Flying with a pet is frankly a bit intimidating, let alone with a cat – the most fidgety and easily panicked pet there could be. And while you can expect your Maine Coon to be confident and calm for the most part, traveling with this breed has its own challenges – will the airline allow a carrier big enough for it? Will your Maine Coon be comfortable? A flood of questions come to one’s mind.
But this doesn’t necessarily have to be such a challenging task. If you do things right, you and your giant kitty can have a flying experience as smooth as a first-class flight.
To answer all your burning questions about flying with your Maine Coon, this post will guide you through the entire process – from booking and prepping to getting on board with your fluffy friend. So fasten your seatbelts – we’ve got a lot to cover.
Contents
1. Selecting the Airline
Not every airline allows you to carry pets with you on the flight, and the ones that do have certain conditions and limitations, so you need to be extra thorough with your research.
The first thing to check is whether you can take your pet as a carry-on. Many airlines don’t allow this – especially when it comes to bigger cats like Maine Coons – and ask you to send your pet into cargo. I strongly advise against this, as cats don’t do well in cargo, especially on long flights.
The airlines that do allow in-cabin pets have restrictions on size and weight. For instance, American Airlines allows a hard-sided carrier of up to 19 inches in length and 9 inches in height. This isn’t very large, and will not be able to fit a Maine Coon cat that’s tall and long.
The total weight of the carrier also matters, which is a major problem with heavier Maine Coons that require bigger carriers. For instance, JetBlue and American Airlines, both, don’t allow the total carrier weight to exceed over 20 lbs, which is the average weight of many adult Maine Coons.
Unfortunately, all of this means that only smaller Maine Coons will be able to fly with you in-cabin and heavier ones will have to go into cargo.
2. Meeting Pet Travel Requirements
Preparing all your pet-related documents is probably the most taxing and painstaking step. Each country has its own specific requirements for every pet, which makes things 10x more complicated.
For instance, The UK requires you to take a blood sample from your cat and send it to an EU-approved laboratory before you can travel there. Depending on your destination, you’ll have to be quite thorough with your research and prepare your fluffy friend’s documents accordingly.
Generally, though, most countries, including Mexico and Canada, require some or all of the following documents for your pet to travel there:
- An international health certificate is necessary no matter where you go, and you can get this from any certified vet near you. It proves that your furry friend is healthy and fit to go around the globe. The certificate is typically only valid for 15 days, though, so schedule things accordingly to avoid any hiccups along the way.
- Gather vaccination certificates that provide proof that your Maine Coon is up to date with all the vaccine shots. This includes vaccines for rabies – a must-have for every country. Your Maine Coon should get the rabies shot well before your flight, or at least 30 days prior.
- A pet passport is required by many countries, including the EU. This document contains information about your cat’s identity – age, breed, health status, vaccine proofs, etc. Note that this is different from a health certificate.
- A microchip is almost always required, no matter where you’re traveling. This tiny chip is slid painlessly under your cat’s skin, which allows a scanner to read the chip and reveal information about the cat’s owner, contact number, etc. Note that your Maine Coon must be microchipped before getting its rabies shot, or you might have to get the vaccine again.
- Prescriptions for any sedatives your vet might recommend for your cat during the flight
You may require more paperwork, such as an acclimation certificate, depending on the airline you choose and the time of the year you’re traveling.
3. Visiting the Vet
The next step – and probably the most important one – is visiting the vet. They will conduct a physical examination and run some routine checks to determine if your Maine Coon is healthy enough to be on a flight.
Once that’s done, they will sign the health certificate that allows your cat to travel. Oh and, if your cat doesn’t have all the necessary vaccine shots, get them done ASAP and well before you schedule your flight.
Another important thing to discuss with your vet is whether or not your Maine Coon will need sedation – and yes, many cats need it. If your cat is one of those that get really panicky around strangers and new surroundings, then your vet might prescribe a pill, typically acepromazine, that will make your cat sleep for a good part of the flight.
However, sedation is not recommended as it comes with side effects and may cause your cat to become sick. Your vet may prescribe an anti-anxiety pill for your Maine Coon instead.
4. Preparing and Packing
Okay, now comes the good part – packing up for your trip. But before that, you’ll need to buy certain things to ensure your Maine Coon has a comfortable and smooth flight.
Here are some essentials to pack:
- Pet carrier: most airlines allow both hard-sided and soft-sided carriers, but for the comfort of your Maine Coon, I recommend using a soft-sided one, so your cat can easily snuggle up in there. It also makes the overall weight of the carrier much lighter, allowing you to take heavier Maine Coons in-cabin. Just make sure it’s of the correct dimensions and no more than the length and height listed by your airline. Explore our recommended article on the best cat carriers for Maine Coon cats on our website.
- Pee pads: although cats are pretty good at controlling their bowels, long flights can lead them to pee or poop inside the carrier. In case your kitty does have an accident like this, you’ll need to line your carrier with a puppy pad or pee pad. These thin pads will ensure that they absorb any pee without creating a mess inside or letting the pee soak through. You’ll also want to pack an extra pad for the flight.
- Pet wipes: suppose your Maine Coon has pooped inside. It’ll be stepping on it, probably smearing it on the walls, and creating a huge mess. And the smell – let’s not forget that. For the sake of you and your neighboring passengers, you’ll want to clean up the mess ASAP using some pet wipes.
- Cat harness: while going through the security screening at the airport, you’ll have to remove your Maine Coon from the carrier. For this purpose, it’s better to carry a cat harness with you – just in case your Maine Coon tries to make a run for it.
- Small bowls: although you shouldn’t be feeding your cat on the plane (so it doesn’t have to poop), you should always provide water. You can either get small, collapsible bowls for this, or better yet – a portable dispenser that easily allows you to provide water to your pets while on the go.
