Leaving on a Jet
Plane
Soft, lightweight carriers
that make flying with Fluffy easier.
M ost cats would rather go to the veterinarian than on a ride on a plane. While there's probably nothing out there - short of total anesthesia - that will make it enjoyable for our feline friends, new carriers make travel more tolerable by allowing them to fly in the cabin safely and comfortably with their owners.
When traveling with your cat, make reservations for her at the same time you make your own. Ask the airline about their policy on flying with pets. Some do not permit pets at all, even as cargo. Some airlines only permit one pet in the first class and one in the economy cabin. Other allow several in each cabin. Regardless, reservations are vital. there is an additional charge for taking a pet in the cabin. And even with the charge, some airlines count the cat as one of your permitted pieces of carry-on luggage.
Flexible fiberglass ribbing prevents the top from caving in
on the cat when the SturdiBag is stowed underneath an airline seat.
(All photos by Weems Hutto)
In testing the carriers I enlisted the American Airlines. They generously allowed me to come into their training facility at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport where I was able to test the carriers by going up and down the aisles of their full scale passenger cabin mock-ups. My product testers of the day were Dusty Rose Vanna Gea, a 14-pound Turkish Van female, and Nermal, a 12-pound Maine Coon household pet.
What we looked at
All of the carriers tested were very well-made and
safe. None of them could be considered deficient or substandard. Indeed,
some of them have already carried the test cats many miles. Some
difficulties in older versions have been corrected and improved. They all
had a dignified appearance and would be a nice addition to any
professional traveler's luggage ensemble. Price and the extras determined
the top choices.
The SturdiBag is available in pet stores in the northwest and directly from the manufacturer. It's price is $79.95 for small (10"x10"x18") and $89.95 for large (12"x12"x18"). It weighs 2 lbs and 10 ounces.
Airline-preferred for in-cabin use, this
carrier is weather proof, has a well-secured washable pillow, toy storage
pocket and leather hand-grip. It's available in various standard and
special order colors.
This is a wonderful carrier, resembling a miniature camping tent. While
it is truly sturdy as the name implies, it is also lightweight -a real plus
when traveling, showing or even taking a cat or two to the vet. It was easy
to maneuver around the confines
The zippers are easy to close with on hand. Two mesh windows on top of the carrier and on the two end panels offer plenty of ventilation and close to make it pretty much weatherproof. The zippered floor panel contains a durable foam-core floor that can be removed and replaced; it can also hold a heat or ice pack if necessary. That same compartment is roomy enough to store show curtains or a towel or two, and a small end pocket would be nice for treats, or small can of food or some paper towels. Because of the position of the shoulder strap fasteners, it can be hard to keep the carrier level with a cat inside. These two shortcomings are relatively unimportant. The cats took turns lounging in this carrier when it was left open around the house.