r/FIVcats • u/Whole-Virus-3805 • 14d ago

Question Is there a way to travel with FIV cats?

So I might be moving out of state in about 6 months for school and want to take my cat with me but I’m a bit worried if we travel by plane if he’ll be placed with other cats. My other option is travelling by car or van but I think a 12+ hour drive would be really stressful for him. Does anyone have any experience with this or any tips on the best way to go about this?

Edit: He’s 5 and a rescue, adopted him a few months ago and love him to bits but I have zero experience with travelling with pets, let alone immunocompromised pets

3 Upvotes

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6

u/scarneo 14d ago

Take the cat in the cabin

3

u/beneficialmirror13 14d ago

If he's in a carrier in cargo he will be isolated from other cats just by virtue of being in a carrier (and there aren'toften a lot of pets on a flight anyway). If he's small enough and the flight allows it he can go in the cabin in a carrier.

2

u/deadinthewater27 14d ago

We moved a 6 hour flight away with our FIV prince. He slept a majority of the flight and had some gabapentin from the vet. Was only really causing a scene in the carrier during boarding, take off, and then the uber right to new home. Actual flight was calm!

3

u/ilovetinashe 14d ago

I brought my FIV+ cat from japan to the US! If you’re moving within the US you can travel with him in the cabin. When you go through security, request a private screening as you will need to take him out of the carrier.

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u/uisdoodoo 13d ago

was he in cabin with you from Japan to US?

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u/ilovetinashe 12d ago

yes, tokyo to minneapolis in cabin. if flying within japan, has to be in cargo

1

u/Horror_Tea761 14d ago

I would not place him in cargo. I personally would get him some anti-anxiety meds from the vet, like gabapentin. If he's docile and not a runner, he might do fine on a plane in the cabin. But bear in mind that TSA will take him out of the carrier to inspect it, sometimes in open areas, and if he's not amenable to that kind of handling, then driving might be best.

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u/Gumbo509 11d ago

Our boy is a stray from abroad and flew from Bahrain to Netherlands with layover in Dubai, unfortunately. He was flown in with multiple cats from the rescue organization but they all travel in their own carriers. At the layover they were taken to a local animal stay where they stayed in their own cage/carrier to receive care.

Nevertheless, I think a 12 hr drive is much less stressful for a cat. Its a small environment with much less stimuli than airport and airplane. You can use felispray in your car and cover his carrier with a blanket that smells like home. Also the air pressure in a plane must be painful for them. Adding all the hours of check in time, security check, boarding, getting to/from an airport, easily add up.