Transport a Cat Long Distance: Guide to Relocating Your Furry Friend

There are many reasons why you would want to transport a cat. But the only problem is that you don’t know where to start. How do you find the best transport company? Can you fly with your cat? Are there more cost-effective solutions? Don’t worry and don’t fret! We’ve got you covered!

Let’s explore everything about transporting a cat long distance. In this guide, we’ll make sure to cover everything you need to know.

Reasons to Transport a Cat Long Distance

There are a variety of reasons why you would want to transport your cat long distance. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons below.

Reason 1: You got hired for a job and it’s located across the country. You have to travel from Washington to New York and pack up your entire life and move to a new destination. Your cherished cat is a member of your family and will have to go with you.

Reason 2: You need to take care of a sick relative and help them around their house. You work remotely, which means it’s not a problem for you to go live with them for a few months but your cat has to go with you.

Reason 3: You want to go on vacation and you want to bring your cat with you.

All three of these reasons have one thing in common — you need to transport your cat long distance. But, how do you do it? Well, let’s take a look at the options.

How to Ship a Cat Across the Country

There are various options when it comes to shipping a cat across the country. Some of them look attractive and others aren’t really. Let’s look at some of your options.

Air Travel

Air travel is the fastest way to travel with your cat. However, airlines do have requirements that you need to be aware of and will have to adhere to. There is a limit on which cats you can take and those that are restricted to snub-nosed breeds. Make sure you check with the airline to see if your cat breed is on the no-fly list. If your cat is small, it can fly in the cabin in a carrier placed under the seat in front of you. Airline policy only allows one or two pets per flight, so it’s important to call beforehand to reserve a pet spot. If you have a larger cat, you will have to check it into the cargo hold. 

Train Travel

Amtrak allows pet transportation, but just like airlines, only cats and small dogs are allowed. Having a cat on board the train only costs $25, but they have to fit in a carrier underneath the seat in front of you. If you have a larger cat that can’t fit under the seat in front of you, then this option is not for you.

Driving Yourself

The do-it-yourself approach is one of the easiest options because there won’t be any regulations or outside requirements besides the documentation you need. However, this option has several variables that could impact you in several ways, including accommodation, food expenses, car wear and tear, and gas costs. During the road trip, you also have to be aware that you should stop periodically for potty breaks, food and water breaks, and time for your cat to adjust to the confined travel space.

Ground Transport

This option is fairly straightforward. You can hire a cat ground transport company to ship your cat from Point A to Point B. They take care of all the logistics for you so you don’t have to worry about it. They may provide the equipment, which means that will be an extra charge or you can also provide it yourself.

Flying a Cat By Plane

The fastest option there is for shipping a cat is flying it with you (or hiring an air nanny). But what are the logistics that go about flying a cat by plane? Let’s take a look at them.

Book Your Flight as Early as Possible

The first thing you need to do is book your flight as early as possible. Airlines usually allow one or two pets to travel in the main cabin. Cats are small animals, so it’s easy for them to be in the main cabin as opposed to the cargo hold. So you should call the airline to book your flight with your cat well in advance.

Choose a Direct Flight

The smartest thing to do when flying with a cat is taking a direct flight. Flying stresses a cat out and so it’s best to just get it over with in one flight, as opposed to having multiple layovers. When it comes to international flights, because they can be much longer, it’s best to have one layover so that your cat can have their potty breaks and other resting breaks that are necessary.

Get A Health Certificate

You should get a health certificate with a veterinarian that’s accredited by the USDA. Veterinarians will provide you with a CVI (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection). The health certificate must be completed with the veterinarian 10 days before travel in order for them to be up-to-date.

Here’s a list of vaccines your cat should be immunized with no more than 21 days before travel:

Vaccinations for cats

The list of required vaccinations for cats:

• panleukopenia (feline distemper)
• Feline calicivirus
• Feline herpesvirus type I (rhinotracheitis)
• Rabies

Choose a Suitable Cat Carrier That Meets Airline Regulations

Airlines have requirements when it comes to pet carriers. There are two types of carriers for cats — a soft-sided carrier and a hard-sided carrier. Soft-sided carriers are perfect for small cats because they can fit comfortably underneath the seat in front of you. However, if you want to include all other equipment essentials for your cat like a litter box and food and water bowls, then you’ll need a hard-sided carrier. That means your cat will have to go in the cargo hold.

