How to Ship a Cat by Air and How Much Does it Cost?

Looking for a reliable cat transportation service to ship your pet cat overseas or across the country? If you’re a cat owner who isn’t able to travel along with your feline family member, you’re not alone! In fact, it’s a fairly common occurrence. In fact, according to IPATA, in 2023, a whopping 4 million pets were transported by airlines worldwide. It’s also super easy to become a pet transporter. And the best part of it all is you have many options out there on how to ship a cat.

Options for Shipping a Cat by Air

There are two modes of cat shipping, via ground or air. The most efficient in terms of transporting a cat long distance in a short amount of time is going the airplane route. You will have to accompany your cat in the main cabin. You can also transport your cat in the cargo hold, but only a few major airlines in the United States offer this option domestically. Another option is to hire a flight nanny to accompany your cat on its journey. Also known as air nannies, you’ll need to pay for their ticket (and possibly a return ticket) as well as the fee for your cat to fly. There are many flight nannies to choose from if you use the country’s #1 pet transportation marketplace, CitizenShipper. P.S. You can learn how to become a licensed pet transporter easily if you think the flight nanny gig sounds nice.

A Step-by-Step Process of Shipping a Cat by Air

Make sure you pre-plan before the transport process to learn every detail and requirement of the destination state or country. This includes the necessary feline vaccination requirements and other relevant factors.

• Step 1: Purchase a carrier that airlines will approve for your pet cat and get started with carrier training. The goal here is to make your cat feel comfortable with the carrier.
• Step 2: Book a flight for your cat on a pet-friendly airline that has a strong record of safely transporting pets.
• Step 3: Visit your cat’s vet for a checkup, complete the necessary vaccinations, and get the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI).
• Step 4: Your cat will be picked up by the pet transportation agent a day or two (depending upon the policy of your hired agency) before your trip. This is done to make the pet familiar with the flight nanny or animal transporter.
• Step 5: Once boarded, food and other necessities will be provided to the pet during the flight at an interval of every 4 to 6 hours. However, for infant pets, the meal interval will be less.
• Step 6: You need to provide all the necessary documents including vaccinations, CVI, Health and Acclimation certificate, Live Animal Checklist, and a Confirmation of Feeding document. Lastly, if entering the United States, you need to fill out the new CDC form required as of August 1, 2024.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Cat by Air?

The cost to ship a cat by air is affected by several factors. The largest cost is the ticket for whoever accompanies the cat — whether you do it yourself or hire a flight nanny. Here are some other factors.

• An airline-approved travel carrier
• The airfare for the the person hired to do the pet transporter job
• International or domestic permits and health documents
• Pre-transport vet checkups
• Government endorsements (if needed)

The cost of all the items listed above will be different for everyone. Let’s take a more detailed look at each of these variables.

1. Origin and Destination

This one is pretty straight forward. The destination matters because if you’re going from San Francisco to San Diego, the costs are much lower than if you are transporting your cat from LAX to Dubai. These long flights may require multiple stops, too. The origin matters too — usually international airports have lower costs than more obscure locations.

2. Import Permits

If you are traveling domestically, then the basic flight permit will do. So you won’t have to deal with much trouble. However, if you are transporting your cat internationally, then your destination will require taking formal government consent in the form of an import permit, adding extra cost to the trip. You will also need health documents and vaccinations filled out and signed by a USDA-registered veterinarian.

3. Government Endorsements

As stated above, all paperwork has to be in order. These documents have to be approved by the government, especially if coming to the United States. This means having the new CDC form (as of August 1, 2024). Likewise, your destination country may have requirements you need (and issued by a government agency), so do your proper research on that front.

4. Airport Check-in

The check-in process is quite time-consuming and may take hours to complete. Here, you will need the help of your hired pet transporter to ensure that all the necessary paperwork is completed correctly and in order. The agent will also take care of your cat during this time (P.S. It’s super easy if you want to become a pet transporter).

5. Customs Clearance

The shipping cost is not yet over upon landing at your destination. In many cases, a customs agent will be there to negotiate the entry procedures. There could be certain excise, customs fee, or taxation that you have to pay.

Bottom Line

And there you have it, that’s how to ship a cat by air and the costs associated with transporting your cat via airplane. The costs associated with transporting a cat are usually the same — your airline-approved carrier, health documents and import permits, and the tickets for your cat and the pet transporter (how to become an animal transporter is an easy process, by the way). It may look daunting, but it’s quite straightforward. However, if you are feeling overwhelmed, it shouldn’t be the end of the world. By trusting CitizenShipper to transport your pet, you will have a safe and secure option without added stress. It’s a win-win situation for you and your precious cat.