I know it depends on the airline, but I’m curious about your experience. Additionally, are any documents required besides a passport, proof of vaccination, and an EU-approved rabies test? (It’s for a cat.)

by ImNotGoodAtNicknames

16 comments

  1. Pls dont use the First one Most Cats get scared in there

  2. Oof, those transparent ones look like they would stress the hell out of the animal.

    (Sorry for having no answer to your question)

  3. You need to get something that allows the cat to sit or to lay down. Something expandable and flexible. It needs to fit under the seat too. You wouldn’t want to be stuck in a plastic box right? I cat also wouldn’t like that. Choose soft, flexible and breathable back packs. Also, cats love being able to hide. I wouldn’t recommend the clear hard plastic ones you have in your photos. Always go for a back pack where you have the possibility to make your cat feel like they can hide and not be seen. When a cat is scared they hide in small places like boxes or under shelves. [Something like this works.](https://www.amazon.de/Lekesky-Expandable-Backpack-Foldable-Safety/dp/B09MVVSPDS/ref=sxin_16_sbv_search_btf?content-id=amzn1.sym.cc32b59c-5f85-4246-aed2-f2941bc7caaa%3Aamzn1.sym.cc32b59c-5f85-4246-aed2-f2941bc7caaa&crid=1VDLDPFYE8KPE&cv_ct_cx=haustiertrage+katze&keywords=pet+carrier+cat&nsdOptOutParam=true&pd_rd_i=B09MVVSPDS&pd_rd_r=21f44b75-d838-4526-8c9c-43576bc50a7a&pd_rd_w=sf2Dg&pd_rd_wg=qltvN&pf_rd_p=cc32b59c-5f85-4246-aed2-f2941bc7caaa&pf_rd_r=Q035K3P1WX9Z3VRQ7M1X&qid=1737624775&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=pet+carrier+ca%2Caps%2C91&sr=1-1-03f1ca03-957a-4556-8bd9-71f94c5e21a6)

    Base on the options you provided it seems like you care about aesthetics, but when it comes to the comfort of a cat in such a stressful situation (Airport + New places + loud noises + many people). I would recommend choosing functionality over aesthetics.

  4. Whatever you do please do NOT get transparent carriers. Cats feel very vulnerable and stressed in those. A good carrier should be obscured. Something like your second picture is perfect. For transport in cargo hold you would need a hard carrier though.

  6. All carriers are permitted to the Airports, there are very strict restrictions on what can be used on board depending on the airline, and where and how long the kitty will travel. ( checked baggage or in the cabin) less than 8kg weighed with the carrier can travel in the cabin. Soft cases mostly.

  7. Got it, transparent ones are off the menu can you recommend specific model or the one that worked for you? I want to find the most comfortable option
    The travel is less than 3 hrs in a cabin.

  8. Maybe the second one. Maybe. The important thing is the size specified by the airline you’ll be flying. I flew Lufthansa with my cats from US to Frankfurt and used this carrier with no issues. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZPPSR2L?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

    You must also consider that there are limits on the weight of pet plus bag and they will weigh your pet in its carrier. Those handles and wheels are just extra weight they do make soft backpack carriers that could work. I use these now, but I haven’t tried them on a plane so I can’t speak to their acceptability for flying. Most people I see fly with the style shown above, but I have seen backpack style a couple times (the one I used is below)
    https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0CNSJN7JK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

    I will say that Lufthansa’s size requirements are impossibly small (particularly for the height), and I think in error. They don’t seem to care as much about size as they do about the weight, which is 8kg incl. carrier for Lufthansa (the weight seems fairly consistent across airlines). The size seems to be more flexible as long as the bag can fit under the seat. So you will want something soft so that it can be squished a bit to get it in place.

    As far as paperwork etc. goes, where are you flying from into Germany? The answer depends on this. I flew 2 cats into Germany from the U.S. (with my wife), let me know if you have other questions.

  9. Hi!

    There are regulations from planes companies for animal transports in cabin.
    I would check these first. There are regulations about the animal itself (the cat needs to be in good health, i.e no diabetes, respiratory issues, etc), shouldn’t be a kitten and shouldn’t have a flat nose (some breeds can’t fly).
    Then for the carriage, it needs to be on certain dimensions, and this is given by the flying company you’re on. So check that. It needs to be flexible (so no hard boxes like the pictures), and the carriage + the cat shouldn’t be more than 8kg total.