- Cat food: if you feel like your Maine Coon will start meowing if it feels hungry, you should pack some cat food in a small zip-lock bag just in case.
- Dog poop bags: these portable poop bags can prove to be very handy when scooping out poop from your cat’s carrier.
5. Getting Used to the Carrier
Most cats hate getting into the carrier, which is often why they get anxious and panicky during a flight. You want to make your Maine Coon associate with the carrier positively, so it can remain calm and relaxed while traveling.
Once you’ve decided on an appropriate carrier, spend at least a week desensitizing your Maine Coon to it. Open it up and keep it at your cat’s favorite spots in the house. Lay out comfy bedding into it so it chooses to rest or sleep in there.
Another way to train your cat to like carriers is through clicker training, but you’re going to need much longer than a week for this to be possible. Here’s a detailed video that shows how a beautiful cat named Mia was trained to obediently step in the carrier and actually enjoy it:
Bonus tip: you may also want to train your cat to get into the harness a few days before your flight to avoid any fuss.
6. On the Big Day
Okay, so the day is finally here. Getting ready with your Maine Coon will require you to take care of a few important things.
Firstly, make sure you don’t feed your cat on the day of traveling for obvious reasons. Traveling on an empty stomach won’t just avoid poopy accidents but will also make your Maine Coon feel lighter and less uneasy in case it feels nauseated.
The second most important thing is to ensure you’ve got all the essential supplies. Most airlines will only allow you to carry one personal item with a carrier inside the plane, so make sure you can pack everything in it – food, water, small bowls, pet wipes, and most importantly – the travel documents.
Make your cat take any anxiety-relieving medications your vet may have prescribed before you leave for the airport. Also, don’t forget to offer a small treat to your Maine Coon before closing the carrier to put it in a good mood.
Once you reach the airport, you’ll have to pass through security checkpoints and remove your cat from the carrier. This is where the harness will come in handy.
While you’re waiting in the lounge, try to cover the carrier with a small blanket, as your cat might feel overstimulated by new people, strange noises, and new surroundings. Do not take your Maine Coon out – you won’t be allowed to do so and it’s a risky thing to do anyway.
7. During the Flight
Once you’ve boarded, you’ll be asked to place the carrier under your seat. As sad as it seems, that’s the one rule all airlines require you to follow.
Now, there can be certain scenarios that you must be prepared for during the flight:
What if My Maine Coon Meows During the Flight?
To be honest, it’s quite embarrassing if your cat meows loudly on a quiet plane mid-flight. Can you imagine the stares? If this happens to you, first of all – do not panic, and certainly don’t try to shush it. Your Maine Coon can sense fear and stress, and it will only make the meowing worse.
What you can do is cover the carrier with a dark blanket and turn off any lights above you. A quiet, dark corner will make your kitty feel much safer.
If the staff allows you, you may be able to keep the carrier on your lap for some time. Offer your fingers to your Maine Coon and let it sniff – smelling a familiar human being can provide anxiety relief. Talk to your cat gently and maybe offer a small treat to distract it.
The best way to keep your cat from meowing is preventative measures, though. Training your cat to like the carrier, traveling outside with it, and getting used to being moved around in it – do all of this well before your flight to ensure a smooth journey.
What if My Cat Poops on a Flight?
Being a cat on an airplane is not fun, with nowhere to eliminate inside a small carrier. Holding in the pee or poop for a long time or the anxiety of being in a strange place may cause your already stressed kitty to lose control of its bowels, and before you know it, you’ll smell the stinky surprise from under the seat.
If this is the case, you’ll have to use the restroom to remove the poop from the carrier. Use a dog poop bag to take out the poop and dispose of it, after which you should line the carrier with a new puppy pad.
If you can manage to pack it, you may be allowed to use a portable/disposable litter box in the restroom. All you’ll have to do is set it up, pour in some litter, and wait for your Maine Coon to do its business.
Not all cats feel comfortable relieving themselves in a new box inside an unfamiliar room. Plus, carrying litter and a disposable litter box is not the easiest thing when flying. This is why having extra pads, poop bags, and not feeding your cat before the flight always pays off.
Tips for Keeping Your Maine Coon Calm During a Flight
For those extra fussy, over-the-top drama queen Maine Coons, we’ve got some bonus tips to keep them calm:
Book a Nonstop Flight
Make things easier for your Maine Coon and try to book a nonstop flight, if possible. Interconnecting flights can cause unnecessary stress, what with all the waiting and security checking points.
Placing Familiar Items in the Carrier
Does your Maine Coon have a favorite bed it likes to snuggle into? A favorite toy, perhaps? Go ahead and place those things in the carrier. Familiar items can keep cats calm and make them feel safer.
Just be sure you don’t go over the weight limit. Plus, many airlines remove extra stuff from carriers before you board the plane, so call ahead and ask about their policies.
Use Feline Pheromones
Cat calming sprays are a godsend. They use scents that are similar to feline pheromones to send reassuring messages to the cat’s brain. Spray this stuff on the carrier and any object you place inside it such as the food bowl or a toy, and your cat will get calmer.
While it may not work for all cats, studies have shown that a calming spray significantly reduces meowing and stress symptoms in cats when they’re being transported in carriers. It won’t hurt to try as they’re pretty safe to use.
Final Thoughts
Flying with your Maine Coon requires careful preparation. Ensuring the correct carrier size, the total weight, and gathering the documents you’ll need is the most important part.
From there onwards, things are easier. You’ll just have to make sure you’ve taken preventative measures to keep your Maine Coon calm and that you’ve packed all the stuff you might need during the flight. If your Maine Coon is confident, as most of them are, you’re quite likely to have a smooth, fuss-free journey. You’ve got this!
