Having to take your cat on an airplane is not ideal, but unfortunately in many cases it is necessary. Taking the necessary precautions for safely traveling with your cat can help you avoid complications and possible disaster when your cat is flying the friendly skies. Keep the following preparation guidelines in mind when planning a trip that involves air travel and your cat.

One Month Before

Make sure you call the airline in advance to make sure they can accommodate your pet adequately. Find out what type of carrier they require and what other policies they have in place for traveling with your pet. Start getting your cat adjusted to the carrier they will be traveling in by taking them for car trips in the carrier.

Two Weeks Before

Take your cat to the veterinarian and make sure your cat is healthy enough to travel. While you are at the vet get a health certificate, a vaccination record and sedatives if they feel your cat will need them. Make sure you have your cat’s ID tag updated and that it is still legible. Make sure that you have all necessary paperwork and an updated photo of your cat with your other travel documents. Additionally, label your cat’s carrier with your name, address and phone number along with a contact number for the place in which you are traveling.

The Day of the Trip

Give your cat a meal between four to six hours before your flight and then don’t feed it again to avoid nausea. Allow your cat water right before you leave for the airport to ensure that they are adequately hydrated. When your flight is over make sure you exit the plane last and release your cat in a quiet room with a small amount of dry food and water until they get adjusted.

Even though cats seem to live a simple, carefree existence they are not immune from experiencing stress and anxiety. When left untreated, stress and anxiety in a cat can lead to physical problems and behavioral problems along with depression and withdrawal. Stress and anxiety in cats can often be traced to environmental changes or physical stress. It is important to determine which is causing a cat’s stress and anxiety so that you can properly address the situation.

Cats are creatures of habit, so when your cat is experiencing stress and anxiety you should first try to recall if any changes have occurred in your cat’s environment. Consider things like your personal changes with schedule, moving, the addition of a baby, spouse or another animal. Even small changes like getting new furniture or doing home improvements may send your cat into panic.

Your cat may also be stressed or anxious because they are afraid of something. They may have been through a fire, storm or earthquake recently that has left them feeling unsettled. Additionally, they may be afraid of loud noises that they recently heard during a celebration. Cats are sensitive to things they can’t explain.

Your cat may also feel stressed by the presence of other cats outdoors that they can’t get to. Cats are very territorial and frustration from the stress of not being able to defend their territory can lead to stress in many cats.

There are medical things that may cause stress and anxiety in your cats as well. If you can’t explain why your cat isn’t acting right take them to a vet for evaluation. They may have a urinary tract infection or another common kitty ailment that is causing them distress.

Cats should never be declawed; regardless of what behaviors may be leading you to consider Declawing, there are always alternatives. Declawing your cat can lead to litter box avoidance, biting, aggression and arthritis among other physical and emotional problems. There are many safe alternatives to declawing that can help you live more harmoniously with your cat.

Trimming your cat’s nails regularly can help prevent damage caused from scratching. If your cat’s nails are blunt, they won’t be able to rip up furniture or cause you to bleed when they scratch you. Trimming a cat’s nails is relatively easy, especially if you get your cat used to the process when they are a kitten. You can also use things [that] help you trim their nails without getting scratched, like the cat bag that leaves only their head and front claws free.

It is also important to train your cat to scratch on a scratching post. If you continue to reinforce that [the scratching post] is an acceptable place to scratch, over time most cats will comply with your wishes. You should have several posts available throughout your home for your cat so they don’t get bored using the same scratching post over and over.

Try using soft paws or soft claws over your cat’s nails. These vinyl nail caps glue right over your cats existing nails and prevent them from doing damage with their claws. The caps naturally grow out with your cat’s nails and last an average of four to six weeks.

You may need to use a combination of all or some of these methods to prevent your cat from scratching up your home, but it will enable you to avoid the invasive and unnecessary declawing procedure. Cats need their nails for more than just scratching, and taking their nails away is inhumane.