Provide Food, Water and an Accessible Litter Box

The smart thing to do is to always best to provide food, water and a litter box for your cat during the flight. There are carriers that come with all of that, which can be resourceful and convenient. However, the carriers with those added additions may be too big to fit underneath the seat in front of you. This means you’ll have to transport your cat in the cargo hold. You can look for a soft-sided carrier with a tiny litter box inside of it and provide your cat with food and water as needed throughout the flight from another bag you carry.

Using Ground Transportation to Relocate a Cat

Ground transportation to relocate a cat is pretty straightforward. Like stated above, you hire a ground transportation company and they take care of all the logistics for you. However, the ultimate cost to that cat shipping lies with a few factors. Let’s take a look at them now.

• Distance: This is the biggest factor when it comes to cost and expensiveness. The further the distance, the more expensive it will be. Of course, if you are transporting multiple cats, then it will be cost effective. Sometimes, however, a shorter distance will be costlier, so it’s best to check with the cat ground transport service about this factor.
• Pet Size: The size of the cat either increases the cost or not. If they’re smaller, they’re going to be placed in a carrier and transported more easily. If you have a larger cat that requires more equipment, things will be more expensive.
• Health Documentation: Check online to see what health requirements your destination needs. Most states and cat transportation companies will require your cat’s vaccination documents and a health certificate filled out by a veterinarian.
• Equipment: Ground transportation companies may require a carrier for traveling, especially if they are traveling with other pets.
• Time of Year: Like other sectors of the transportation industry, seasonality will have an effect on the cost of shipping your cat. Summer and around holidays are a popular time for pet transportation, which will drive up demand and cost.
• Extra Perks: If you want VIP service, door-to-door delivery, or the extra perks to ensure your cat is as comfortable as possible, this will increase the price tag.

Why To Choose Ground Transportation for Long-Distance Cat Shipping

We talked about air transport. It may be the fastest way to transport your cat long-distance. That is very true! But you may be seeing all the requirements and shake your head. Let’s take a look at a few reasons why ground transport is better and more reliable. 

1. When it comes to flying, most airlines have a prohibition of large dogs and cats. If you want your cat to have a litter box and it doesn’t fit under the seat in front of you, you will have to check your cat in the cargo area.
2. Flying can stress your cat because they are in a confined space for a long period of time.
3. With flight cancellations over the holidays, flying can be unreliable because of weather and other factors.
4. Ground travel logistics are easier and can offer door-to-door delivery, which is impossible with air travel.

Benefits of Using CitizenShipper for Cat Transportation

If air travel is too logistically horrid and ground transportation options are limited and expensive, don’t fret! There’s a light at the end of the tunnel! CitizenShipper is the option where you can access affordable pet shipping. Yes, you heard that right. Rated the #1 pet transporter in the nation, CitizenShipper has a lot of benefits. Drivers compete for your business which is one of the reasons why it is affordable. 

The Benefits of CitizenShipper

Our platform offers so many advantages over traditional pet companies. Let’s take a quick look at them!

• Drivers who are screened, background-checked, and USDA-registered drivers. 
• Compare drivers’ quotes and bids, as well as chat with drivers across our network before you book your trip.
• Discuss your transport details directly with the driver using our instant messaging system. The driver will also give you updates while on their journey.
• Save up to a whopping 60-70% in countless fees compared to traditional shipping services by using CitizenShipper. 
• Do a “rideshare” where you can get a better price because drivers will take several pets along at the same time. You can always opt for “solo rides, too!
• The option of adding on more benefits like a VIP Service, a $1,000 Pet Protection Guarantee, Booking Assurance Guarantee, direct communication with the driver who provides updates and 24/7 TeleVet access through our partner FirstVet.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that transporting your cat long distance is hard. There are so many options to choose from, but at the end of the day you need to decide based on two things: how well your cat will be taken care of and affordability. I mean, it’s tricky, the pet shipping cost can either make you or break you.

So from all the options, which one sounds the most attractive for you? Air travel may be easier, but it’s logistically challenging and more stressful on your kitty cat. Ground transportation companies can have a myriad of rules and end up being more expensive, too. 

Trusted by over 100,000+ pet lovers, the best option is booking a driver through CitizenShipper’s marketplace. It is not only safe, but secure, too. Drivers on CitizenShipper know your cat means everything to you. They will ensure proper, loving care during the journey to that final destination without stress and chaos. When you trust drivers on our CitizenShipper network, you won’t need to pull your hair out from all the stress. Your cat will be in the best of hands. 

Get a driver that will make that happen. Post your cat’s transport now, and get free quotes faster than you can say the ABCs!