TSA/airport security and cats.

[dandw2]

I did a search here and I found a post saying that TSA should not require a cat to be taken out of it's kennel through security.
That post was in 2005, and I have an experience from 2003 that still gives me nightmares. Perhaps someone here has travelled with a cat through security since then and can help me know what to expect.

My husband and I took my 2 kitties through security in 2003 and we were told we had to remove them from their carriers, put the carriers through x-ray and walk our cats through the security scanner. I told her no way and she yelled for her supervisor, telling them I was not being compliant. With cat in hand, I complied, however almost lost Lola in the airport. She was terrified, clawed through my sweater and only by the grace of God did I not let go of her. I managed to get her back into her carrier (once it was done being scanned). Charlie on the other hand was terrified, but he submits to being held by the scruff. Lola does not.

Anyway, we are now moving back across country, and I am terrified of airport security. I asked TSA recently how they handle cats, and they mentioned they have a private screening area, they don't want cats flying through the airport, but I am not sure what to expect in a private area. Will I have to remove them from the carrier?
I have harnesses for them, but they are 8 and 11 and never once have worn a collar, much less a harness, and I fear the harness may stress them out more than being in an airplane. I do plan on "practicing" with the harnesses soon, but again, I don't want to stress them out.

Does anyone have any insight on how TSA handles cats in carriers these days, or what a private screening is like? We won't be travelling for a few months, so I need to make sure we are prepared!

Thanks for any help.

[Traci]

If TSA didn't explain fully to you, ask your vet to call TSA on your behalf and have him "require" they explain the "screening procedure" in detail. Maybe coming from a vet, they would be more explainatory. If they said they don't REQUIRE pets to be outside of the carriers for security screen purposes, then get that in writing/get the policy procedures in writing beforehand.

I'd also tell them you understand the necessity of checking the carriers as per policy, but that the airline also needs to understand that losing pets in airports isn't unheard of, after all, these make national headlines, and the airline should be made responsible for the safety of all pets, IRREGARDLESS of this screening procedure. I'd also keep their harnesses on, attached to a lead that is attached to YOUR HAND and never let the lead leave your hand (providing of course they somehow require you to remove the cats from their carriers). Are the cats microchipped? If not, might advise doing so, or at the very least, have full ID tags on the harnesses.

You are keeping the cats with you in your seats, right?

[dandw2]

[quote="Traci"]You [i]are[/i] keeping the cats with you in your seats, right?[/quote] Of course! There is no way I will have them put in cargo. I'd rather drive across country.

Thanks for the input. I am still interested in what other people have experienced. As much as I have flown, I have routinely seen cats in carriers in the screening line. I just have not seen them go through security.

I have tried to introduce the harness to her in the past, and when I actually got it on her, the poor little girl throught it was attacking her. She ran and hid under the bed.

[jessarose]

Hi dandw2-

I just moved from Eugene, OR to Boston, MA with my two cats and we flew. Here's a summary of my experience:

When booking my plane tickets:
I spent days on the phone with airline companies trying to figure out what my options would be. I finally settled on Alaska Air because they were the nicest and easiest to talk to on the phone. I have heard varying reports from others about the service they recieved from Alaksa Air/Horizon Air, but I had a positive experience and would fly with them again.

No airline will allow you to bring more than one pet on the plane per person, even if you buy another seat, and I could not afford to buy a round-trip ticket for one of my friends to fly with me, so my cats traveled in the pet area of the cargo hold. I lost much sleep over this decision and would strongly, STRONGLY recommend that you and your DH bring the cats with you on the plane in kennels that will fit under the seats. My cats made it through OK this time, but were traumatized and I will avoid allowing them to travel that way again at all costs.

I had to book a red-eye because my flight was in August- there are temperature regulations for pet travel in the cargo hold, and night flight was the best chance I had of staying within the temp. guidelines. Check with the TSA website to see if the same regulations are in place for traveling with animals at your seat.

At the airport:
When we got to the airport in Eugene, TSA made me take both cats out of the carriers one at a time and they ran the carriers through the x-ray machine. Then I had to carry each cat seperately in my arms back over to the luggage collection site, and then we zip-tied their kennels shut. Luckily, my cats were so scared by being in a new place that they clung to me. I would recommend bringing a towel to the airport- that way you can roll your Lola into a "kitty burrito", which may help keep her in your arms and will definitely keep your injuries down.

Since my kitties weren't traveling in the plane with me where I could watch them, I decided not to medicate them. I figured they would be scared enough as is, and I wanted to give them the advantage of clear wits in case of the worst-case scenario. Also, my vet recommended NOT medicating them so they would be better able to keep their balance while their kennels were being moved and if there was any turbulence on the plane.

I hope this info is helpful to you- at least there's no security to go through at the end of the trip!

Jessica

[slvrwhispr]

I can't even wrap my brain around the fact that they would consider risking spooked BELOVED PETS running through the airport. The higher-ups have their priorities ALL WRONG, if you ask my opinion... though I guess, no one did, so you can just ignore it if you so choose...

That said, I will NEVER fly with my pet. It's driving, or we're not going. END. of story.

[Cindy]

That said, I will NEVER fly with my pet. It's driving, or we're not going. END. of story.

DITTO! Not in my wildest nightmares would I fly with a pet.

[Traci]

Ditto three, I won't even fly.

However, many people have to, and the airlines need to be more responsible, pet owners have to check in advance so that no unforseen surprises occur. Under NO circumstance should a pet ever fly in cargo, ever.

[oconnorjoy]

Me too....I don't like to fly but will have to in April. Our youngest son is getting married in the Dominican Republic...darn kids!
My Mom will be talking care of my furkids. They have never been away from me...not even for one night.
Joy

[dandw2]

Thank you for all of your input. A question that I am wrestling with:
Do you think a 5 day cross country drive would stress them more than a flight? I would think that they would want to get out of the crates and be more antsy on a drive...

[Traci]

That's a tough question, and only you know your cats best.

Being confined in carriers for most of the 5 days would be stressful, plus the car-ride (nausea, restlessness, etc) and there would be additional risk each time you stopped for something, you'd have to be extremely careful not to have car doors open, have pet-friendly motels and deposits available, be aware of temperatures, stop for feeding/drinking/elimination, etc.

Personally, if you're scheduled to fly, and you are well-prepared in advance (flight regulations etc), and you're taking them in your SEATS on the airline, this would only be a few hours to reach your destination as opposed to 5 days.