. Let it come out in its own time and explore the rest of the home gradually. If you have other cats, the AAFP points out that a cat coming back from a trip smells unfamiliar and may not be recognised: reintroduce them slowly. We suggest checking over the next few hours that your cat eats, drinks and uses its tray, and calling a vet if anything worries you.

Moving to France? See bringing a cat to France. Leaving? See moving abroad with a cat.

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