Cats · 3 guides · updated Oct 2026
Cat Travel Gear
Start from the trip. For the vet and the car, get a hard carrier with a top door, so you lower your cat in instead of pushing her through the front. A flight needs a soft bag sized to the space under the seat, and that space changes with the airline: 11 inches tall on Delta, 8.5 on JetBlue. For a walk to the vet or a day on a trail, a backpack leaves both hands free.
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Common questions
Can you bring a cat on a plane?
Yes, in the cabin on Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska, in a carrier that fits under the seat in front of you, for $100 to $150 each way (October 2026). All five limit the number of pets on each flight, so reserve your cat's spot as soon as you have your own ticket.
How do you fly with a cat?
Get a soft bag that fits your airline's limit, and leave it open at home for a few weeks with a towel she has slept on inside. At security the bag goes through the X-ray without her: you take her out and carry her through the metal detector, so put a harness on her before you leave home.
Should you give a cat a sedative for travel?
Only if your vet says so. VCA says most cats fly without any medication, and Alaska Airlines advises against sedatives at altitude. A carrier your cat already knows from home is the first thing to try, for a flight or a drive.
How do you get a cat into a carrier?
From above. A cat plants all four feet at a front door, so lift her and lower her in through a top door instead. A carrier left out at home as a bed, where she already naps, is one she may walk into on her own.
What kind of carrier is best for taking a cat to the vet?
Hard plastic that opens on top. International Cat Care recommends solid plastic because it cleans easily after an accident, and a top that opens lets the vet examine your cat without pulling her out.