    Also although it is not a requirement from airplane companies, please don’t put your furry companion in a transparent box, as this is extremely stressful for the animal.

    As a personal experience, I strongly advise NOT buying the Amazon basic transport bag. This one broke at our transfer airport, luckily not harming our cat. It is extremely fragile and if your animal is agitated he will claw the plastic grid in no time.

    Good luck for your flight! For us they checked the dimensions of the transport bag but not the weight. I went to the airport with my mom in case they denied my cat on board so he could stay with my family and I could go pick him up later. If you have the opportunity to have someone with you as well, this could give a great piece of mind.

  12. Where are you coming from? If it’s the US, you also need a certified health certificate from a vet, within 10 days of travel. You also need proof of rabies at least 30 days but no less than one year before travel. Finally, you need a chip tag that works in the EU. My dog had to get a 2nd microchip for this, so don’t assume any microchip will work! I found a vet in my city that had experience with international pets and they walked me through everything.

    I assume you are bringing the cat as your carry-on. If so, I highly recommend a soft sided carrier. Your airline may have requirements about lining it with potty pads and stuff. The soft carrier alleviates any fears that one plane will have narrower under seat storage, since it can squish a bit. we pulled ours out to take up the foot room and keep her close enough to smell me and lean on my leg through the bag if she wanted.

    I picked up some “calm down” treats at my local pet store, as well as a soft sided bag that was approved for some random airline. I gave her time ahead of the trip to check out, get her smell on it, and gave treats to associate it with fun. I also pretested the chill out treats to make sure that it calmed her down and didn’t make things worse in a stressful situation. (I used NYE fireworks as my test). I put her favorite blankie/towel in for the trip as well, without washing first so it would smell like home the whole time.

    My cat is tiny and fearless, so it was all pretty easy. She had to be collarless to go through security, and be carried through the detector by me. Her carrier had peepads, then a towel on top. Our flight was 14 hours so this was pretty intense for a cat! We had to open the bag and put in food and water through out the flights. She was an absolute champion, and we only had to fight her a little about trying to climb out once or twice. She did a little meowing on take offs, but was settled and content on flights. She did end up peeing her carrier at the very end, but the peepads did their job. I tucked some plastic bags and a couple paper towels in a pocket on the carrier in case there was a stinky poop incident, but we got lucky.

    Also important, your poor cat is gonna need to go ASAP when you get there! We packed a disposable litter tray that came with like, a travel amount of litter, in our checked luggage. This way we could get inside, immediately set up kitty toilet, and let her out in a secured bathroom on arrival. Some wet pet wipes would also have been smart, to give her a little clean up.

  13. Soft and hard carriers are both fine, but make sure it meets the airline’s measurements. My cat almost couldn’t fly due to the carrier being a few centimeters over. Also, as others recommended, bring a towel and cover the carrier. My cat felt less stressed with this.

  14. 2nd picture the bag with the strap worked good for us. Linda like a gym bag with zippy ends and tops. You can also buy a colapsoable litter pan and take them in the family bathroom.

  15. Hi there. Different airlines have different requirements. I highly suggest looking up the requirements of the specific airline you are going to use, especially the dimensions of the carrier. Some airlines offer a list of approved carriers online – keep in mind they can be a bit overpriced and you could find something similar and cheaper online.

    Most airlines have a weight restriction of 8 kg that includes both the cat and the carrier. Cat + carrier must be under 8kg. So if you have a chonky cat, chose a lighter carrier. Otherwise, they will make you put the cat with the baggage, not in the cabin.

    Going through security they ask you to get the cat out of the carrier and to hold it in your arms while going through the metal detectors. You will need a cat leash/harness, so you can get the cat out safely in case it is prone to running away (sometimes it is a requirement).

    I would highly suggest going through the pet policy of the specific airline you want to use. Some ask to get a phone call to inform them of travelling with a cat. Sometimes kittens of certain age are not permitted (young and unvaccinated).

    Also it is a requirement to go to the vet 24h before travelling and to get a signature/stamp in the passport stating that the cat is healthy.

    Edit: I forgot to add that all pets travelling aboard require a microchip. And the rabies vaccine is valid for a different period of time in different countries- some it is a year, others it’s 2 years.

  16. If you are bringing a cat into the EU from outside the EU, you need a health certificate, not just a rabies vaccine.

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